(Edmonton)  The 2010 Grey Cup Festival Committee today introduced “Earl” as the mascot of the 2010 Grey Cup game and the Hot to Huddle festival.  Earl is modeled after the Grey Cup itself and proudly sports the Edmonton Eskimo green and gold on his jersey.  Once the big game is played on November 28, 2010, Earl will become the property of the Canadian Football League in hopes of becoming the official mascot of the Grey Cup.

In introducing the mascot, Rick LeLacheur, Co-Chair of the 2010 Grey Cup Festival said, “We are proud to introduce Earl to the 2010 Grey Cup Festival and know that he will play an important role in promoting the game and the festival events.”

Earl was designed and built in Edmonton by the International Mascot Corporation and is named in honour of Lord Earl Grey, the popular Governor General of Canada from 1904 to 1911 who, in 1909, awarded the first Grey Cup to the top amateur football team in Canada.  Earl is the primary mascot and ambassador of the 2010 Grey Cup Festival in Edmonton and the first mascot of the CFL championship game.

Earl will be getting to work early as he will be appearing at Grey Cup week in Calgary.  Throughout the year, fans will be able to see the Grey Cup mascot out and about in the community where he will be attending events, festivals, schools and hospitals.

“We’re very excited to have Earl as a part of Hot to Huddle and the CFL,” says 2010 Grey Cup Festival Director Duane Vienneau.  “He is a friendly, outgoing and carefree representation of the Grey Cup and we are hoping Earl will become part of Canada’s game in years to come.”