A Montreal Alouettes (French, Alouettes de Montréal) come the Canadian Football League team based inside Montreal, Quebec.

This article likewise typically covers a history of Montreal's CFL history, including a todays club's early history whenever it played within Baltimore, Maryland. A CFL considers 100% clubs which develop played inside Montreal when 1 in their league records, including people of the Montreal Concordes & a Baltimore Stallions, which relocated to be a todays Alouettes club within 1996.

Franchise history
A Alouettes were number one formed inside 1946. It known as themselves fallowing a renowned operate song "Alouette" (all about plucking various arethe of the lark), which has get a weak-light-hearted symbol of the Québécois. (Likewise, in a period of the Second World War the RCAF's 425 Bomber Squadron assumed a lark when its badge & the slogan "Je te plumerai" -- I personally shall pluck smart shoppers.) From either 1968 to 1976 the team played in the Autostade stadium.

Montreal Concordes
A original Alouettes franchise folded when a 1981 CFL season, however were immediately replaced by the freshly club for 1982, the Montreal Concordes, owned by American mogul Charles Bronfman. Inside 1986 the team attempted to embrace its predecessor's history and regenerate drooping fan interest by rebranding itself a "new" Montreal Alouettes, however mounting financial losses caused a 2nd team to stack times prior to the 1987 season started.

The Current Alouettes
A Baltimore Football Club was granted an expansion franchise for 1994 by the Canadian Football League. Originally intending to invoke a spirit of the city's previous NFL club, a team attempted to brand themselves the "Baltimore Colts." A NFL filed lawsuit & won an injunction, each prohibiting a team from either apply of the "Baltimore Colts" title besides when that of their next guide, a "Baltimore CFL Colts." A team would utilize a list, "Baltimore Football Club" & a "Baltimore CFLers" for its maiden year, so becoming a "Baltimore Stallions" for 1995 season.

A team was wildly successful by CFL standards each on the field & remove, garnering lasting fan trend lines in the Baltimore area and appearing in the Grey Cup around both seasons (losing in 1994, winning in 1995). However around late 1995, Cleveland Browns owner Art Modell announced his intention to relocate his NFL club to Baltimore, where it would exist when rechristened as a Ravens. Entire creator Jim Speros, realizing that despite a fan loyalty generated by his team that it may not compete by having a NFL, decided to move a club.

A team relocated to Montreal for the 1996 season, becoming the third rendition of the Montreal Alouettes. Inside 1997, Jim Speros sold the team to Robert Wettenhall, & previous Alouette star & CFL Commissioner Larry Smith became President of the club. A newly Alouettes franchise played their 1st both seasons at Olympic Stadium, but attendance in a domed stadium was super unfortunate & the hanker term prospects for the franchise were again uncertain, until a twist of fate revitalized the floundering club.

After the scheduled U2 concert conflicted with an unexpected residence play-off game against the B.C. Lions (due to the CFL's curious 'cross-over' playoff format in some years), the team decided to temporarily return to its old home at Molson Stadium. Interest in a team soared & a game was sold out, prompting a team to for good relocate to the little venue beginning by owning the 1998 season. Since 1999, a Alouettes stand sold out each game at the bowl, placed on the McGill University campus.

A team has non totally abandoned Olympic Stadium, notwithstanding. a Alouettes shortly resumed swimming playoff games (a regular feature around recent seasons) at the "Big O" & as of 2004 play one regular year game at a big venue. These matches own been swell attended.

Before each Sunday home game, the club plays Sunday Bloody Sunday over a PA body inside tribute to the unintended role U2 played within saving the franchise.

Players of note
Canadian Football Hall of Famers
Junior Ah You Peter Dalla Riva George Dixon Sam Etcheverry John Ferraro Gene Gaines Dickie Harris John O'Quinn "Prince" Hal Patterson Herb Trawick Virgil Wagner Dan Yochum Other stars
Johnny Rodgers Current stars
6 - Autry Denson, runningback 8 - Reggie Durden, cornerback 9 - Anwar Stewart, defensive end Xiii - Anthony Calvillo, quarterback 15 - Damon Duval, kicker/punter 16 - Ezra Landry, kick returner 22 - Almondo Curry, cornerback 25 - Duane Butler, linebacker 38 - Timothy Strickland, linebacker 44 - Kevin Johnson, linebacker 47 - Robert Edwards, runningback 53 - Uzooma Okeke, left tackle 57 - Scott Flory, right guard 65 - Paul Lambert, left guard 68 - Bryan Chiu, centre 75 - Ed Philion, defensive tackle 86 - Ben Cahoon, slotback