The Canadian Football League’s newest team is making its sold-out, home-field debut Friday night.

Led by quarterback Henry Burris, the Ottawa Redblacks are bringing CFL back to Canada’s capital after a seven-year dry spell.

“That moment we’ve been dreaming about all this time is upon us,” team owner Jeff Hunt told Canada AM.

Ottawa’s last team, the Renegades, collapsed after the 2005 season. Before that, there were the Ottawa Rough Riders. That team folded in 1996, after more than 100 years in existence.

But Hunt isn’t dwelling on the past.

“Right now we’re just in that wonderful honeymoon stage where just seeing a team come on the field with an Ottawa logo is enough,” he said.


The logo Hunt was referring to is a large white ‘R’ ringed by a red circle and saw blade. The ‘R’ is a nod to the old Rough Riders’ logo. The blade matches the region’s history and Redblacks' mascot, a lumberjack.

The name is also a tribute to local traditions. Red and black are the team colours for the Ottawa Senators hockey team and the RCMP.

Even though the team symbols draw on local history, Hunt says locals are looking forward.

“The community is not talking about the bitter ends of previous teams,” he said. “They’re talking about the exciting future.”

Even Ottawa Senators defenceman, Chris Phillips, is backing the new team.

CTV Ottawa reported on Monday that tickets for the home opener were being resold online for as much as $2000 for a pair of club seats, and $500 for a couple of midrange spots.

On Thursday, hundreds of fans gathered for a pep rally in front of Ottawa’s City Hall. In anticipation of large game-day crowds, Ottawa’s transit system is offering free transportation to the stadium.

The highly-anticipated home game is scheduled to take place at 7 p.m. at Ottawa’s new 24,000-seat TD Place Stadium.