First meeting | September 12, 2004 Blue Bombers 27, Roughriders 24 |
---|---|
Latest meeting | September 9, 2023 Blue Bombers 51, Roughriders 6 |
Next meeting | September 7, 2024 |
Statistics | |
Meetings total | 19 |
All-time series | Blue Bombers lead, 12–7 |
Largest victory | Roughriders: 55–10 (2009) Blue Bombers: 51-6 (2023) |
Smallest victory | Roughriders: 25–24 (2012) Blue Bombers: 27–24 (2004) |
Longest win streak | Blue Bombers: 4 (2019-present) |
Current win streak | Blue Bombers: 4 (2019–present) |
The Banjo Bowl is the annual rematch game between the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Canadian Football League (CFL) after the Labour Day Classic. While the traditional Labour Day Classic game is always played on the Sunday before Labour Day at Mosaic Stadium in Regina, Saskatchewan (previously held at Taylor Field), there is usually a rematch on the following weekend between these two rival prairie teams at IG Field (previously held at Canad Inns Stadium) in Winnipeg, Manitoba.
History
The "Banjo Bowl" moniker was coined by Blue Bombers board member David Asper in early 2004, inspired by an infamous comment made by Bombers placekicker Troy Westwood in the week prior to a 2003 Western Division Semi-final game between the two teams. Westwood was quoted in the media as saying that people from Regina were "a bunch of banjo-pickin' inbreds."[1] He later apologized halfheartedly for those comments, saying that "the vast majority of the people in Saskatchewan have no idea how to play the banjo."[2] This further fuelled the Winnipeg–Saskatchewan football rivalry and has made the rematch game even more of an event. The game is sponsored by the Manitoba Liquor & Lotteries Corporation. The game has been sold out every year since 2005. As of the 2022 season, Winnipeg leads the series 11–7.
As on Labour Day weekend when many Winnipeg fans visit Regina to support the Bombers, many Saskatchewan fans visit Winnipeg the following weekend to support the 'Riders. Many come, tongue-in-cheek, with banjos.
Despite not being an official event, the Canadian Football League website promotes the game by referring to it as "Banjo Bowl" in some of its online coverage[3] as does the league's official television broadcaster, TSN.[4] In 2013, the Premier of Saskatchewan, Brad Wall, joined in the spirit of the event by posting a video on his YouTube channel making reference to the rivalry and the Banjo Bowl game.[5] The Riders themselves have avoided the use of the title "Banjo Bowl" in official communications, referring to the game as the "Labour Day rematch".[6]
Results
Year | Date | Winner | Score | Venue | Attendance | Roughriders QB | Blue Bombers QB | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2004 | September 12 | Blue Bombers | 27–24[7] | Canad Inns Stadium | 27,160 | Henry Burris | Kevin Glenn | |
2005 | September 10 | Roughriders | 19–17[8] | Canad Inns Stadium | 29,653 | Marcus Crandell | Kevin Glenn | |
2006 | September 10 | Blue Bombers | 27–23[9] | Canad Inns Stadium | 30,026 | Kerry Joseph | Kevin Glenn | |
2007 | September 9 | Blue Bombers | 34–15[10] | Canad Inns Stadium | 29,783 | Kerry Joseph | Kevin Glenn | |
2008 | September 7 | Roughriders | 34–31[11] | Canad Inns Stadium | 29,770 | Michael Bishop | Kevin Glenn | |
2009 | September 13 | Roughriders | 55–10[12] | Canad Inns Stadium | 29,533 | Darian Durant | Michael Bishop | |
2010 | September 12 | Blue Bombers | 31–2[13] | Canad Inns Stadium | 29,533 | Darian Durant | Steven Jyles | |
2011 | September 11 | Roughriders | 45–23[14] | Canad Inns Stadium | 30,518 | Darian Durant | Buck Pierce | |
2012 | September 9 | Roughriders | 25–24[15] | Canad Inns Stadium | 30,077 | Darian Durant | Joey Elliott | |
2013 | September 8 | Blue Bombers | 25–13[16] | Investors Group Field | 33,500 | Darian Durant | Justin Goltz | |
2014 | September 7 | Roughriders | 30–24[17] | Investors Group Field | 33,234 | Darian Durant | Drew Willy | |
2015 | September 12 | Blue Bombers | 22–7[18] | Investors Group Field | 35,156 | Brett Smith | Matt Nichols | |
2016 | September 10 | Blue Bombers | 17–10[19] | Investors Group Field | 33,234 | Darian Durant | Matt Nichols | |
2017 | September 9 | Blue Bombers | 48–28[20] | Investors Group Field | 33,134 | Kevin Glenn | Matt Nichols | |
2018 | September 8 | Roughriders | 32–27[21] | Investors Group Field | 33,134 | Zach Collaros | Matt Nichols | |
2019 | September 7 | Blue Bombers | 35–10[22] | IG Field | 33,134 | Cody Fajardo | Chris Streveler | |
2020 | Not played due to COVID-19 | |||||||
2021 | September 11 | Blue Bombers | 33–9[23] | IG Field | 33,234 | Cody Fajardo | Zach Collaros | |
2022 | September 10 | Blue Bombers | 54–20[24] | IG Field | 33,234 | Cody Fajardo | Zach Collaros | |
2023 | September 09 | Blue Bombers | 51-6[25] | IG Field | 32,343 | Jake Dolegala | Zach Collaros | |
References
- ↑ Penton, Kirk (September 9, 2006). "Evolution of the Banjo Bowl". Winnipeg Sun. Retrieved 2009-09-13.
