When Calgary hosted the 1975 Grey Cup game, it was an epic moment for the Canadian Football League. For the first time, the game was being played on the Prairies. November weather being what it can be, the day was bitterly cold (-10 to -15 C) and the weather was a big factor in the game. Neither of the two teams playing — the Edmonton Eskimos or the Montreal Alouettes — scored a touchdown the entire game. The Eskimos eventually edged out the Alouettes by a score of 9-8 — one of the lowest scoring games in Grey Cup history.
Fans’ spirits, however, remained high. A huge party atmosphere surrounded the game, which saw 32,322 fans flock to McMahon Stadium. It even attracted a partially naked female streaker who danced across the field during pre-game activities, including the national anthem, for between five and 10 minutes. She was eventually arrested and charged with creating a disturbance. City police said while they had many contingency plans for dealing with Grey Cup festivities, they didn’t count on a streaker. “We had no spare overcoats,” one police spokesman said.
Here are some of the Herald’s archives photos and newspaper pages from the game 46 years ago.
The city of Calgary was excited to host the 1975 Grey Cup. Calgary Herald archives.JOURNAL STOCK
The big sign outside of McMahon Stadium said it all, as the Edmonton Eskimos prepared to meet the Montreal Alouettes for the Grey Cup — the first time the game was played in a Prairie city. Calgary Herald archives.
A woman streaks across the field during the opening ceremonies of the 1975 Grey Cup at McMahon Stadium. Calgary Herald archives.Calgary Herald
Eskimo quarterback Tom Wilkinson at the 1975 Grey Cup game. Calgary Herald archives.
Jubilant fans enjoyed the football game held in McMahon Stadium. Calgary Herald archives.
Montreal Alouette #11 Don Sweet missed a last-second field goal as the Edmonton Eskimos won the Grey Cup 9-8. Calgary Herald archives
A shower of champagne for 1975 game hero Dave Cutler. Postmedia archives.
The empty flasks stood in McMahon Stadium as monuments to somebody’s good time, likely followed by a monumental Grey Cup hangover. Calgary Herald archives.
Fans rushed for better views of their Grey Cup winning heroes during the homecoming parade in Edmonton on Nov, 25 1975. Edmonton Journal archives.
Edmonton Eskimo fans dressed for 1975 Grey Cup.Photo by Postmedia archives.
