For Immediate Release
March 30, 2023
Queen’s Gaels Set to Host 2023 and 2024 Vanier Cup
U SPORTS Announces Vanier Cup to be Held in Kingston for First Time
Hamilton, Ontario – U SPORTS announced Thursday that Queen’s University will host the 2023 and 2024 editions of the Vanier Cup at Richardson Memorial Stadium.
The 58th edition of the Vanier Cup will be held Saturday, Nov. 25, 2023, at 1 pm ET.
Football Ontario is excited to have the opportunity to work alongside Queen’s around the event and showcase the province on a national level.
The 2023 championship is the first Vanier Cup game in Kingston, and the third time a Canadian university football title game is played in the city, dating back to the 1920 and 1929 Canadian Intercollegiate Rugby Football Union (CIRFU) title games. Kingston is the eighth city to host the championship since its inception in 1965, with Toronto hosting on 41 occasions, Quebec City seven times, Hamilton five and once in London, Montreal, Saskatoon and Vancouver.
“U SPORTS is thrilled to partner with the Queen’s University to present this 58th edition of the Vanier Cup,” said Lisette Johnson-Stapley, U SPORTS Chief Sport Officer. “Kingston is one of Canada’s premier university sports cities, and Queen’s has a long track history of hosting great U SPORTS championships. We know that the teams and fans travelling to the 2023 Vanier Cup will have a memorable experience, and we can’t wait for kickoff on Nov. 25!”
Queen’s University is one of Canada’s premier post-secondary institutions, and its athletics programs are a vital part of the university experience for students.
“Queen’s University is delighted to be hosting the Vanier Cup in 2023 and 2024,” says Principal Deane. “Queen’s is home to many traditions, and among our most beloved and celebrated is Queen’s Football, which dates back to 1882. We look forward to welcoming the student-athletes and coaches, as well as fans from across the country to Richardson Stadium, our campus, and city.”
Queen’s Athletics dates to its founding in 1873, with its football program beginning on October 11, 1882. The program has won four Vanier Cups (1968, 1978, 1992, 2009), three Grey Cups (1922, 1923, 1924) and 30 provincial championships. The legacy of Queen’s football is a part of Kingston’s cultural fabric, and the long-standing community support of the university athletics is why the 2023 and 2024 championships are heading to Frontenac County.
“Queen’s Athletics & Recreation is thrilled to be awarded the 58th and 59th Vanier Cups. In tandem with the 2023 U SPORTS Women’s Soccer Championships and the 2024 U SPORTS Men’s Volleyball Championships, we are looking forward to our campus and city becoming a hub for the best student-athletes in Canada,” said Linda Melnick, Executive Director, Queen’s Athletics & Recreation. “When the revitalization of Richardson Stadium began in 2014, the vision was for a venue capable of bringing the Vanier Cup to Kingston, and with the completion of the Lang Pavilion this summer we feel there’s no better stadium in Canada to host this championship. We are incredibly grateful to our community partners within the City of Kingston, the support of the National and Provincial football organizations, Queen’s University and our own Queen’s Football program for their support of our bid. We are excited to welcome fans and alumni from across Canada to Richardson Stadium for a celebration of Canadian Football in November 2023 and 2024.”
U SPORTS also unveiled the Vanier Cup championship logo that integrates a local landmark into the visual identity of the championship. The emblem features historic Kingston City Hall, a national historic site. The building, completed in 1844, was built to reflect the city’s status as the Capital of the Province of Canada (1861-1864) and features a distinct neoclassical look designed by legendary architect George Browne.The Road to the 2023 Vanier Cup begins the weekend of August 25-27 and continues through the four conference championships games on Saturday, Nov. 11, 2023.
The 2023 Uteck and Mitchell Bowl U SPORTS national semifinals take place Saturday, Nov. 18, with the winners advancing to the Vanier Cup. The Uteck Bowl pits the Ontario University Athletics (OUA) Yates Cup champions against the host Réseau du sport étudiant du Québec (RSEQ) Dunsmore Cup champions. At the same time, the 2023 Mitchell Bowl will see Atlantic University Sport (AUS) Jewett Trophy winners travelling to face the Canada West (CW) Hardy Cup champions.
The 2023 Vanier Cup will air on CBC Television (English) and TVA Sports (French) and be available on both broadcasters’ digital platforms.
Additional event information, including the launch of ticket sales, will be announced in the coming weeks. Fans can visit VanierCup.com for more details.
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ABOUT FOOTBALL ONTARIO: Football Ontario is the sanctioned provincial governing body for football in Ontario, through its focus on transparency, growth, alignment and excellence, is engaged in providing football opportunities for all of Ontario. Football Ontario is driven by a commitment to deliver football programming, opportunities and resources for its members and the provincial football stakeholders. Please visit: footballontario.net
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