111th Grey Cup

Host selection and economic impact

The Canadian Football League announced on November 3, 2022, that Vancouver and the BC Lions would host the 111th Grey Cup. This decision followed a bidding process that also included the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, who reportedly submitted a bid for this game as well as for the 112th Grey Cup. Post-game reports indicated the event and its associated festival generated $121.9 million in economic activity for the Vancouver region. The game was played on the third Sunday of November, as per the league's existing scheduling formula, despite provisions in the 2022 Collective Bargaining Agreement that could have moved the season start date earlier by up to 30 days.

Road to the championship

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers entered the 2024 season as a perennial powerhouse but faced significant early adversity. The team lost its first four games and held a 2-6 record after eight weeks, a stark contrast to its strong starts in previous years where it had at least six wins in the first eight games of each of the prior four seasons. Injuries to key receivers Kenny Lawler, who missed eight games after the season opener, and Dalton Schoen, who was injured in the third game and lost for the year, hampered the offence during this period. The team rallied spectacularly, however, winning its next eight games to finish with an 11-7 record and clinch a fourth consecutive West Division title on the final play of the regular season with a Sergio Castillo 51-yard field goal against Montreal. In the West Final, Winnipeg defeated the Saskatchewan Roughriders 38-22, powered by 301 passing yards and four touchdowns from quarterback Zach Collaros, who connected with Kenny Lawler for three of those scores, and 119 rushing yards from Brady Oliveira.

The Toronto Argonauts' season was defined by the suspension of their Most Outstanding Player quarterback, Chad Kelly, who missed the first nine games for violating the league's gender-based violence policy following an investigation. The team used starts from Cameron Dukes, who posted a 4-4 record, and Nick Arbuckle, who led a week nine victory over Calgary. The Argonauts held a 5-4 record before Kelly's return, and he led the team to a second-place finish in the East Division. In the playoffs, Toronto dominated the Ottawa Redblacks 58-38 in the East Semi-Final, with Kelly throwing for 358 yards and four touchdowns on 18-of-20 passing for a passer rating of 218.3, the second highest ever recorded in a CFL game. He was injured in the third quarter of the East Final against Montreal, however, forcing Arbuckle to finish the 30-28 victory and earn the starting nod for the Grey Cup.

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers and Toronto Argonauts played twice during the 2024 regular season with Toronto winning both games. The first game was a 16-14 overtime win for the Argonauts in Toronto, where Lirim Hajrullahu kicked a 34-yard field goal for the game-winning points. The second game was a 14-11 Argonauts victory in Winnipeg, which clinched a playoff spot for Toronto and halted the Blue Bombers' eight-game winning streak. This Grey Cup championship was the eighth meeting between the two teams in the championship game. The previous seven championship meetings had all been won by the Toronto Argonauts, most recently in 2022.

• 1937 Grey Cup: Toronto Argonauts victory.
• 1938 Grey Cup: Toronto Argonauts victory.
• 1945 Grey Cup: Toronto Argonauts victory.
• 1946 Grey Cup: Toronto Argonauts victory.
• 1947 Grey Cup: Toronto Argonauts victory.
• 1950 Grey Cup (Mud Bowl): Toronto Argonauts victory.
• 2022 Grey Cup: Toronto Argonauts victory.

All six of the championship games between these two teams prior to the 2022 meeting were played at Varsity Stadium in Toronto. The Argonauts won the first championship meeting in 1937 and repeated in 1938. Toronto then won three consecutive championships over the Blue Bombers in 1945, 1946, and 1947 before winning the infamous Mud Bowl in 1950. In the 2024 regular season, the first head-to-head game was a 16-14 overtime win for Toronto where Sergio Castillo missed a field goal for Winnipeg and Lirim Hajrullahu was successful on a 34-yarder. The second regular season game was a 14-11 Argonauts victory in Winnipeg that clinched a playoff spot for Toronto and ended the Blue Bombers' eight-game winning streak.

