Alouettes championship banner reveal was a galvanizing moment of joy for fans

CBC
·3-min read

As a red curtain rolled up to reveal the Alouettes 2023 championship banner, 13 years of waiting came to an end for longtime Alouettes fan David Szczerbickyi.

"Woah, the Als are the best football team in Canada and now we proved it and it's there," he said, pointing to the east end of Percival Molson stadium where the Alouettes' eight championship banners hang.

"I'm a lifetime follower, and it just meant the world to see these guys work so hard and win the Grey Cup."

For Pierre Karl Péladeau the banner reveal moment capped a dream start to his tenure as owner.

Montreal Alouettes owner Pierre Karl Peladeau, second from right, gestures as they unveil their CFL Grey Cup championship football banner prior to their game against the Ottawa Redblacks in Montreal, Thursday, June 20, 2024.
Montreal Alouettes owner Pierre Karl Peladeau, second from right, gestures as they unveil their CFL Grey Cup championship football banner prior to their game against the Ottawa Redblacks in Montreal, Thursday, June 20, 2024. (Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press)

He purchased the team only 15 months ago, in March 2023. Since then he's seen the Alouettes win a Grey Cup, host a parade through downtown Montreal and now raise a championship banner.

He said the feeling Thursday evening brought him back to being a young man in the 1970s — Montreal won three championships that decade.

"Today is rejuvenating,"  said Péladeau. "I'm 62, it's like coming back to 20."

He admitted that, despite the team's success in 2023, they still operated at a loss. He's not bullish on turning a profit anytime soon.

"I said this at the beginning, I'm not coming in this for the money. There is no money to be made in football now. Could this change in the future? We will find out," Péladeau said.

Montreal Alouettes quarterback Caleb Evans (5) signs autographs prior to their CFL football game against the Ottawa Redblacks in Montreal, Thursday, June 20, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Christinne Muschi
Montreal Alouettes quarterback Caleb Evans (5) signs autographs prior to their CFL football game against the Ottawa Redblacks in Montreal on Thursday. (Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press)

The Alouettes owner is hoping that this newfound triumph brings fans back. The team's popularity dropped off after more than a decade with little success on the field.

Percival Molson Stadium was filled with more than 20,000 fans Thursday night for the first home game this season as the Alouettes took on their rivals, the Ottawa RedBlacks.

Sam Boudreau, who was born in 2005, was among the 20,000 fans. He remembers the Alouettes' last win in 2010, but the 2023 championship is the first one by any of Montreal's professional teams he's old enough to celebrate.

Sam Boudreau, right, remembers the Alouettes' last win in 2010, but this 2023 championship is the first Montreal professional team victory he was old enough to celebrate.
Sam Boudreau, right, remembers the Alouettes' last win in 2010, but this 2023 championship is the first Montreal professional team victory he was old enough to celebrate. (Douglas Gelevan/CBC)

He said it was important for him to be at the stadium Thursday night to witness the banner go up in person.

"We're proud of our team, we're proud Canadians and French Canadians," Boudreau said.

"We finally have a championship team, soon enough the Montreal Canadiens too. But that's going to take a long time."

Brothers Matteo Antenucci, left, and Adam Antenucci, right enjoyed Thursday night's game together.
Brothers Matteo Antenucci, left, and Adam Antenucci, right enjoyed Thursday night's game together. (Douglas Gelevan/CBC)

The Antenucci brothers Adam, 16, and Matteo, 17, weren't going to miss the moment either — this was also the first Montreal championship they've been old enough to celebrate.

"I'm really happy. I've been coming to these games since I was young. It's so nice to see a championship," Adam Antenucci said.

Based on the way the Alouettes started the 2024 season, there is optimism that another banner raising might not be too far off in the future.

The team defeated Ottawa with ease in the home opener, jumping out to a 30-1 lead at half time and winning the game by a final score of 47 to 21. Going back to last season, the team now won 11 games in a row.

"It's incredible. We're very proud of the team. It's another big year for us this year. Play it tough and win this championship again," Boudreau said.

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