Ottawa Redblacks announce they’ve sold out non-season, non-single tickets for opener

One of the big questions around the return of Ottawa to the CFL this season was just how much excitement there would be locally. Enthusiasm seemed limited when the team's 2014 return was officially announced in 2012, and the selection of a controversial name and a bizarre way to spell it didn't necessarily help the cause. However, the team's profile has been on the rise since then, with interest increasing during their GM and coach hirings and their expansion draft. By the time they reached their uniform unveiling in early May, which was smartly done as a high-profile event for season-ticket holders and special guests, the excitement locally seemed much more palpable. What still matters in the CFL is putting fans in the seats, though, and the team's announcement Tuesday that they've sold out of non-season, non-single tickets for their July 18 home opener a month in advance is a huge step on that front. Here's the key part:

This isn't a complete sellout, though. As the release also notes, some tickets have been held back for fans wishing to purchase season tickets, and some single tickets and obstructed-view seats are available as well. Thus, not quite all of the 24,000 seats at TD Place are spoken for just yet. This is a great sign for the Redblacks, though, and one that suggests that excitement in Ottawa is building; the decent showing they put up in their first preseason game Saturday should help as well. There are challenges ahead for them on the field, especially in getting a group composed of players from all over to gel quickly, but it sounds like the business side is ticking along just fine. That's terrific news for the long-term future of the CFL in Ottawa.