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They've been to the Grey Cup so many times in so many CFL cities, they're now working on the second time around.
Folks forget. This is where the Montreal Alouettes came in. It was Calgary 2000.
"In 2000, we were just a bunch of young guys here to enjoy the whole Grey Cup experience," said veteran offensive lineman Bryan Chiu.
The Alouettes may not have much to show for their seven Grey Cup appearances so far this century, but they're certainly not lacking in Grey Cup experiences. And this one may be the most unusual.
It's like they're not even here. It's like there's only one team. They're favoured. But they're not the favourites.
The sensation of having what seems like most of Saskatchewan taking over the town - combined with their own strange schedule here this week - has made it feel like there's only one team in the game. And that's not the team favored to win it by nine points.
But the Als don't mind. This time, they swear, they came for the game.
They won one in Edmonton (2002) and lost in Calgary (2000), Regina (2003), Vancouver (2005), Winnipeg (2007) and at home in Montreal last year.
There are many reasons for their lack of visibility at this Grey Cup. One is that they're the same story every year.
Dominate the East. Get to the Grey Cup. Lose.
They're the team of the decade in regular-season wins with 115, but need this Grey Cup to tie Calgary, Edmonton and B.C. with two.
Because of the appeal of the Saskatchewan franchise and the unquestioned greatest fans in the league, whoever they play in a Grey Cup is going to play second banana.
But Montreal has brought much of this on to themselves and quite intentionally.
They showed up here almost anonymously in the wee hours of the morning Wednesday, long after the Riders had been met by a marching band and a media mob at the airport in mid-afternoon. They chose to have a walk-through practice Wednesday and have the late practice time all week, resulting in even East media members leaning to Saskatchewan coverage because of Eastern time zone pressures.
As far as the Als are concerned, the Roughriders can have all the ink and Saskatchewan can go ahead and paint the town green. This time they're determined to show up for the Grey Cup on Sunday.
"After we lost last year's Grey Cup in Montreal we all vowed we'd get back. We're back and it's all about the game," said Chiu.
The big game:
*WHO: Montreal vs. Saskatchewan
*WHERE: Calgary
*WHEN: Sunday, 3:30 PT
*HOW: On TSN