Montreal Alouettes will not renew contract of team president Mario Cecchini

Photo courtesy: Montreal Alouettes

The Montreal Alouettes will not renew the contract of team president Mario Cecchini when it expires at the end of this month, according to Herb Zurkowsky of the Montreal Gazette.

The executive was hired alongside general manager Danny Maciocia in January 2020 shortly after the team was purchased by S and S Sportsco, a corporate entity owned by steel magnate Sid Spiegel and son-in-law Gary Stern. Spiegel passed away in July 2021 and his 75 ownership stake moved into the control of his estate. The remaining 25 percent remains under the ownership of Stern.

The Alouettes have seen increased ticket sales under Cecchini’s watch and, according to published data, are one of only three teams to achieve an increase in attendance from 2019 to 2022 alongside B.C. and Winnipeg. Attendance league-wide has decreased by 5.2 percent over that timespan. Zurkowsky also reported that the team’s corporate sponsorships have also increased.

“I have a lot to say about the departure of Alouettes president Mario Cecchini, but I will simply say that it is a disaster,” wrote former player Matthieu Proulx in a tweet that was translated from French. “Where are the owners? What are they doing? Do they have an iota of idea of what is going on in Mtl? It’s time to sell the team and quickly please!!”

Montreal will hold a press conference on Tuesday when new head coach Jason Maas will address the media for the first time alongside Maciocia.