Canadian Football League to use Redskins training center in Richmond

A Canadian Football League team plans to use the Washington Redskins training camp in Richmond for a preseason “mini-camp” in April.

The Ottawa RedBlacks said the team will use the Bon Secours Washington Redskins Training Center for football drills on April 8-1

This year will mark the inaugural season for the RedBlacks, the third team to be based in Ottawa in the history of  the Canadian Football League

The Richmond training center opened last summer, drawing thousands of Redskins fans. The Redskins' permanent training facility is in Ashburn.

RedBlacks officials said the Richmond mini-camp would help its players gel as a team.

“After looking at numerous options for mini‐camp, we feel that the facilities in Richmond are going to provide the RedBlacks with the best working environment for our inaugural team function. These first‐class facilities will allow the players, coaches, personnel and support staff to work together to maximize our mini‐camp experience,” Redblacks General Nanager Marcel Desjardins said in a statement.

The RedBlacks will practice from 9 a.m. to noon on Wednesday, April 9 and Thursday, April 10 at the Richmond facility.

The Ottawa team will play its first game, a preseason exhibition, against the Saskatchewan Roughriders on June 14.

The league's regular season ends in early November.