Courtesy Montreal Gazette:

Around the Canadian Football League, it’s known as the kiss of death.

Hosting a Grey Cup game in the modern era normally is a money-making proposition - just don’t expect the home team to compete in the championship match.

“There’s always more pressure on the host team, but let’s keep things in perspective,” Als president Larry Smith said yesterday during a news conference outlining details for the 96th edition of the CFL’s title game, Nov. 23 at Olympic Stadium.

“Before you win the lottery, there’s no sense thinking how much money you’ll spend,” Smith said. “It’s important not to lose sight of the objectives - win the regular season, the playoffs and then the Grey Cup. One game at a time is the objective.”

Ten times since 1950 has the city hosting the Cup played in the game, although it has occurred only four times since 1982, and none since 2002, when the Als defeated the Eskimos at Edmonton.

Last year, Toronto finished first in the East Division, only to be upset by Winnipeg in the division final.

That pitted two western-based teams - the Blue Bombers and Saskatchewan - in the championship game at Rogers Centre.

The last year the Alouettes hosted and played in the game was 1979, losing 17-9 to Edmonton. Two years earlier, again at the Big O, Montreal walloped the Esks 41-6.

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