- ↑ Jones, Terry (September 2, 2007). "Labour Pains". Calgary Sun. p. S11. Retrieved 2007-09-02.
- ↑ "Preview: Bombers, Riders Set for 'Banjo Bowl' in Winnipeg". cfl.ca. September 7, 2013. Archived from the original on September 11, 2013. Retrieved September 10, 2016.
- ↑ TSN story Archived December 16, 2013, at the Wayback Machine
- ↑ "Premier picks on Bombers prior to Banjo Bowl". CBC News. September 6, 2013. Retrieved September 10, 2016.
- ↑ "Riders looking to squash 'Banjo Bowl' name for Labour Day rematch with Winnipeg". CTV News Regina. 2023-09-07. Retrieved 2023-09-08.
- ↑ "Riders Unable to Pluck Victory from Bombers Sep.12/04". riderville.com. September 12, 2004. Archived from the original on February 20, 2012. Retrieved September 10, 2016.
- ↑ "Roughriders 19, Blue Bombers 17 | CFL.ca | Official Site of the Canadian Football League". Archived from the original on 2012-08-29. Retrieved 2010-03-12.
- ↑ "Bombers Find Right Tune to Capture Banjo Bowl". cfl.ca. September 11, 2006. Archived from the original on August 29, 2012. Retrieved September 10, 2016.
- ↑ "Blue Bombers 34, Roughriders 15". cfl.ca. September 9, 2007. Archived from the original on August 29, 2012. Retrieved September 10, 2016.
- ↑ "Riders' 17-point Comeback Stuns Bombers". cfl.ca. September 7, 2008. Archived from the original on August 29, 2012. Retrieved September 10, 2016.
- ↑ "Sunday Sep. 9, 2007: Saskatchewan @ Winnipeg Recap". CFL.ca. Archived from the original on 2009-09-15.
- ↑ "Riders Out of Tune in Bombers Banjo Bowl Win". cfl.ca. September 12, 2010. Archived from the original on May 25, 2012. Retrieved September 10, 2016.
- ↑ "Riders dispatch Bombers in Banjo Bowl | CBC Sports". CBC News. 2011-09-12. Archived from the original on 2021-04-18.
- ↑ "Green Sweep" Riders Shock Bombers, Win Banjo Bowl". cfl.ca. September 9, 2012. Archived from the original on September 12, 2012. Retrieved September 10, 2016.
- ↑ "Bombers Strum Their Way to Banjo Bowl Victory". cfl.ca. September 8, 2013. Archived from the original on September 26, 2015. Retrieved September 10, 2016.
- ↑ "Heavy Price: Riders Win Banjo Bowl, Lose Durant". cfl.ca. September 7, 2014. Archived from the original on September 8, 2014. Retrieved September 10, 2016.
- ↑ "Back at Ya: Nichols Strong-arms Bombers in Rematch". cfl.ca. November 29, 2015. Archived from the original on September 13, 2015. Retrieved September 10, 2016.
- ↑ "Strumming along: Bombers win Banjo Bowl, lose Harris to injury". cfl.ca. September 10, 2016. Retrieved September 11, 2016.
- ↑ "Saskatchewan Roughriders Winnipeg Blue Bombers game stats". cfl.ca. September 9, 2017. Retrieved September 9, 2017.
- ↑ "Riders defeat Bombers in wild Banjo Bowl for fourth straight win". cfl.ca. September 8, 2018. Retrieved October 31, 2019.
- ↑ "Strummin' Along: Monster first half powers Bombers to Banjo Bowl victory". cfl.ca. September 7, 2019. Retrieved October 31, 2019.
- ↑ "Bombers defeat Riders for a second-straight Banjo Bowl title". cfl.ca. September 11, 2021. Retrieved September 11, 2021.
- ↑ "BOMBERS DOMINATE IN WIN OVER RIDERS IN LABOUR DAY REMATCH". cfl.ca. September 10, 2022. Retrieved September 10, 2022.
- ↑ "Bombers defeat Riders for a fourth straight Banjo Bowl title". cfl.ca. September 9, 2023. Retrieved September 10, 2023.