Did you know that 2024 marks the 30th anniversary of the Baltimore Stallions Canadian Football League franchise launching operations? This is very significant for Montreal Alouettes fans given the fact that after a nine year CFL hiatus in this city, the end of a short-lived American expansion experiment had the Stallions gallop over to La Belle Province following two consecutive berths in the Grey Cup, including one championship.
There were actually several US cities that adopted CFL teams, but Baltimore was the most successful. After the NFL Colts moved to Indianapolis, Maryland football fans were hungry for a pro team. Enter owner Jim Speros and his Stallions. Of all the US clubs, Baltimore drew large crowds. In fact, the NFL was so impressed that they relocated the Cleveland Browns there after the 1995 season. Speros read the tea leaves, knew the Stallions could not survive and with the help of a number of people, moved them to Montreal. They adopted the Alouettes moniker and an iconic franchise was reborn.
We still have one very important connection to the Stallions here in Montreal and that is Alouettes president Mark Weightman. He is indeed considered one of those great “rising through the ranks” stories we all love to hear about because he started his CFL career as a 23 year old an intern with the Stallions in 1995. He came back with team to his native Quebec and occupied a number of positions, rising all the way to the top position.
“I was a marketing intern,” Weightman recalled. “We had great support, with 34,000 plus in attendance per game. I was very fortunate to be in the right place at the right time. Initially when it became apparent that the Stallions had to move from Baltimore, I was sad to see that franchise come to an end. But when I found out Montreal was to become their new home, I was thrilled!”
Mark Weightman before the game Friday.
When I saw Weightman Friday night at McGill’s Percival Molson Stadium before the Alouettes game against the BC Lions, I told him that Speros was enthusiastic about my idea of having his Montreal team travel to Baltimore for an exhibition game. He merely smiled. “Jim actually left me a message,” he said.
As I watched Friday’s game , I imagined what life would be like for football fans had the NFL not returned to Baltimore. Would the Stallions still be in place? Would there be other CFL US clubs?
Well, Baltimore has not forgotten its Stallions. In 2020 journalist Ron Snyder wrote a book called The Baltimore Stallions: The Brief, Brilliant History of the CFL Champion Franchise, Baltimore is home to some of the greatest football players ever to step onto the gridiron. From the Colts’ Johnny Unitas to the Ravens’ Ray Lewis, Charm City has been blessed with multiple championship teams and plenty of Hall of Fame players. Between the Colts and Ravens, a brief but significant chapter of Baltimore football history was written -the Stallions. Formed in 1994, they posted the most successful single season in the history of the Canadian Football League, when in 1995 they became the only U.S. team to win the Grey Cup. By 1996 the Stallions were gone, undermined by the arrival of the Ravens and the overall failure of the CFL’s U.S. expansion efforts. Drawing on original interviews with players, coaches, journalists and fans, Snyder’s book recalls how the Stallions both captured the imagination and broke the hearts of Baltimore football fans in just 24 months. It is available on Amazon.
Now, to mark the 30th anniversary of the Stallions’ arrival, Snyder has produced a documentary entitled The Baltimore Stallions: Charm City’s Forgotten Champions.” It will premiere on Sept. 24 in Baltimore. Following the viewing there will be a panel discussion with former players, broadcasters and others associated with the team.”
“ The documentary is more a compliment to the book. It provided me an outlet to explore a chance to pursue my first film and bring attention to the book and host an event to commemorate 30 years since the team’s arrival in Baltimore,” Snyder told me. “If it’s well received I will explore avenue to view it more broadly and to maybe add length to the film as well.!”
I got the opportunity to meet Speros during the one year he owned the team in 1996. He considers the Stallions to have been the greatest team in the CFL ever. Moving to Montreal, he says, was necessary, but a difficult pill to swallow.
Prior to Friday’s game, I had a lengthy telephone conversation with Speros. He still follows the Alouettes and the CFL closely. “We get all of the games here on US television,” he said. “I still run into people all of the time who tell me they were Stallions season ticket holders. It means a lot to me that the Alouettes have done so well. And I am very proud of Mark Weightman. I owe him a call.”
It is interesting to note that in order for the Alouettes to return here, the team had to remain under American ownership for 22 years, first with Speros in 1996 and then the late Robert C. Wetenhall from 1997 to 2018. The team almost folded again when Wetenhall walked away from the franchise in 2019 and the league assumed ownership. Toronto businessman Gary Stern stepped in prior to the 2020 season, which was wiped out by COVID. He remained at the helm for the 2021 and most of the 2022 campaign, before again the league took over. Finally, Pierre-Karl Péladeau stepped up and provided local ownership with deep pockets in 2023. Since then the Als won the Grey Cup and are a favorite to do so again.
“With the help of people like Cookie Lazarus and Mitch Garber I got the team re-established in Montreal,” said Speros, who now serves as president of Thompson Hospitality out of Virginia. “But Robert Wetenhall did all of the heavy lifting. I think moving to McGill from Olympic Stadium saved the franchise.”
Speros said that when the Als returned to town, the Big Owe gave them a discount and charged about $20,000 in rental costs per game. By the time season two came around and with Wetenhall at the helm, that number shot up to close to $80,000 a game.”
Peladeau has shown himself to be a supportive owner who lets the football people do their job. I did not see him at Friday’s game, although I am told he watches every game from his private box.
It was former Commissioner Larry Smith, who later became Als president, who conceived of the idea to bring the CFL to the USA. Present-day Commissh Randy Ambrosie has not been able to add a team in the Maritimes, despite his pledge to do so. He did toy with the idea a few years ago about teaming up with the now former XFL. Maybe it is time to revisit this idea again?
The Als have indeed become of one of the most entertaining games in town. Their next home game is not until Mon. Oct 14 (1 pm) against Ottawa.
