The Winnipeg Blue Bombers hosted the first backdoor party since 2019 before Saturday’s Banjo Bowl at IG Field.
Michael Ludwig, aka the Bomber Reaper, said everyone who comes for the game comes through the tailgate.
“This is the first time we’ve been able to interact with everyone this year,” Ludwig said of the tailgate. “This makes a Banjo Bowl, Banjo Bowl.”
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Taine Vallance, a Saskatchewan Roughriders fan who lives in Winnipeg, said he was so excited to get involved in the back door after the COVID-19 pandemic banned large gatherings for so long.
“It’s been so hard, so difficult, it’s good to see that we are slowly getting back to normal and we can get back together again,” Vallance said. “I love seeing all this, it makes me very happy.”
The Blue Bombers and Roughriders were unable to play in the Banjo Bowl last year after the 2020 season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Laresa Sayles, a former Winnipegger now living in BC, left her husband at home on their 10th wedding anniversary and boarded a plane with her friend to catch this year’s Banjo Bowl.
“I’m a little embarrassed, but it is what it is,” Sayles said. “We will celebrate next week.”
Although the Banjo Bowl was sold out, fewer Saskatchewan fans bought tickets to the game than usual, according to a Blue Bombers spokesperson.
Chuck Morrison, who drove from Saskatchewan on Friday, suspects that COVID-19 has something to do with it.
“I can tell from the lack of green in this area compared to 2019 when we were here, there were a lot of Rider fans,” Morrison said.
Saturday’s meeting between the two rivals marks the 17th edition of the Banjo Bowl, with the Bombers leading 9-7 overall.
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