KINGSTON, ON – Queen's Athletics & Recreation is honoured to be hosting the Ottawa REDBLACKS' spring training camp at Richardson Stadium.
This will be the first time in REDBLACKS history that the team's training camp takes place outside of Ottawa.
"We are excited for the opportunity to come together at Queen's for our 2025 Training Camp," said REDBLACKS General Manager Shawn Burke. "We are grateful to have the opportunity to utilize their first-class facilities to prepare as a team for the 2025 season."
"Bringing the CFL to Kingston and to Queen's will make for an exciting spring of football here." says Queen's Head Football Coach, Steve Snyder. "Having a CFL training camp operate out of our facility is a really special opportunity for our student-athletes, coaches and community."
Richardson Stadium was revitalized in 2023 with the addition of the Lang Pavilion including a state-of-the-art locker room and team facility, making it one of Canada's premier football facilities.
"This partnership strengthens the delivery of sport by enhancing the pathway connecting grassroots, university and professional levels of play," explains Linda Melnick, Executive Director of Queen's Athletics & Recreation.
Melnick, who penned the deal with the REDBLACKS, added that the partnership cultivates community connectedness, one of the goals within Queen's Athletics & Recreation's Strategy.
While on Queen's University campus, the Ottawa REDBLACKS players will stay in residence and eat at university dining halls, thanks to the support of Queen's University's Housing & Ancillary Services.
"Ottawa is our home, and we are excited to broaden our footprint by engaging with football fans throughout the region," said REDBLACKS President Adrian Sciarra. "There is a vibrant football community in Kingston, along with excellent facilities that provide our players and staff the opportunity to prepare and come together in advance of the 2025 season."
The team will hit the field at Richardson Stadium for the first time on May 11, with all training camp practices open to the public. Practice times will be announced on a weekly basis at the beginning of camp. In collaboration with Queen's Athletics & Recreation and Tourism Kingston, Ottawa will also host a Fan Fest at Richardson Stadium on May 17, with more information to be announced.
The REDBLACKS are excited to engage with young football players and fans at Football Canada's Elite Flag Nationals being hosted at Queen's in May 2025.
It comes as no surprise to us at Football Canada that the CFL's Ottawa REDBLACKS have chosen Richardson Stadium as their practice facility for 2025," says Braydon Stachel, Football Canada. "When seeking world-class venues to host Canada's top football talent, Richardson Stadium consistently ranks among the best and most accessible. From hosting the Elite Flag Nationals to back-to-back Vanier Cups, welcoming a CFL team to the Limestone City is the next natural step. We are immensely excited to see Queen's continue leading the way in fostering and supporting football at all levels, and for once again proving that Kingston is, in fact, a football city."
Richardson Stadium is one of Canada's top sporting venues; featuring state-of-the-art facilities, an artificial turf field, and seating capacity of 8,500. In close proximity to the stadium are amenities and accommodations, providing the REDBLACKS with every resource necessary to bond as a team, and prepare for the 2025 season.
