Grey Cup facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Grey Cup
Grey Cup in 2022
Given for	Winning the Canadian Football League championship
Country	Canada
History
First award	1909; 116 years ago (1909)
Editions	111
First winner	Toronto Varsity Blues
Most wins	Toronto Argonauts (19 titles)
Most recent	Saskatchewan Roughriders (5th title)

The Grey Cup (called Coupe Grey in French) is a very important event in Canadian sports. It's both the championship game of the Canadian Football League (CFL) and the shiny trophy given to the winning team. This exciting game features the best teams from the CFL's East and West divisions. It's one of the biggest annual sporting events on Canadian television!

The Grey Cup game usually happens on the third Sunday of November, after Remembrance Day. The Toronto Argonauts have won the Grey Cup more times than any other team, with 19 victories since 1909. The Edmonton Elks have won 11 times since the CFL was formed in 1958. The most recent game, the 112th Grey Cup, took place in Winnipeg, Manitoba, on November 16, 2025. The Saskatchewan Roughriders won that game, beating the Montreal Alouettes 25–17.

This championship is Canada's largest annual sports and TV event. Around 4 million Canadians watch it every year! Two special awards are given during the game: the Most Valuable Player for the best player overall, and the Dick Suderman Trophy for the most valuable Canadian player. In 2019, Andrew Harris made history by winning both awards in the same year while playing for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.

The trophy itself was created in 1909 by The Earl Grey, who was Canada's governor general at the time. He wanted to create a trophy for Canada's best amateur football team. The Grey Cup is a beautiful silver cup on a large base. The names of all the winning teams, players, and leaders are engraved on this base. The trophy has had some adventures over the years, including being broken a few times, stolen twice, and even surviving a fire!

The Grey Cup Story

How it All Began (1909-1921)

Before the Grey Cup, Canadian football (which was a lot like rugby union back then) had national championships. But in 1909, The Earl Grey, who was Canada's leader, decided to donate a special trophy. He wanted it for the best amateur football team in the country.

The Earl Grey donated the Grey Cup in 1909.

The very first Grey Cup game was played on December 4, 1909. Two teams from Toronto faced off: the University of Toronto Varsity Blues beat the Parkdale Canoe Club 26–6. Interestingly, the trophy wasn't ready for the winners right away! The Varsity Blues finally received it in March 1910. They even kept the trophy for a few years, believing they could hold onto it until another team beat them for the title.

The championship games were paused during World War I from 1916 to 1918. They were also cancelled in 1919 due to disagreements about rules and the country recovering from a flu epidemic. But the games returned in 1920, with the Varsity Blues winning their fourth and final championship.

East Meets West (1922-1932)

For many years, only teams from Eastern Canada competed for the Grey Cup. But in 1921, a team from Western Canada, the Edmonton Eskimos (not the same team as today's Elks), got to challenge for the trophy. They played against the Toronto Argonauts in the 9th Grey Cup. The Argonauts won 23–0, marking the first time a team was shut out in a Grey Cup game.

Western teams kept trying, but Eastern teams often won easily. Some critics even thought Western football wasn't as good. For example, in the 1923 final, the Queen's University Golden Gaels beat the Regina Rugby Club 54–0. However, Western teams brought new ideas to the game. In 1929, Regina tried the first forward pass in Grey Cup history!

Finally, in 1935, the Winnipeg 'Pegs (now the Blue Bombers) became the first Western team to win the Grey Cup. They defeated the Hamilton Tigers 18–12. This East vs. West format helped make the Grey Cup a truly national event.

Becoming Professional (1933-1956)

A woman poses with the Grey Cup in 1955.

As football became more competitive, university teams realized they couldn't keep up. They stopped competing for the Grey Cup in 1933. By 1938, only a few professional-level unions were left.

During World War II, from 1942 to 1944, military teams competed for the Grey Cup to boost morale. After the war, civilian teams returned. The sport became more professional. In the 1950 Grey Cup, played in Toronto, the field was so muddy it became known as the "Mud Bowl." A Winnipeg player, Buddy Tinsley, was found face down in a puddle after a hard hit, but he was okay. Toronto won that game 13–0.

By 1954, only professional teams were left competing for the Grey Cup. The Eskimos (now Elks) won three championships in a row in the mid-1950s. Their first win in 1954 was very exciting, with Jackie Parker scoring a touchdown late in the game to win 26–25. In 1958, the main professional football unions officially merged to form the Canadian Football League (CFL), taking over the Grey Cup.

Don Getty, who later became Premier of Alberta, celebrates with the Grey Cup after the Eskimos' 1956 championship.

