Delorimier Stadium

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Delormier Stadium was a 20,000-seat sports stadium at Delormier Avenue and Ontario Street in downtown Montreal, Canada that was home to the Montreal Royals International League baseball team from 1928 to 1960 and from 1946 to 1953, home to the Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football League.

Delormier Downs, as it was originally called, was built by former Major League Baseball manager George Stallings, Montreal lawyer and politician Athanase David, and businessman Ernest Savard. The stadium opened in May of 1928 following a parade and a large inauguration ceremony. Royals' general manager Frank Shaughnessy had a lighting system installed in the stadium for the 1935 season.

The stadium saw the launching of the baseball career of Gene Mauch, who later came back to manage the Montreal Expos, plus future Hall of Fame members Sparky Anderson, Roberto Clemente and Jackie Robinson, the man who broke pro baseball's colour barrier with the Royals in 1946. Others Royals' players of note include player-turned-actor Chuck Connors and Hall of Fame members Duke Snider, Don Drysdale, Walter Alston, Roy Campanella and Tommy Lasorda.

The Montreal Alouettes were founded in 1946 and played there to capacity crowds until 1953 when the team moved to larger facilities. It is where Canadian Football Hall of Fame quarterback Sam Etcheverry made his CFL debut.

In 1951, several British football (soccer) teams toured North America. Glasgow Celtic played an exhibition match at Delorimier Stadium on May 20th against Fulham. In 1957 Glasgow Celtic returned to Delorimier for a June 9th exhibition match against Tottenham Hotspur. Although six years apart, on both occasions the ticket price was 15¢. [1]

Delorimier Stadium was also the site of a number of professional boxing and wrestling matches.

After the Montreal Royals ceased to operate in 1960, the stadium saw limited use and was eventually torn down. Prior to the demolition of the stadium, the building was torn down in bits, and the interior was used to house makeshift classrooms as the student population in Quebec grew rapidly (due to kids staying in school longer) in the late 1960s (see External link below). The site is now occupied by a school and while there is a small stone memorial at the corner of the park, someone has removed the small plaque that once was placed on the memorial honouring Mr. Robinson's accomplishments. It is now impossible for those who don't already know to realize the history that was once made on this otherwise non descript school yard. [2]