MONTREAL — Varsity Pictures and Lionsgate will shoot a 13-part series about football, partying and hazing this spring in Montreal.

Blue Mountain State will return to the city where its pilot was shot to film its first season, confirmed Spike TV spokeswoman Jenni Runyan. Although Runyan said no date has been set, the shoot will likely begin imminently as the series will premiere this summer.

Its arrival is a promising sign for Montreal, where the service industry has been sluggish for some time.

Produced by Varsity Pictures’ Brian Robbins (Smallville, Varsity Blues) and Sharla Sumpter-Bridgett and Lionsgate, the half-hour comedy is aimed squarely at the U.S. cable channel’s male demographic, combining college football with Animal House.

Blue Mountain State follows three freshmen, attending a college football powerhouse, who must quickly adapt to college life and juggle football, girls, classes and non-stop hazing.

Former NFL running back Ed Marinaro (Monk, 8 Simple Rules, Hill Street Blues) stars as the coach. Sam Jones III (Glory Road), Chris Romano and Darin Brooks (Big Bounce) are featured as the three college friends.

No word yet on the shoot’s specific location.

The series brings a reported $30-million budget, but Spike would not confirm that figure. A spokesman for Montreal’s technicians union AQTIS, told Playback Daily that no contracts have been signed. ‘For us [the budget] is still a rumor,’ says Gaétan St-Antoine.

Montreal’s Film and Television Commission did not return calls for this article.