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The Essential Guide to Montreal Sports

Montreal has more to offer than just hockey.

As well as being renowned for culture, art and great food pairing American and French cuisine, Montreal is a true hub of sport. One of Canada’s most populous cities draws in thousands upon thousands of spectators nationally and internationally to watch the famous Montreal teams.

Want to find out more about Montreal’s sports offering? Read on for our short and sweet guide to the unique sports landscape of Montreal.

Sports betting and slots

As with many cities, Montreal’s sports teams are part of a wider sports culture, which includes everything from fans’ fashion to the pre- and post-match experience. Betting is always a big part of this, which is no different in Montreal.

Sports betting is as big in Canada as it is all over the world. With a multitude of different teams and games to bet on, fans can expect a variety of ways to gamble. With online slots and casinos integrated with sports betting in Montreal, anyone looking to enjoy some betting will feel right at home here.

Hockey

By far the most well-known aspect of Montreal’s sporting culture, the Montreal Canadiens are world-renowned for their quality. The resident hockey team are also the longest-running team in the National Hockey League.

Games are played at the famous Bell Centre in downtown Montreal, which is widely considered a church-like home for the local fans who treat the game as their religion.

It’s no wonder they love the game too, with the Canadiens being the single most successful team in the NHL’s history – with 24 Stanley Cups to date. Last year, the Montreal Canadiens were named the 3rd most valuable hockey franchise at around $1.34 billion in worth.

Canadian Football

The Montreal Alouettes, who play in the Canadian Football League, are the resident football team of Montreal. Fans who love to watch the ultra-physical, tactical game that’s so well-loved across the North American continent will find it no different here.

The Alouettes, who consistently play to sellout crowds at the Percival Molson Memorial Stadium, have folded and been subsequently revived twice in their long and complex history.

With seven Grey Cups under their belt, the Montreal team boasts a wealth of players in the CFL hall of fame and are, to date, the only teams to win the league championship three times in one decade since the start of the millennium.

Soccer

One of Montreal’s newer sports franchises is the Montreal Impacts, whose popularity has sky-rocketed thanks to their surprise success since joining Major League Soccer in 2012.

The Impacts play in the MLS Eastern conference and enjoy home games at Saputo Stadium, where they’ve lifted three Canadian championships. In 2015, the Impacts became the first Canadian club to reach the final of the CONCACAF Champions League, a tournament which pits the best soccer teams from North America, Central America and the Caribbean against each other.

French soccer icon Thierry Henry has managed the Canadian club since November last year, no doubt looking to guide them to more success in the future with his unique brand of French footballing flair.