Telus Stadium

History and Construction

The stadium was constructed in 1994 as part of the broader PEPS (Pavillon de l'éducation physique et des sports) sports complex at Université Laval. Its initial purpose was to provide a dedicated home for the university's football program, which would later become the dominant Laval Rouge et Or. The original seated capacity was approximately 10,200, designed primarily for university competitions and local sporting events. The facility's integration into the PEPS complex provided student-athletes and the community with access to a modern, multi-sport athletic hub. The stadium's early years established it as a functional venue, setting the stage for its future growth in stature and capacity.

In preparation for hosting the Vanier Cup national championship in 2008, the stadium underwent a significant expansion. Approximately 2,000 new seats were added to the venue, increasing its official seated capacity to 12,257. This expansion was a direct response to the awarding of the 45th and 46th Vanier Cup games to Quebec City by Canadian Interuniversity Sport, now known as U Sports. The upgrades demonstrated the stadium's ability to meet the demands of a national championship event and reflected the growing popularity of university football in the region. The successful hosting of these games established Telus Stadium's reputation as a premier venue for Canadian university sport.

The stadium's naming rights are held by Telus, a major Canadian telecommunications company, reflecting a corporate partnership common in modern sports facilities. The official name, Stade TELUS-Université Laval, highlights this relationship. The venue functions primarily as a sports and events location for university-level competitions and local tournaments, a role it has maintained since its inception. Its location within a major university sports complex ensures it is part of a larger ecosystem of athletic training and competition facilities available to students and the public.

Major Events and Attendance Records

Telus Stadium has been the site of numerous high-profile football games, most notably serving as the host venue for the Vanier Cup on multiple occasions. The stadium first hosted the national championship in 2008 and 2009, with the 2009 game being a sold-out event that drew 18,628 fans including standing room. Attendance at the 2010 Vanier Cup exceeded 16,000 spectators. The success of these events led U Sports to award subsequent championship games to Laval in 2013, 2015, 2018, and 2019. The consistent selection of the stadium for this premier event confirms its importance within Canadian university sports.

The venue has also hosted professional football, including a Canadian Football League exhibition game in June 2003 between the Montreal Alouettes and the Ottawa Renegades. For regular season university play, the stadium has seen remarkable fan support. On October 20, 2019, a regular season game against the Montreal Carabins, held as part of the Rouge et Or's 25th-anniversary celebrations, set a then-record attendance of 19,381 fans. This record was decisively broken on October 19, 2025, when 21,399 fans attended another Rouge et Or game against the Montreal Carabins, demonstrating the program's immense and growing popularity.

• 2003: Hosted a CFL exhibition game between the Montreal Alouettes and Ottawa Renegades.
• 2008: Hosted the 45th Vanier Cup after stadium expansion.
• 2009: Hosted the sold-out 46th Vanier Cup with 18,628 attendees.
• 2010: Hosted the Vanier Cup with over 16,000 attendees.
• 2013, 2015, 2018, 2019: Hosted subsequent Vanier Cup games.
• 2019: Set a regular season attendance record of 19,381 fans.
• 2025: Broke the attendance record with 21,399 fans for a regular season game.
• 2026: Scheduled to host the Vanier Cup again.

The record-breaking 2025 game was part of the regular U Sports schedule and not a playoff or championship contest, highlighting the strong local fanbase. The capacity for that game exceeded the official seated capacity through the use of standing room and temporary seating arrangements. These attendance figures place Telus Stadium among the most attended university football venues in Canada on a per-game basis. The 2025 crowd of 21,399 represents a significant milestone for university football attendance in the country.

Facilities and Playing Surface

The stadium is noted for its high-quality playing surface, a hybrid synthetic turf system that has been recognized as the top football field in the U Sports circuit. This turf system combines Monofilament and Slit Film fibers, a technology engineered for enhanced resilience, realism in play, and athlete safety. The field features an anti-glare finish to ensure a natural appearance for television broadcasts. The same turf system is installed at Commonwealth Stadium in Edmonton, having been chosen for its performance benchmarks. The playing surface at Telus Stadium is certified to meet FIFA Quality Pro and World Rugby standards, ensuring it is suitable for elite-level soccer and rugby in addition to Canadian football.

