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The Edmonton Elks are a professional Canadian football team based in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. The team was founded in 1949 as the Edmonton Eskimos and was a member of the Canadian Football League (CFL) until 2020. In June 2021, the team announced that they would be changing their name to the Edmonton Elks, with the new name becoming official on June 2, 2021.

The Edmonton Elks play their home games at Commonwealth Stadium, which has a seating capacity of over 55,000. The team has won 14 Grey Cup championships, tied for the most in CFL history with the Toronto Argonauts. The Elks have also won the Western Division ten times and the Canadian Division four times.

History

The Edmonton Eskimos were founded in 1949 and played their first game on September 1 of that year, losing to the Calgary Stampeders 20-0. The team’s first Grey Cup championship came in 1954, and they went on to win the championship in 1955, 1956, 1975, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1987, 1993, 2003, 2005, and 2015.

Throughout their history, the Eskimos have had many notable players, including Warren Moon, who led the team to five straight Grey Cup championships from 1978 to 1982. Other notable players include Tom Wilkinson, Hugh Campbell, and Normie Kwong.

Name Change

In recent years, the Eskimos name has been the subject of controversy, with some Indigenous groups calling for a name change due to its perceived insensitivity. In July 2020, the team announced that they would be conducting a review of the name, and in August 2020, they announced that they would be retaining the name for the 2020 season but would be open to changing it in the future.

In November 2020, the team announced that they would be changing their name, but did not announce the new name at that time. In June 2021, the team announced that they would be changing their name to the Edmonton Elks, with the new name becoming official on June 2, 2021.

The Edmonton Elks are a storied franchise in Canadian football, with a rich history of success on the field. While the team’s name may have changed, their commitment to excellence and their loyal fan base remain the same. As they move forward under their new name, the Elks will look to build on their past accomplishments and continue to be a strong contender in the CFL.