Alouettes are on solid footing, new CFL commissioner Stewart Johnston says
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What hasn't been clearly defined, however, was Péladeau's motivation when he purchased the Als from the CFL in 2023. While he said at the time he's been a lifelong Als fan — and as recently as last week said the transaction was the most important of his business career — there could be other factors at work.
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Péladeau, who has declined several interview requests by The Gazette, could be seeking an NHL franchise for his Centre Vidéotron, which is home to the QMJHL's Quebec Remparts. More than likely, as president and CEO of Quebecor, he'll be after a piece of the CFL's broadcast agreement, held by TSN and RDS, when it expires after the 2026 season, so he can televise Als' games on TVA Sports.
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Nonetheless, new CFL commissioner Stewart Johnston believes Péladeau's intentions are honourable and said the Als' foundation is solid despite the recent resignation of president Mark Weightman.
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'Ever since Pierre Karl Péladeau came into the league, he has infused this team with incredible energy and great momentum,' Johnston said recently. 'Last season saw the highest attendance in 10 years. (RDS) ratings are up significantly in this market. We have outstanding momentum in Montreal. Having Pierre Karl as one of those nine owners has been a real blessing and benefit to the overall group.'
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Johnston, 54, was named the league's 15th commissioner on April 2 and assumed the role three weeks later. The former TSN president and senior vice-president of Bell Media replaced the retiring Randy Ambrosie, a former CFL offensive lineman who had been head of the league since July 2017.
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Johnston, who was born in Toronto and raised in Ottawa, is in the midst of what he calls a '100-day listening tour,' meeting owners, club staff and fans throughout the league. He was in Ottawa Friday for the Als' game against the Redblacks (7:30 p.m., TSN1, TSN5, RDS, TSN Radio-690, 98.5 FM).
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Johnston said he hasn't specifically asked Péladeau, 63, whether he intends to own the Als indefinitely. And while Montreal's average regular-season attendance in 2024 was 21,302 — the team reportedly sold out four of nine home games at 23,035-seat Molson Stadium — that was still below the league's average of 22,764.
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