A major renovation project for the stadium's field was announced in 2025. The current turf removal was scheduled for the first week of November 2025, with a new installation to follow shortly after. This project is designed to ensure the stadium remains at the forefront of sports field technology and is ready for the 2026 season and events. The project is a collaboration between GTR Turf, Vision Sports Design (Canada), and Wilco Contractors Northwest Inc. Luc Rochon, President and CEO of GTR Turf, stated the project reflects the strength of Canadian innovation and commitment to performance and durability.

The broader PEPS complex, which houses the stadium, also includes a large indoor practice field measuring 100 by 60 metres, suitable for soccer, football, and rugby. This indoor facility, spanned by thirteen arches that reach 67.6 metres, provides a clear height of 18 metres at its centre and can seat 450 spectators. This indoor field provides year-round training capacity for varsity teams and is a significant asset for the university's sports programs. The scale of this indoor project complements the outdoor stadium, creating a comprehensive training and competition environment for athletes in multiple sports.

Role in Canadian Soccer and Other Sports

While primarily a football venue, Telus Stadium also plays a role in Canadian soccer. The stadium and its facilities are part of the infrastructure considered for national tournaments. Canada Soccer's TELUS Canadian Championship, the nation's premier domestic knockout competition, involves clubs from Major League Soccer, the Canadian Premier League, and Premier Soccer Leagues Canada. Although specific games for the 2026 tournament were scheduled for other venues like The Stadium at Langley Events Centre in British Columbia and ATCO Field at Spruce Meadows in Calgary, the quality of the Telus Stadium field makes it a potential venue for future rounds. The winner of the TELUS Canadian Championship qualifies for the Concacaf Champions Cup, a pathway to the FIFA Club World Cup.

The stadium's field certifications mean it could theoretically host matches in that international club competition. The venue's multi-sport capability is enhanced by its FIFA and World Rugby certifications, allowing it to host high-level rugby matches as well. The indoor practice facility also supports soccer and rugby training regardless of weather conditions, making the entire complex a valuable resource for multiple sports. The 2026 TELUS Canadian Championship will feature 15 qualified clubs competing in a knockout format to determine Canada's best team.

The Laval Rouge et Or Era

The identity of Telus Stadium is inextricably linked to the success of its primary tenant, the Laval Rouge et Or football team. Since the stadium's opening, the Rouge et Or have become a national powerhouse in U Sports, winning multiple Vanier Cup championships. The team's consistent excellence has driven fan engagement and attendance to record levels, transforming game days at the stadium into major community events in Quebec City. The stadium provides a formidable home-field advantage, contributing significantly to the team's culture of success and its status as a benchmark program in Canadian university athletics.

The team's success has justified the stadium's expansions and improvements over the years. The record 21,399 fans in 2025 is a direct result of the program's sustained competitiveness and the strong connection it has forged with the Quebec City community. The stadium is not just a facility for the team but a central part of its identity and a key factor in its recruitment and performance. The rivalry with the Montreal Carabins has been a particular driver of high attendance, as evidenced by the two record-setting games in 2019 and 2025.

Future Developments and 2026 Outlook

The stadium is poised for an active period leading into 2026, a year significant for both university and international sport. The scheduled turf replacement in late 2025 will modernize the playing surface ahead of the 2026 U Sports football season. The new field will be installed in time for the 2026 Edmonton Elks CFL season at Commonwealth Stadium, and the same timeline applies for Telus Stadium's own use. The stadium is confirmed to host the Vanier Cup national championship in 2026, continuing its tradition as a premier host venue. While the stadium is not one of the 16 selected venues for the 2026 FIFA World Cup matches in Canada, Mexico, and the United States, its facilities meet high international standards for other soccer events.

The ongoing investments in its infrastructure ensure Telus Stadium will remain a central hub for football and soccer in Eastern Canada for years to come. The venue's operators expect to have a stadium that can operate 365 days a year and host events of a really large scale, indicating ambitions beyond university football. The 2026 Vanier Cup event in Quebec City is actively promoted as a premier sporting experience featuring the country's top university teams. The Coupe Vanier 2026 is listed among major events in Quebec City, inviting fans to watch the U SPORTS national football final.

Comparable Stadiums and Industry Recognition

Telus Stadium's playing surface has gained recognition beyond university sports, serving as a benchmark for other major venues. The hybrid turf system installed at the stadium was selected for the renovation of Commonwealth Stadium in Edmonton, a much larger CFL venue. This indicates that the technology and quality at Telus Stadium are considered among the best available in Canada. The field is designed for superior performance, durability, and athlete safety, with a specific focus on providing a natural, vivid appearance for broadcast. The collaboration with GTR Turf, a Canadian leader in synthetic turf innovation for over 20 years, has been crucial in achieving this recognition.

