The Edmonton Elks and the University of Alberta will host a doubleheader at Commonwealth Stadium this fall. The Golden Bears will play a Canada West conference game at noon, followed by the Elks playing host to the Toronto Argonauts at 5pm.
Because the Golden Bears 2022 schedule has yet to be released, their opponent is currently unknown, though it’s fair to speculate that their Oct 15th clash will likely feature a prominent rival. U of A head football coach Chris Morris is a three time Grey Cup champion himself, and spent 13 years in the Edmonton organization.
“Having spent 13 years playing in that stadium, I know how important it will be for our players to experience something similar this fall,” said Morris. “This gesture is yet another example of the Elks’ tremendous support of not just Golden Bears Football, but their overall commitment to all levels of amateur football in the Edmonton area.”
The connections between the CFL franchise and the university don’t stop there though. New team president and CEO Victor Cui is a former U of A graduate, and was a member of several clubs and associations while on campus.
“As a proud U of A grad and former Students’ Union executive, this partnership is special to me. We’re thrilled to host the Golden Bears and provide their players with a first-class experience at The Brick Field at Commonwealth Stadium on what promises to be a great fall day of football, ” said Cui.
“Football is for everyone and we’re so happy to be working with the Golden Bears and our other amateur football partners to bring our passion for the gridiron to the next generation of fans.”
The Elks kickoff their 2022 season with a game against the back-to-back Grey Cup champion Winnipeg Blue Bombers on May 27th.
-Kyle Skinner
Twitter: @JKyleSkinner