Game summary and key plays

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers won the coin toss and chose to receive, but their opening drive stalled after a procedure penalty. Toronto's first drive reached the Winnipeg one-yard line but resulted only in a Lirim Hajrullahu 13-yard field goal after a failed third-down attempt. Winnipeg opened the scoring with a Terry Wilson three-yard rushing touchdown late in the first quarter for a 7-3 lead. The second quarter featured a series of field goals, with Sergio Castillo hitting from 20 yards for Winnipeg and Hajrullahu connecting from 35 and 45 yards for Toronto, the latter coming after a Benjie Franklin interception of Zach Collaros. Winnipeg led 10-9 at halftime.

The game remained tight through the third quarter. Toronto tied the game at 10-10 with a single on a 70-yard John Haggerty punt. After a Winnipeg two-and-out, Toronto took its first lead at 17-10 on a 20-yard touchdown reception by rookie Kevin Mital from Nick Arbuckle. Winnipeg responded with a Castillo 40-yard field goal, but quarterback Zach Collaros suffered a laceration to the top knuckle on his right index finger on the incomplete pass attempt prior to the kick. The fourth quarter became a decisive turning point dominated by Toronto's defence. After a Winnipeg field goal narrowed the score to 17-16, Arbuckle led a 70-yard drive capped by a 17-yard touchdown pass to Dejon Brissett. On the ensuing possession, Collaros, playing with a bandaged hand and a glove, threw an interception to DaShaun Amos, whose 45-yard return led to another Toronto field goal.

The Blue Bombers' next two possessions ended in interceptions returned for touchdowns. Robert Priester returned a Collaros pass 61 yards for a score, and two plays later, a tipped pass was intercepted by Wynton McManis and returned 58 yards to the Winnipeg four-yard line, setting up a Ka'Deem Carey rushing touchdown. A late Winnipeg touchdown and two-point conversion by Brady Oliveira finalized the 41-24 score. Argonauts quarterback Nick Arbuckle, who nearly retired before the season, was named Grey Cup Most Valuable Player after completing 70.3 percent of his passes for 252 yards and two touchdowns. Dejon Brissett, with 45 receiving yards and a touchdown, won the Dick Suderman Trophy as Most Valuable Canadian.

Team statistics and records

The game's outcome was heavily influenced by turnovers, with Winnipeg committing four interceptions in the fourth quarter alone. Toronto's defence scored two touchdowns directly from those turnovers, a major factor in the 17-point victory. The Argonauts extended their remarkable streak to eight consecutive Grey Cup game victories, with their last loss in the championship dating back to 1987. For Winnipeg, the loss was their third straight in the Grey Cup final and fifth consecutive appearance in the title game. The Blue Bombers' veteran left tackle Stanley Bryant played in his seventh Grey Cup, while teammates Willie Jefferson and Zach Collaros appeared in their sixth championship games.

The 2024 season saw several individual award winners compete in the game. Winnipeg's Brady Oliveira was named both the CFL's Most Outstanding Player and Most Outstanding Canadian, winning the latter award for the second consecutive season. Toronto's Ryan Hunter won the Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman award, and Janarion Grant won the Most Outstanding Special Teams Player award. The following players from the competing teams were named to the 2024 All-CFL team.

• Winnipeg Blue Bombers: Stanley Bryant (OL, eighth selection).
• Winnipeg Blue Bombers: Willie Jefferson (DL, sixth selection).
• Winnipeg Blue Bombers: Tyrell Ford (DB, first selection).
• Winnipeg Blue Bombers: Brady Oliveira (RB, second selection).
• Toronto Argonauts: Dejon Allen (OL).
• Toronto Argonauts: Jake Ceresna (DL).
• Toronto Argonauts: Ryan Hunter (OL).
• Toronto Argonauts: Janarion Grant (KR).