Telus Stadium is an outdoor stadium at Université Laval with a 12,750-seat capacity. It is home to the Laval Rouge et Or U Sports football team and is used for Canadian football and soccer. The stadium was built in 1994 on the PEPS sports complex. Its turf system is recognized as the top football field in the U Sports circuit and serves as a benchmark for performance. The same turf system is installed at Commonwealth Stadium in Edmonton.

The City of Edmonton awarded a contract worth more than two million dollars to replace the turf at Commonwealth Stadium. The president of the turf company stated the project reflects a commitment to pushing the boundaries of performance and durability. He noted the project was inspired by the success of the field at Telus Stadium. The new turf at Commonwealth Stadium will meet FIFA Quality Pro and World Rugby certification standards. The current turf removal at Commonwealth Stadium is scheduled for November 2025 with installation to follow for the 2026 season.

Questions about Telus Stadium

Where is Telus Stadium located?

Telus Stadium is located on the campus of Université Laval in Quebec City, Quebec. It is situated within the PEPS (Pavillon de l'éducation physique et des sports) sports complex, which is a major athletic hub for the university and the surrounding community. The address places it in the Sainte-Foy-Sillery-Cap-Rouge borough of the city. Its integration into the university campus makes it easily accessible for students and fans attending Laval Rouge et Or games.

What is the seating capacity of Telus Stadium?

Telus Stadium has a seated capacity of 12,750 spectators for football and soccer events. This capacity was increased from an original figure of approximately 10,200 seats during renovations undertaken before the 2008 Vanier Cup. For major events like the Vanier Cup, additional standing room can accommodate more fans, as seen in 2009 when total attendance reached 18,628. The record for a regular season game is 21,399, set in October 2025.

Has Telus Stadium ever hosted professional football?

Yes, Telus Stadium has hosted a professional Canadian football game. In June 2003, a Canadian Football League exhibition game was held at the stadium between the Montreal Alouettes and the Ottawa Renegades. This event brought professional football to the university venue and demonstrated its capability to host teams and fans at that level. The stadium remains primarily dedicated to university sports but has the infrastructure for larger-scale events.

What type of turf does Telus Stadium have?

Telus Stadium features a high-performance hybrid synthetic turf system that combines Monofilament and Slit Film fibers. This technology is designed for enhanced durability, realistic play, and athlete safety, and includes an anti-glare finish for broadcast quality. The same turf system is installed at Edmonton's Commonwealth Stadium. It is certified to FIFA Quality Pro and World Rugby standards, making it suitable for elite soccer and rugby in addition to Canadian football, and is recognized as the top field in U Sports.

What is the Telus Stadium attendance record?

The all time attendance record for Telus Stadium is 21,399 fans, set on October 19, 2025, during a Laval Rouge et Or regular season football game against the Montreal Carabins. This broke the previous record of 19,381 fans, which was set on October 20, 2019, as the program celebrated their 25th anniversary. For the Vanier Cup national championship, the highest attended game at the stadium was in 2009, with a sold out crowd of 18,628 fans in the stands including standing room. The stadium has a seated capacity of 12,750, but attendance figures often include standing room. The 2010 Vanier Cup also drew a large crowd of over 16,000 spectators.

Is Telus Stadium hosting the Vanier Cup in 2026?

Yes, Telus Stadium at Université Laval is scheduled to host the Vanier Cup, the U Sports national football final, in 2026. This continues the stadium's history of hosting the championship game, as it was previously awarded the event for 2009, 2010, 2013, 2015, 2018, and 2019. The stadium is preparing for this event with scheduled renovations, including the removal of the current turf in the first week of November 2025, with installation to follow shortly after. These updates are to be completed in time for the 2026 season. The stadium's field is recognized as the top football field in the U Sports circuit, setting a benchmark for performance and realism in Canadian sport.

Sources and further reading

• Telus Stadium (Wikipedia)
• FROM TELUS STADIUM AT UNIVERSITÉ LAVAL IN ... (newswire.ca)
• Laval University PEPS TELUS Stadium (nordic.ca)

Checked by the Garbutt Disposal desk. Last updated 2026-10-26.