Banjo Bowl
Annual Canadian Football League rematch game
Banjo Bowl First meeting September 12, 2004Blue Bombers 27, Roughriders 24 Latest meeting September 9, 2023Blue Bombers 51, Roughriders 6 Next meeting September 7, 2024 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
TV
Roughriders QB
Blue Bombers QB
2004
September 12
Blue Bombers
27–24[7]
Canad Inns Stadium
27,160
Sportsnet
Henry Burris
Kevin Glenn
2005
September 10
Roughriders
19–17[8]
Canad Inns Stadium
29,653
CBC
Marcus Crandell
Kevin Glenn
2006
September 10
Blue Bombers
27–23[9]
Canad Inns Stadium
30,026
TSN
Kerry Joseph
Kevin Glenn
2007
September 9
Blue Bombers
34–15[10]
Canad Inns Stadium
29,783
TSN
Kerry Joseph
Kevin Glenn
2008
September 7
Roughriders
34–31[11]
Canad Inns Stadium
29,770
TSN
Michael Bishop
Kevin Glenn
2009
September 13
Roughriders
55–10[12]
Canad Inns Stadium
29,533
TSN
Darian Durant
Michael Bishop
2010
September 12
Blue Bombers
31–2[13]
Canad Inns Stadium
29,533
TSN
Darian Durant
Steven Jyles
2011
September 11
Roughriders
45–23[14]
Canad Inns Stadium
30,518
TSN
Darian Durant
Buck Pierce
2012
September 9
Roughriders
25–24[15]
Canad Inns Stadium
30,077
TSN
Darian Durant
Joey Elliott
2013
September 8
Blue Bombers
25–13[16]
Investors Group Field
33,500
TSN
Darian Durant
Justin Goltz
2014
September 7
Roughriders
30–24[17]
Investors Group Field
33,234
TSN
Darian Durant
Drew Willy
2015
September 12
Blue Bombers
22–7[18]
Investors Group Field
35,156
TSN
Brett Smith
Matt Nichols
2016
September 10
Blue Bombers
17–10[19]
Investors Group Field
33,234
TSN
Darian Durant
Matt Nichols
2017
September 9
Blue Bombers
48–28[20]
Investors Group Field
33,134
TSN
Kevin Glenn
Matt Nichols
2018
September 8
Roughriders
32–27[21]
Investors Group Field
33,134
TSN
Zach Collaros
Matt Nichols
2019
September 7
Blue Bombers
35–10[22]
IG Field
33,134
TSN
Cody Fajardo
Chris Streveler
2020
Not played due to COVID-19
2021
September 11
Blue Bombers
33–9[23]
IG Field
33,234
TSN
Cody Fajardo
Zach Collaros
2022
September 10
Blue Bombers
54–20[24]
IG Field
33,234
TSN
Cody Fajardo
Zach Collaros
2023
September 9
Blue Bombers
51–6[25]
IG Field
32,343
TSN
Jake Dolegala
Zach Collaros
References
^ Penton, Kirk (September 9, 2006). "Evolution of the Banjo Bowl" . Winnipeg Sun . Archived from the original on January 15, 2013. Retrieved 2009-09-13 . {{cite web }}
: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link )
^ Jones, Terry (September 2, 2007). "Labour Pains". Calgary Sun . p. S11.
^ "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 .
Franchise Stadiums Culture Important figures Retired numbers Key personnel Grey Cup championships (4) West Division championships (25) Current league affiliations
Franchise Stadiums Culture Lore Important figures Key personnel Grey Cup Championships (12) Western Division Championships (18) Eastern Division Championships (7) Current league affiliations