The victory gave the Toronto Argonauts sole possession of the record for most Grey Cup championships, with 19. Winnipeg's offensive performance in 2024 included Zach Collaros passing for over 4,000 yards for the third consecutive season and setting career highs in completions and passing yards. Despite the injuries to Lawler and Schoen, receivers Nic Demski and rookie Ontaria Wilson each recorded over 1,000 receiving yards. Toronto's special teams were a strength, with Janarion Grant returning a punt for a touchdown in the East Final and providing a 23-yard return to set up Toronto's first scoring drive in the Grey Cup.

Broadcast and entertainment details

The 111th Grey Cup was broadcast across multiple platforms in Canada and internationally, marking several firsts in CFL broadcast history. In Canada, the primary telecast was on TSN and its French-language partner RDS. The game was also the first CFL broadcast produced in 4K resolution by TSN from BC Place. In the United States, the game aired on CBS Sports Network. A historic first was the broadcast of the game in Punjabi on a network of five radio stations across Canada.

• British Columbia: CKSP AM 600 (Sher-E-Punjab Radio).
• Alberta: CHAM AM 580 (My Radio).
• Manitoba: CKYG-FM (RadioAwaz.ca).
• Ontario: CIRF AM 1350 (Radio Humsafar).
• Quebec: CHRN AM 1610 (Radio Humsafar).

The pre-game and halftime entertainment featured a mix of Canadian and international performers. Canadian country artist Owen Riegling performed during the SiriusXM Kickoff Show. The national anthem was sung by Canadian pop singer Sofia Camara, backed by a guitarist, violinist, and cellist. The Twisted Tea Halftime Show was headlined by American pop rock trio the Jonas Brothers, who performed a medley of eight songs including "Sucker," "What a Man Gotta Do," Nick Jonas's solo song "Jealous," and DNCE's "Cake by the Ocean." The week-long Grey Cup Festival in Vancouver included various fan events and celebrations leading up to the championship game.

Officiating, uniforms, and game administration

The officiating crew for the 111th Grey Cup was comprised of the highest-rated officials at each position from the 2024 CFL season. The crew was announced on November 14, 2024, three days before the game. Ben Major, wearing uniform number 31, served as the referee. The full officiating roster included several key officials responsible for different areas of the field.

• Umpire: Adam Paradowski (uniform number 45).
• Down Judge: Chris Shapka (uniform number 19).
• Line Judge: Walt Hawrysh (uniform number 81).
• Side Judge: Iain Cropper (uniform number 65).
• Back Judge: Kevin Riopel (uniform number 40).
• Field Judge: Brian Chrupalo (uniform number 73).

Andre Proulx (28), Jordan Titosky (49), and Rob Skaggs (46) served as backup officials. Each team dressed 45 players for the championship contest, as per CFL regulations, with depth charts released one day prior to the game. As the West Division representative in a West Division host city, the Winnipeg Blue Bombers were designated the home team and had first choice of uniform. The Blue Bombers wore their standard blue jerseys with alternate blue pants. The Toronto Argonauts, as the road team, wore white jerseys with white pants and Cambridge blue socks.

Historical context and subsequent championships

The 111th Grey Cup continued the long-standing rivalry between the Argonauts and Blue Bombers, with Toronto now holding an 8-0 record against Winnipeg in championship games. The Argonauts' victory increased their all-time lead in Grey Cup wins to 19, further solidifying their status as the most successful franchise in CFL history. For Winnipeg, the loss extended a period of championship frustration despite consistent regular season and playoff success, including five straight Grey Cup appearances from 2020 to 2024. The championship game is part of the annual Grey Cup Festival, a week-long celebration in the host city that includes events for fans of all ages.

