Past CFL Stadiums - Thoughts and Memories

[Robbie]

Since there has been a lot of recent discussion on Empire Stadium, I thought I might as well bring up a topic that I don't think we've talked about before and that is, former CFL stadiums in general. For those of you who have personally visited or know something in particular about the past CFL stadiums that I will mention, please share your stories. I will only list the stadiums that have been demolished, and that includes most stadiums that the team's eventually abandoned. As the old saying goes: They exist only in my memory. I want to point out that, including Ottawa, only two of the nine CFL teams have never changed stadiums. The Saskatchwan Roughriders have only played at Mosaic Stadium at Taylor Field since their inception in 1927, while the various Ottawa Teams have played at Frank Clair Stadium at Lansdowne Park since 1908.

If you could go back in time and visit any one of these former CFL stadiums, which one would it be?

BC's Empire Stadium: Used 1954 - 1982, Demolished 1993

Since there has already been so much discussion on the Lions' previous stadium, I don't say too much. My first time inside Empire Stadium was in 1979 and that was to see a Whitecaps game.

Montreal's Autostade: Used 1968-71, 1973-76, Demolished late 1970's
http://football.ballparks.com/CFL/Montreal/oldindex.htm
I don't know too much about this stadium other than it hosted the 1969 Grey Cup and 1971 CFL All-Star game. The Montreal Impact soccer team said that they will build a new stadium at its current location.

Montreal's Delorimier Stadium: Used 1946 - 1963, Demolished late 1960's
This stadium seated 20,000 and also hosted the Montreal Royals International League baseball team from 1928 to 1960.

Toronto's Exhibition (CNE) Stadium: Used 1959 - 1988, Demolished February 1, 1999

Everyone complained that this stadium had a very bad configuration for baseball. Heavy rain seemed to affect the play of the Argos in several important games like the 1982 GC and the 1988 EDF. Towards the end of the lifespan, I remember the Lions had a hard time winning there as they lost there in October 1987 (2nd of 3 losses that costed Don Matthews his job) as well as their first loss of the 1988 season in game 3. Varsity Stadium has been heavily renovated but still exists so I won't list that here.

Hamilton's Amateur Athletic Association (AAA) Grounds: Used 1872-1949

It looks like only the field and a racing track still exist. The Tiger-Cats used this field for 78 years!

Winnipeg's Osborne Stadium: Used 1935 - 1952, Demolished late 1950's
Capacity was only 7,800.

Edmonton's Clarke Stadium: Used 1954-1978, Demolished May 3, 2000


I drove by this place in 2004. The field still exists but its new grandstand only seats 1,200. In aerial views after Commonwealth Stadium was built which showed the stadiums side by side such as the second picture above, I always thought that Clarke stadium looked like Commonwealth's little brother. I wonder if there was any other city that had two football stadiums right beside each other.

Calgary's Mewata Stadium: Used 1935 - 1959, Demolished 1999

This stadium was just west of Calgary's downtown area and has now been converted to Shaw Millennium Park which features a large skateboard park. I couldn't find any pictures of this stadium, only how the site looks like now.

[squishy35]

Here is a pick of Metawa Stadium in Calgary:



Interestingly enough, Calgary's original pro football franchise was called the Bronks.

[notahomer]

I never got to see a CFL game at Empire, so my votes Empire. The photo you posted is approx. 3 weeks after I was born!

[Bosco]

Robbie - any pics available of the Autostade? This "gem" was home for the Alouettes in the 60's and 70's.

[CB123]

BC's Empire Stadium: Used 1954 - 1982, Demolished 1993

Could that be the Replay screen in that picture?

[Robbie]

Robbie - any pics available of the Autostade? This "gem" was home for the Alouettes in the 60's and 70's.

I wasn't able to paste a picture, but if you click on that link that I provided above you can see a picture of inside the stadium.

Could that be the Replay screen in that picture?

Yes, it is. As I mentioned when I first posted that picture on this thread:
http://lionbackers.com/viewtopic.php?t=12257&start=15

[Hambone]

Robbie - any pics available of the Autostade? This "gem" was home for the Alouettes in the 60's and 70's.

