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The Stamps set a post-pandemic attendance record in last week's win. Monday's Labour Day Classic could see even more fans flock to McMahon Stadium.
Published Aug 28, 2025 • Last updated 6 minutes ago • 7 minute read
Calgary Stampeders vs. Saskatchewan Roughriders
Calgary Stampeders quarterback Vernon Adams passes against the Saskatchewan Roughriders at McMahon Stadium in Calgary on Saturday, Aug. 23, 2025. Photo by Darren Makowichuk /Postmedia
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The annual Labour Day Classic brings on the magic.
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On the field, with two bitter rivals — including the black-clad hosts — forever locked in an epic battle …
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In the air, with the highly anticipated F-18 fighter jets fly-over lending pomp and ceremony to the afternoon …
And in the stands, where the spirit and fandom is high, as is the attendance compared to other affairs at McMahon Stadium.
Perhaps as much as 30,000 for this edition between the Calgary Stampeders (7-3) and the visiting Edmonton Elks (4-6) on Monday at McMahon Stadium (4 p.m., TSN, CHQR 770 AM/107.3 FM the Edge).
“We’re probably on pace to either be where we were last Saturday or higher,” said proud Stampeders president Jay McNeil, referring to the boisterous bunch of Canadian Football League fans in the stands for the Week 12 win by his team over the visiting Saskatchewan Roughriders.
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“We sold just over 28,000 tickets for last Saturday. And five days before this game, we’re about where we were last week. So we’re trending to be the same or better, to be honest with you.
“I’m hoping that we’re going to be able to push close to 29,000.”
The reasons are plenty for prognosticating such a positive number, which would be the highest amount of supporters to take in a Stampeders home game since the COVID pandemic.
The 28,295 strong to watch the 32-15 dominance by the Stamps over the rival Riders was the best attendance to fill McMahon since the 2019 CFL season.
“I’ve had a lot of fans talk to me about how exciting and how great the atmosphere was last Saturday,” McNeil said. “It was spirited, we had some Rider fans there, and we had our fans who were trying to equal the Rider fans in terms of noise. It was fantastic.
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“People just commented about how exciting it was and how electric it was.”
The air is likely to be even more charged for football’s Battle of Alberta come Monday at McMahon.
“There was a great atmosphere here last week,” added Stampeders GM/head coach Dave Dickenson. “The 28,000-plus fans really brought it. We’d love to see that again. You know … I do think our city and our fan base is energized. I think that people are taking notice that we’ve got a pretty good team and a fun environment.
“Our players love to play in that, and I think they’re getting a lot of support from the fans.”
Read More
[Calgary Stampeders quarterback Vernon Jr. Adams throws against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats at McMahon Stadium in Calgary on June 7, 2025.
Flu-like illness strikes Calgary Stampeders QB Vernon Adams Jr.; teammate/neighbour Tevin Jones on mend](https://calgaryherald.com/sports/flu-like-illness-strikes-calgary-stampeders-qb-vernon-adams-jr-teammate-neighbour-tevin-jones-on-mend?itm_source=calgary-stampeders&utm_source=read-more)
2. [Calgary Stampeders quarterback Vernon Adams with the pass against the Saskatchewan Roughriders in first half CFL action at McMahon stadium in Calgary on Saturday, August 23, 2025. Darren Makowichuk/Postmedia
5 Takeaways from Calgary Stampeders dominant take-down of CFL-leading Roughriders](https://calgaryherald.com/sports/5-takeaways-from-calgary-stampeders-dominant-take-down-of-cfl-leading-roughriders?itm_source=calgary-stampeders&utm_source=read-more)
WHAT’S UP WITH THE STAMPEDERS?
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Dickenson’s charges head into the LDC on a heater — at least in terms of how they played and who they beat in August.
The noisy home-turf triumphs over the front-running Roughriders and — before that — the defending five-time West Division champion Winnipeg Blue Bombers (6-4) righted what was a potential skid — after losing two straight — and gives them monster advantages in possible playoff tiebreakers.
That massive month, taking them just a game beyond the midway mark of the schedule, has the Stamps sitting second in the West Division standings and high among Grey Cup contenders, which is far cry from what many pundits expected from the club after respective six- and five-win seasons in 2023 and ’24.
Erik Brooks
Calgary Stampeders receiver Erik Brooks makes a spectacular catch against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers at McMahon Stadium in Calgary on Aug. 9, 2025. Photo by Darren Makowichuk /Postmedia
So there’s certainly a positive buzz again about the Red and White to help bring out the fans.