The CFL Era Begins (1957-1969)

In the early years of the CFL, the Hamilton Tiger-Cats were a very strong team, winning four Grey Cups between 1957 and 1967. They often played against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.

One memorable game was the 50th Grey Cup in 1962, known as the "Fog Bowl." A thick fog rolled into Toronto's Exhibition Stadium, making it almost impossible to see the players or the ball! The game had to be stopped and finished the next day. Winnipeg won that foggy game 28–27. This was also the first Grey Cup game to be completed on a Sunday.

Edmonton's Amazing Streak (1970-1988)

The 1970s and early 1980s were dominated by the Edmonton Eskimos. They reached the Grey Cup nine times between 1973 and 1982! They won their fourth championship in 1975. That game, held in Calgary, was the first Grey Cup played on the Canadian Prairies.

The 1977 Grey Cup in Montreal was called the "Ice Bowl." Snow on the field froze, making the artificial turf very slippery. The home team, the Montreal Alouettes, found a clever solution: they put staples on the soles of their shoes for better grip! They won the game by a 41–6 score.

Edmonton got their revenge in 1978, beating Montreal. This was the start of an incredible five consecutive championships for the Eskimos, a record that still stands today! Their winning streak finally ended in 1983.

American Teams Join (1989-1995)

The 1989 Grey Cup is remembered as one of the most exciting games ever. The Saskatchewan Roughriders beat the Hamilton Tiger-Cats 43–40 with a last-second field goal.

In the early 1990s, the CFL faced financial challenges. To try and grow the league, it decided to expand into the United States in 1992. The Sacramento Gold Miners were the first American team to join. More American teams followed.

The Baltimore Stallions were the most successful American team. They became the first American team to play in the Grey Cup in 1994, but the BC Lions won that game, keeping the trophy in Canada. However, in 1995, the Baltimore Stallions won the championship, taking the Grey Cup south of the border for the only time in its history! By 1996, the CFL decided to operate only within Canada again. The Baltimore team moved to Montreal and became the new Montreal Alouettes.

A New Era (1996-Present)

Montreal Alouettes quarterback Anthony Calvillo looks down field with the ball during the 2005 Grey Cup against the Edmonton Eskimos at BC Place Stadium.

After the American expansion, the CFL faced tough times. But the Grey Cup game itself remained popular and helped the league survive. With new TV deals and support, the CFL slowly rebuilt its strength.

In 2000, the BC Lions made history by winning the Grey Cup with a losing record (8 wins, 10 losses) during the regular season. This was a first! The Calgary Stampeders did the same thing the very next year in 2001.

The 2005 Grey Cup was only the second game to go into overtime. The Edmonton Eskimos won a thrilling game against the Montreal Alouettes 38–35. Another dramatic finish happened in 2009, when the Montreal Alouettes won after the Saskatchewan Roughriders were penalized for having too many players on the field, giving Montreal a second chance at a game-winning kick.

The 100th Grey Cup was a big celebration in 2012, held in Toronto. The Toronto Argonauts won it, beating the Calgary Stampeders 35–22.

The 104th Grey Cup in 2016 was another exciting overtime game. The Ottawa Redblacks won their first Grey Cup, beating the Calgary Stampeders 39–33. In 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Grey Cup game was cancelled for the first time since 1919. This was a very unusual year for sports.

The Grey Cup Trophy

1909 Varsity Blues, the first champions. The Grey Cup is shown at the front right.

The Grey Cup trophy was made in 1909 and cost $48. The cup part is made of sterling silver and is about 33 centimeters (13 inches) tall. Its first base was made of wood, with silver shields showing each winning team's name and year.

The trophy has had quite a few adventures! In 1947, a fire destroyed a clubhouse where it was stored. Many other trophies melted, but the Grey Cup survived by getting caught on a nail on a wall! It has also been broken six other times during celebrations. For example, in 2006, the cup broke away from its base when the BC Lions were celebrating. In 2012, one of the handles broke off when the Toronto Argonauts won.

The Grey Cup has also been stolen twice! In 1967, it disappeared for three days from the Hamilton Tiger-Cats as a prank. In 1969, it was stolen from the Ottawa Rough Riders' offices. The thieves tried to ask for money to return it, but the CFL refused. An anonymous phone call later led to the trophy being found in a hotel locker.

Calgary's JoJuan Armour celebrates his team's 2008 championship.

The current design of the Grey Cup's base was introduced in 1987. It's about 84 centimeters (33 inches) high and made of black aluminum with silver plates. These plates are engraved with the names of all the winning players and team leaders since 1909. In 2020, the plaques were redesigned to fit more names.

