Sports in Montreal

Sports in Montreal have been a big part of the city's history. Montreal is most famous for the Montreal Canadiens in the National Hockey League. They are the only team in the Big Four sports leagues based in the city.

The city also has other teams, like the Montreal Alouettes in the Canadian Football League, CF Montréal in Major League Soccer, and Montréal Victoire in the Professional Women's Hockey League.

Montreal is also known for holding the yearly Formula One Canadian Grand Prix. In the past, the city hosted the 1976 Summer Olympics and was home to the Montreal Expos in Major League Baseball from 1969 until 2004.

Professional and amateur sports

Canadian football

The Montreal Alouettes of the CFL play at Molson Stadium and have won many championships. They are one of the most successful teams in the CFL. In women's football, the Montreal Blitz play in the Central Canadian Women's Football League.

University football is popular, with fans supporting the McGill Redbirds and Concordia Stingers. The Université de Montréal’s Carabins also have many enthusiastic fans.

Ice hockey

Montreal is famous for its love of ice hockey. The Montreal Canadiens are one of the most successful teams in the NHL. Montreal was home to the Montreal Canadiennes, a women’s team that won several championships before folding in 2019. In 2024, a new women’s team, Montréal Victoire, began playing in the PWHL. The Laval Rocket of the American Hockey League also play in the area.

Ringette

The Montréal Mission compete in the National Ringette League and won a silver medal at the Canadian Ringette Championships in 2023.

Soccer

The city’s soccer team is CF Montréal, known as the Montreal Impact until 2021. They joined Major League Soccer in 2012 and play at Saputo Stadium. Montreal’s first professional women’s soccer team, Montreal Roses FC, began play in 2025 in the Northern Super League. There is also a Canadian Premier League team based in Laval, FC Supra du Québec.

Australian rules football

AFL Quebec is the governing body for Australian Rules Football in Quebec. It includes both men’s and women’s leagues and is one of the fastest-growing leagues in Canada. Games are usually played at Vanier College.

Boxing

Montreal is a top city for boxing in the world, hosting many events. The city has had world champions and many top boxers.

Baseball

Montreal had a minor league team, the Montreal Royals, and later a major league team, the Montreal Expos, which moved to Washington, D.C. in 2005 and became the Washington Nationals. There have been efforts to bring baseball back to Montreal.

Basketball

Montreal has had several minor professional basketball teams. Today, the city has the Montreal Alliance and the Montreal Toundra. Montreal has also hosted many preseason NBA games, showing strong interest in having its own team.

Gaelic sports

Hurling and Gaelic football have been played in Montreal since 1948 and are becoming more popular. Games are played against other cities, and there is a co-ed league for beginners.

Roller derby

Montréal Roller Derby was the first non-U.S. league to join the Women's Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA).

Rugby

Rugby is growing in Montreal, with many clubs. The sport is popular among both English and French speakers. Montreal has some of the oldest rugby clubs in North America.

Recreation

Montreal has many bike paths for riding bicycles. You can rent bikes at the Old Port of Montreal, along with quadricycles, inline skates, children trailers, and Segways. The city has many parks, such as le Parc du Mont-Royal, and five beaches for fun activities. These beaches include Cap St. Jacques Nature Park, Bois-de-L’Ile Bizard Nature Park, Jean Drapeau Park Beach, Pointe Calumet Beach Club, and Oka Beach. The Quebec Ministry of Environment checks these beaches for safety.

Bandy Quebec is trying to bring the sport of bandy to Montreal, but there are no teams yet.

Sporting events

Montreal is a special place for sports fans. It hosts the Formula 1 Canadian Grand Prix at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve on Île Notre-Dame. This exciting race brings many visitors each year and helps the city's economy. Other races have also taken place there, like the NAPA Auto Parts 200 and the Molson Indy Montreal / Grand Prix of Montreal.

Montreal has been home to many other sports events too. The Royal Montreal Golf Club has hosted the Canadian Open for golf fans. The city has also welcomed international soccer tournaments, such as the 2007 FIFA U-20 World Cup and the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup. Each summer, Montreal holds a tennis tournament called the Canada Masters, now known as the Rogers Cup, where top players from around the world compete. In cycling, the Grand Prix Cycliste de Montréal winds through the city's streets, using the hills of Mount Royal.

Montreal has also been a venue for big wrestling shows and swimming competitions. One of the most famous moments in wrestling history happened here. The city has hosted many diving and water sports events as well.

Multi-sport events

One of the biggest moments in Montreal's sports history was hosting the 1976 Summer Olympics. Many athletes from all over the world came to compete. The city tried to host another major event in 1954 but another city was chosen instead. Later, Montreal held a large sports event for athletes in 2006.

Organizations

Montreal is home to the Ethnosport World Society.

Sports media

Main article: Media in Montreal

Montreal has one all-sport radio station, the English-language CKGM (TSN 690). Newspapers such as The Montreal Gazette, La Presse, Le Journal de Montréal, and Le Devoir cover sports every day. The French-language cable channel Réseau des Sports (RDS) focuses on sports teams and events from Montreal, along with other North American sports, similar to its Toronto-based English-language sister station The Sports Network (TSN).

Major sports venues

List of sports teams