The Calgary Stampeders‘ touchdown horse “Quick Six” won’t be galloping down the sidelines at Sunday’s Grey Cup game in Toronto.
The Canadian Football League told the team the mascot is not welcome at BMO Field because “there isn’t enough room.”
WATCH ABOVE: Grey Cup Committee member Brad Greenslade joins Global Calgary with details on the traditional festivities planned for this year’s Grey Cup in Toronto.
“It is disappointing,” CFL Commissioner Jeffrey Orridge said Tuesday. “I know a lot of fans look forward to seeing Quick Six, just as they look forward to the loggers cutting the cookies when the Redblacks make a touchdown. But unfortunately space and safety won’t allow it in this venue this time.
“Inside is what counts and that’s what we all agreed to. It’s not a matter of a decision being made. There was no opportunity to have a Quick Six or the log cutters given the safety factors.”
BMO Field, which is managed by Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment, has been expanded from 27,000 to about 35,000 seats for the Grey Cup game and is expected to have limited sideline space.
READ MORE: Grey Cup organizers expect sellout game for Stamps versus Redblacks
This is the second Stampeders Grey Cup appearance in a row where Quick Six was confronted with some unease in Toronto.
The horse was permitted inside the Rogers Centre during the 2012 championship game but was not allowed to run up and down the sidelines.
READ MORE: Calgary Stampeders dominate B.C. Lions 42-15 to secure spot in 2016 Grey Cup game
The Redblacks’ chainsaw crew was also prohibited from sawing logs on the field at the Grey Cup game in Winnipeg.
Despite the ban at the football game, Brad Greenslade and his fellow Calgary Grey Cup Committee members will be parading their horse, Tuffy, through a downtown Toronto Holiday Inn on Friday night.
The hotel’s director of sales and marketing said the lobby is carpeted so there’s no accidents: “more from the standpoint of the horse; we don’t want him to slip and fall.”
“He was here in 2012 as well,” Susan Bailey said. “We actually did have some time with him in the lobby. They walked him around the block and rode him in the lobby, spent some time for people to come up and pat him…feed him carrots. It was a really good time. We’re looking forward to it again.”
Full statement from CFL director of communications Paulo Senra:
“Unfortunately, there just isn’t enough room on the sidelines at BMO Field for us to safely accommodate either Quick Six, the Stampeders’ Touchdown Horse, or the Algonquin Loggersports Team, that cuts a wood cookie each time the Redblacks score a touchdown. The teams have been notified of this. We are, however, looking forward to seeing their cheer teams at Grey Cup as well as their mascots, Ralph the Dog from Calgary, and Big Joe from Ottawa.”
With files from Global’s Mark McAllister and Erika Tucker