The Grey Cup is usually brought to the new champions by two members of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. The winning team gets to celebrate with the trophy for a year. They often take it to their hometowns or on tours across Canada.

Languages

English and French are the official languages of the Grey Cup game.

Grey Cup Festival

Each year, the city hosting the Grey Cup organizes many fun events as part of the Grey Cup festival. There are concerts, parties, and fan festivals in the days leading up to the championship game. The CFL also gives out its annual awards during the festival. A special Grey Cup parade is also held.

The game itself includes a performance of the Canadian national anthem (usually sung in both English and French). There's also an exciting halftime show, often featuring famous Canadian musicians like Nickelback.

The Grey Cup party tradition started in 1948. Fans of the Calgary Stampeders traveled to Toronto for their team's first appearance in the game. They brought chuckwagons and horses, and even organized a pancake breakfast for everyone! This lively celebration helped make the Grey Cup more than just a game; it became a huge event. The Stampeders won that game, and their celebrations were legendary.

A survey in 2012 found that Canadians consider the Grey Cup to be the most important annual event to attend. Fans from all over the country come to the game. This influx of people helps the local economy, bringing in over $120 million for the host city!

Champions

The Toronto Argonauts have won the most Grey Cup championships (19). The Edmonton Elks are next with 14 wins, followed by the Winnipeg Blue Bombers with 12. The Blue Bombers have also made the most Grey Cup appearances (29). The Hamilton Tiger-Cats are the only team that has not won a Grey Cup this millennium.

Since the CFL started in 1958, the Elks (formerly Eskimos) have won the most Grey Cup Championships (11). They have also made the most appearances (19). The Winnipeg Blue Bombers have the most losses in Grey Cup games (19). The defending champions are the Saskatchewan Roughriders, who won the 112th Grey Cup in 2025. Six teams in CFL history have won the Grey Cup in their home city.

Three players have won seven Grey Cups: Jack Wedley, Bill Stevenson, and Hank Ilesic. Ilesic is one of seven players to appear in nine Grey Cup games. Among quarterbacks, Anthony Calvillo appeared in a record eight games, winning three. Five coaches share the record for Grey Cup championships with five wins each.

Two individual awards are given after each game. The Most Valuable Player award goes to the top performer. The Dick Suderman Trophy is given to the most valuable Canadian player. It is named after Dick Suderman, an Edmonton Eskimos player who passed away in 1972. Dave Sapunjis and Don Sweet have each won this award three times. Andrew Harris was the first person to win both awards in the 107th Grey Cup.

Venue

Host Cities

The city of Toronto has hosted the most Grey Cup games, with 48 games. This includes 30 of the first 45 games ever played. The first game was held on December 4, 1909, at Rosedale Field. Hamilton and Ottawa also hosted many early games.

The Grey Cup game first left Ontario in 1931, when Montreal hosted the event. The game did not leave central Canada until 1955 when the 43rd Grey Cup was played in Vancouver. Vancouver has hosted 16 games, making it the second most frequent host city.

The four highest-attended Grey Cup games have all been held at the Olympic Stadium in Montreal. The record attendance was 68,318 fans in 1977.

The 1940 Grey Cup was a two-game series. Toronto and Ottawa each hosted a game.

Stadiums

22 different stadiums have hosted the Grey Cup. Here is a list of stadiums that have hosted games. Scheduled future Grey Cups are noted in italics.

^ ^: Stadium is now demolished.
^ †: The original stadium, which hosted the Grey Cup, was demolished and replaced with a new stadium of the same name

The 1940 Grey Cup was a two-game series. Varsity Stadium and Lansdowne Park each hosted a game.

Broadcasting the Game

The Saskatchewan Roughriders celebrate their 2007 Grey Cup victory in Toronto.

The Grey Cup game was first heard on radio in 1928. The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) broadcast the game on radio for 51 years.

Canadian television was very new in 1952 when Toronto's CBLT paid $7,500 to show the first televised Grey Cup game. Within two years, it was estimated that 80 percent of Canada's TV sets were tuned in! The first national TV broadcast happened in 1957. The Grey Cup is still one of Canada's most-watched sporting events. The 1962 "Fog Bowl" was the first Grey Cup shown on American television.

Today, The Sports Network (TSN) and its French-language channel Réseau des sports (RDS) have exclusive rights to broadcast all CFL games, including the Grey Cup. They have achieved record audiences, with millions of Canadians watching the game.

See also

In Spanish: Grey Cup para niños

• List of awards named after governors general of Canada
• List of Grey Cup-winning head coaches
• Super Bowl, the American equivalent hosted by the NFL