Here’s what you need to know about the Redblacks home opener Friday night, including a CF-18 flyby

The Ottawa Redblacks will kick off a new season of football games at TD Place Friday night with more than 20,000 fans in the stands, a CF-18 flyby, a $5 Fan First menu and live music before the game.

The Redblacks host the Montreal Alouettes for the home-opener Friday night at 7:30 p.m. The Redblacks lost their season opener 31-26 last Thursday in Saskatchewan.

“Tickets are moving well. We’re right around 20,000 sold already,” Redblacks president Adrian Sciarra told CTV Morning Live Thursday morning.

“Some sections are sold out, but there are still tickets available.”

The Ottawa Redblacks had an average attendance of 18,800 fans last year.

Sciarra says the Redblacks have a lot of exciting things planned this season, starting with the home-opener Friday night.

“Our pre-game party is back in terms of the live music. We call it Chops ‘n’ Cheers, $6 beers and live music pre-game,” Sciarra said.

“Tomorrow night is our Canadian Armed Forces appreciation night – with that, everybody should be looking up to the sky. We’ll see a CF-18 flying over to kick off the game. We have got some new elements as part of our pre-game and throughout (the game), so lots of exciting things happening.”

According to the City of Ottawa, the CF-18 will perform the flyby at around 7:30 p.m.

Sciarra says the guaranteed jackpot for the 50/50 draw is $100,000.

Here’s what you need to know about the Ottawa Redblacks home opener:

Who

The Ottawa Redblacks host the Montreal Alouettes Friday night at 7:30 p.m.

The game is at TD Place.

You can catch the game on TSN and TSN 1200.

Home opener events

It’s Canadian Armed Forces Appreciation Night at the Redblacks game Friday night.

Sciarra says there will be a CF-18 flyby before the game begins.

The guaranteed jackpot for the 50/50 draw is $100,000.

According to the Ottawa Redblacks Instagram account, the home opener includes $6 Chop ‘n’ Cheers pre-game drinks, a $5 Fan First menu and pre-game music.

The Fan First menu includes a classic hog dog, garlic butter pretzel bites, Arriba nachos in a bag, popcorn, chips and water.

Getting to TD Place

The Redblacks ticket includes OC Transpo fare to the game. Show your ticket to the operator, a customer service representative or use the video chat feature to access the gates. OC Transpo bus routes 450, 451, 452, 454, 455 and 456 travel to TD Place at Lansdowne.

The Park and Shuttle service is available for Redblacks games from Canada Post at 2701 Riverside Drive and at Carleton University (park in lots P5, P7 and P18).

There is no shuttle bus from Ottawa City Hall this season.

Bicycle parking is available at Lansdowne.