In the years following this game, the Grey Cup continued its tradition of moving to different host cities. The Saskatchewan Roughriders defeated the Montreal Alouettes 25-17 to win the 112th Grey Cup in Winnipeg on November 16, 2025, with quarterback Trevor Harris named MVP and receiver Samuel Emilus named Most Valuable Canadian. The 113th Grey Cup is scheduled for November 15, 2026, at McMahon Stadium in Calgary, Alberta, which will be the sixth time Calgary has hosted the event. The 2026 Grey Cup Festival is planned to run from November 11 to 15 at Stampede Park, with the game kicking off at 5:00 p.m. MST.

Questions about 111th Grey Cup

Who won the 111th Grey Cup?

The Toronto Argonauts won the 111th Grey Cup, defeating the Winnipeg Blue Bombers by a score of 41-24. The victory gave the Argonauts their 19th Grey Cup championship, the most of any team in CFL history. Quarterback Nick Arbuckle, who started the game due to an injury to Chad Kelly, was named the Grey Cup Most Valuable Player. The win was Toronto's second title in three years.

Where was the 111th Grey Cup played?

The 111th Grey Cup was played at BC Place Stadium in Vancouver, British Columbia. This marked the 17th time that Vancouver has hosted the CFL's championship game. The host committee, led by the BC Lions, was awarded the game by the league on November 3, 2022. The event was reported to have generated $121.9 million in economic impact for the Vancouver region.

Who performed at the halftime show for the 111th Grey Cup?

The halftime show for the 111th Grey Cup was performed by the American pop rock trio the Jonas Brothers. Their performance was called the Twisted Tea Halftime Show, during which they played shortened versions of eight of their songs. The setlist included popular tracks such as "What a Man Gotta Do" and "Sucker," as well as Nick Jonas's solo song "Jealous" and "Cake by the Ocean" by Joe Jonas's band DNCE. The pre-game entertainment featured Canadian country singer Owen Riegling performing during the SiriusXM Kickoff Show. Canadian pop singer Sofia Camara sang the national anthem before the game, accompanied by a guitarist, a violinist, and a cellist.

How many times have the Toronto Argonauts won the Grey Cup?

The Toronto Argonauts have won the Grey Cup 19 times, which is the league leading total for any Canadian Football League franchise. Their victory in the 111th Grey Cup in 2024 secured this 19th championship. This win represented the Argonauts' second Grey Cup victory in three years, having also won in 2022. The team has an impressive historical record in the championship game, having won eight consecutive Grey Cup appearances, with their last loss occurring in 1987. This 2024 game was the Argonauts' 25th overall appearance in a Grey Cup final.

Was the 111th Grey Cup broadcast on free television?

Yes, the 111th Grey Cup was broadcast on free over the air television in Canada on the CTV network. The game was also televised nationally in Canada on TSN and RDS as per standard practice. This game was the first CFL and Grey Cup broadcast in 4K resolution from BC Place Stadium on TSN 4K. In the United States, the game was carried on CBS Sports Network.

What was significant about the 111th Grey Cup broadcast in Punjabi?

The 111th Grey Cup was significant for being broadcast in the Punjabi language for the first time in CFL history. This broadcast aired on a small collection of radio stations across Canada, making the championship game more accessible to Punjabi speaking audiences. The stations involved were Sher E Punjab Radio AM 600 (CKSP) in British Columbia, My Radio AM 580 (CHAM) in Alberta, RadioAwaz.ca (CKYG FM) in Manitoba, Radio Humsafar AM 1350 (CIRF) in Ontario, and Radio Humsafar AM 1610 (CHRN) in Quebec. This initiative represented an expansion of the league's broadcast reach to diverse communities.

Sources and further reading

• 111th Grey Cup (Wikipedia)
• Grey Cup 2026, Date, Host City, History & Past Winners (cflnewshub.com)
• 2026 CFL Season Guide: Schedule, Rules And Grey Cup ... (rg.org)
• Buy Grey Cup Tickets | 2026 to 2027 Events & Schedule (ticketmaster.ca)

Checked by the Garbutt Disposal desk. Last updated 2026-10-29.