Alouettes focusing on attracting fans in bid for more relevancy

CFL Montreal Alouettes President Mark Weightman's current mandate is to make the team “relevant again in a city where hockey rules year-round,” according to Herb Zurkowsky of the MONTREAL GAZETTE. Weightman said, “We’re spending every moment of every day trying to come up with cool ideas for content, for coverage, to get more coverage. We’re fighting for every inch, every bit of access to notoriety and visibility.” Zurkowsky noted the team has had “occasional issues at the ownership level,” and over time the franchise “became the epitome of instability.” Now, it “appears to have turned the corner." Quebecor Inc. President & CEO Pierre Karl Péladeau purchased the Alouettes from the CFL in March 2023. He has “deep pockets and appears to realize few, if any, CFL franchises make money.” Péladeau said, “I’m not coming in for the money. There’s no money to be made in football now.” The Alouettes have a season-ticket base “believed to be slightly above 7,000” in their 23,035-seat facility. Zurkowsky noted while that might “not seem strong, it was probably half that two years ago.” He added sponsorships have “increased under Weightman," who said that there are now “companies on waiting lists.” The 21 suites and four outdoor lofts are “virtually sold for the entire season.” Weightman and the organization are “being creative in their attempts to attract fans.” A new video scoreboard has been "installed in the east end zone." There are also now "pre-game and halftime concerts in the west end zone, new hospitality areas and a BBQ terrace." The stadium, built in 1915, has “been spruced up” (MONTREAL GAZETTE, 6/22).