If you link to the following site and follow links to CFL and past CFL stadiums you can see some pictures and a narrative regarding the Autostade. It seems the Big Owe mercifully replace the Autostad not only as a venue but helped make Montrealers forget about their previously largest sporting embarrassment

http://football.ballparks.com/

[Bosco]

I attended Als games in The Autostade from 1973 - 1976. One lasting memory happened during a half time show in 1975. The Als were having a tough time with streakers, drunks, and losers throughout that season. End of game situations were even worse, as these losers would stampede out of the stands and tear down the goalposts.

Alouettes G.M. Bob Geary, however, had a solution. Geary decided to employ four guard dogs, and positioned them at each corner of the football field. The dogs and handlers quietly watched the game - that is, until they were put into action. At half time, the guards gave a demonstration at mid field of just what their canine friends could do. Everyone not swilling beer stared in stunned silence at the sight of the guard dog tearing the beejesus out of a would be field jumper. End result....no more on field incidents the rest of the season. Now THAT was a deterrent! :lol:

[sj-roc]

One lasting memory [from the Autostade] happened during a half time show in 1975. The Als were having a tough time with streakers... [so] G.M. Bob Geary... decided to employ four guard dogs...

I guess they didn't bring those dogs with them to Calgary for the Grey Cup trip, eh? :lol:

Not sure if you could get away with attack dogs these days, what with liability concerns...

[Robbie]

End of game situations were even worse, as these losers would stampede out of the stands and tear down the goalposts.

Those situations still happen quite often at U.S. college games. And for the longest time, if the home team wins the World Series, everyone from the stands would come crashing on to the field as well.

Alouettes G.M. Bob Geary, however, had a solution. Geary decided to employ four guard dogs, and positioned them at each corner of the football field. The dogs and handlers quietly watched the game - that is, until they were put into action. At half time, the guards gave a demonstration at mid field of just what their canine friends could do. Everyone not swilling beer stared in stunned silence at the sight of the guard dog tearing the beejesus out of a would be field jumper. End result....no more on field incidents the rest of the season. Now THAT was a deterrent!

I remember at Shea Stadium in New York in the 1986 World Series, a warning with mounted police on horseback was given at around the seventh inning stretch. When the Mets won, the horses came out. Nobody from the stands jumped on to the field.

The idea Geary brought up could have come in handy in the 1994 Grey Cup. All those fans coming on to the field prevented the on-field presentation of the Grey Cup.

[Robbie]

I managed to find a few more pictures of old CFL stadiums.

Montreal's Delormier Stadium


Montreal's Autostade


Ottawa's Lansdowne Park in 1949


Toronto's Varsity Stadium in 1939 & 1950


Edmonton's Clarke Park in 2002 - now the Eskimo's training facility


As a side note, there has been much discussion as to whether it's better to locate a stadium near the downtown core or away from it. Edmonton's Commonwealth Stadium is definitely located outside the downtown core in the Northeast section of the city but it is easly accessible by the city's LRT. And given that the Eskimos have had the best CFL attendance for many years, then perhaps the example with Edmonton is that it's better for the stadium to be located outside the downtown core area.

On a final note, I know that Commonwealth Stadium also contains a recreation centre and exercise facility for the public to use. A great feature in my opinion, and one that perhaps BC Place could consider if it's going to be renovated.

[TheLionKing]

Alouettes G.M. Bob Geary, however, had a solution. Geary decided to employ four guard dogs, and positioned them at each corner of the football field. The dogs and handlers quietly watched the game - that is, until they were put into action. At half time, the guards gave a demonstration at mid field of just what their canine friends could do. Everyone not swilling beer stared in stunned silence at the sight of the guard dog tearing the beejesus out of a would be field jumper. End result....no more on field incidents the rest of the season. Now THAT was a deterrent! :lol:

Not a bad idea for BC Place !

[Sir Purrcival]

Throw them in the pokey and levy a $100.00 fine, money to go to junior football. That will take care of it.

[Sir Purrcival]

On another note. I think this thread is an early candidate for thread of the year. The pictures, stories, anecdotes are terrific. Perhaps make this thread a sticky? This will never get out of date!

[nelson95]

Remember the water filled trenches under the overhang at Empire?
Swamp-like before the artificial turf apparently.
The Lions drsg room was at the entry level for Section Y. To get to the field they had to descend a steep wood staircase under the stands, I assume the visitoirs room was the same