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“That success plays a huge role,” agreed McNeil, whose club missed the playoffs for the first time in two decades last year. “You know … people want to come out and watch a team that can compete every game. And … yes … everybody wants to win, and everybody likes to watch winning. But as long as you can compete and give an entertaining game, our fans will respond.
“And then you think about what we’ve been doing from the business side of things. Three years ago, we took an approach of wanting to invest in our season-ticket holders, in fan engagement and fan growth. And although it’s been slow to get momentum, we’ve been doing the right things off the field to help drive that. So when you put the two together, we’re starting to see what that could do.
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“It’s certainly really exciting for our organization.”
The marketing push this week is for ‘the blackout’ — the concept of having all fans attend the Labour Day Classic clad in black.
That is to match the much-ballyhooed black jerseys the team breaks out for the annual game in a bid to mark the tilt with historical splendour, which gets fuelled by the usual fly-over of Royal Canadian Air Force’s F-18 fighter jets in a pre-game appearance high above McMahon.
“We do spend a lot of time marketing Labour Day, but we don’t have to educate fans as to what it is — that’s what’s different about this game for us,” McNeil said. “Everybody knows what they can expect on Labour Day.
“They talk about the Battle of Alberta, with the jets flying over and us wearing our black jerseys … everybody gets that.
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“But we do still put a lot of effort into marketing it, because we know that it’s a great game and we want to make it as big as we possibly can.”
WHAT’S UP WITH THE ELKS?
That push to bring more people to McMahon should certainly be helped by the fact the Elks are also trending in the right direction.
After getting out of the gate slowly — again — the Elks have turned that 0-3 start into 4-3 success, including three straight wins coming into this contest.
They beat the host Ottawa Redblacks 30-20 last Friday, after tripping up the visiting Toronto Argonauts 28-20 the week previous and edging the host Montreal Alouettes 23-22 in Week 10.
“We haven’t played Edmonton yet all year, so it’s definitely a new opponent,” Dickenson said. “And they’re well coached. They’ve got good coaches in all three phases.”
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Edmonton Elks vs. Ottawa Redblacks
Edmonton Elks quarterback Cody Fajardothrows a pass against the Ottawa Redblacks at TD Place in Ottawa on Friday, Aug. 22, 2025. Photo by Spencer Colby /The Canadian Press
Their head coach, of course, is former Stampeders special-teams guru Mark Kilam, who was among the assistants cut here last year in the team’s off-season mission to alter its losing ways.
The Elks then made Kilam their sideline boss — a much deserving gig for the longtime CFL leader — and it seems the appointment is paying off for the struggling franchise.
“Mark was here before me, so he was relishing that opportunity (to be head coach),” Dickenson said. “In our league, certainly, there’s a lot of head coaches who have (been special-teams coaches) and done well. So not surprised with (Kilam’s success).”
WHAT’S THE WEATHER FORECAST FOR MONDAY?
After a forecasted week of sun leading up to Monday, it’s shaping up to be another nice afternoon for the LDC …
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Partly sunny and a high of 29 C right around kickoff.
Those kind of conditions always help bring out fans.
“Obviously, weather has a huge impact on attendance at a game,” McNeil said. “You know … how many tickets we’re going to sell and if it’s looking like it’s going to rain or if the forecast is for rain that day. But even when the forecast is nice for game day, if it’s raining during the week, our ticket sales slow down.
“So the weather has a massive impact on our business. And the Labour Day Classic is special on a nice day, with everybody there cheering.”
Yup … it’s all coming together for what’s projected to be a fun afternoon at McMahon.
“You’ve got Edmonton on a three-game win streak, and you’ve got our team who’s exciting to watch,” McNeil said. “And then you add in the magic of Labour Day. The weather is going to be beautiful. We’re going to have the F-18 flyover, the blackout …”
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Making for an even more appealing outing than last Saturday’s spectacle.
“I keep referring back to last week, but everything was firing on all cylinders — the weather, the crowd, the records of both teams …” added McNeil. “All of those things are great for the marketing of the game. Everything we could do as an organization, we certainly did, and it was great — like it was the best night we’ve had since I’ve been back with the team in three years.
“And Monday is we’re looking to deliver essentially the same — if not better — which is pretty exciting to do two games in a row. We haven’t done that since before the pandemic. And that would be pretty special.”
SHORT YARDAGE
QB Vernon Adams Jr. was back at Stamps practice Thursday, after battling illness that kept him from the first session of the week Wednesday … WR Dominique Rhymes (calf) returned to the field after missing the Week 12 win, but he was limited in the session.
tsaelhof@postmedia.com
http://www.x.com/ToddSaelhofPM
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