After 16 games and 16 loses, the Ottawa Redblacks have one last chance to give their home fans something to cheer about this season. Ottawa welcomes the Toronto Argonauts to TD Place Friday night for its final home game of the 2026 campaign, still searching for its first victory. With just two games remaining, the Redblacks are also facing the possibility of becoming the first team in CFL history to finish a season with a 0-18 record. For longtime fans Robert Venasse, it’s been a frustrating year. “It’s just terrible,” Venasse told CTV News Ottawa. “There was a lot of hope in the off-season with signing [Ryan] Dinwiddie, and it’s just not worked out in so many different ways.” Venasse has been attending games since the Redblacks returned to Ottawa in 2014, sharing season tickets with a group of 12 friends. But after a season without a win, some are questioning whether they’ll return next year. “Some of the guys don’t want to come back. I do,” he said. Despite the team’s struggles, Venasse says game days have become a tradition, with friends gathering for drinks before heading into TD Place. “You’re usually on the patio, having some pre-game drinks and then, you know, stagger into the game, watch the game,” he said laughing. While the results on the field haven’t given fans much to celebrate, the social experience continues to bring some supporters back. For Redblacks radio play-by-play announcer AJ Jakubec, who has called the team’s games since its inaugural season, the year has been particularly difficult. Asked where 2026 ranks among the seasons he’s covered, Jakubec didn’t hesitate. “Probably last,” he said. “When they were 2-16 in the first year, at least there was a novelty factor.” The struggles have also raised questions about future of fan support and ticket sales. Ottawa Sports and Entertainment Group president and CEO Mark Goudie acknowledges the organization hasn’t lived up to expectations. “It’s been a trying year. I think we haven’t delivered what we expected to be able to deliver to our fans,” Goudie said. “People love being here, right? And that’s why we need to uphold our end of the bargain and provide entertaining football and get them excited about coming out here.” Goudie says season tickets for 2027 have not yet gone on sale, while the organizations continue its search for a new team president. He says that person will be responsible for assembling a championship-caliber team and rekindling interest in the franchise. “We look forward to having a really successful off-season and starting to build back the trust and build back the team that we need,” he said. Despite the disappointing season, Goudie dismissed concerns that the team’s struggles could put its long-term future in Ottawa at risk. “There’s zero chance of that,” he said, pointing to plans for a new stadium and event centre at Lansdowne Park. “It feels really horrible because we’re right in the middle of it right now, but in our 100-year history, this is going to be a blip.” As for Venasse, he’s hoping the team can avoid making unwanted history. “You don’t want to go down in infamy as the first team to lose 18 games,” he said. “It would be embarrassing. We’d become the butt of jokes.” The Redblacks kick off against Toronto at 7 p.m. Friday before wrapping up their season in Hamilton on Oct. 24.
