For the first time since the 2023 season, the upper bowl at Commonwealth Stadium will open to spectators for an Edmonton Elks game. The team said more than 26,000 tickets for the Saturday matchup against the Saskatchewan Roughriders had been sold as of 9 a.m. on Friday and more are expected to be sold before gametime. Lagging ticket sales in recent years had caused the team to close the upper bowl as the Elks struggled to win games. This year the team has gone 6-1 and currently leads the West Division. “It’s going to be great for players to have a true home field advantage where it’s noisy and their offence has a hard time functioning, and we’re hopeful that right from the beginning of the game it’s a hostile environment for the Saskatchewan Roughriders,” Elks president and CEO Chris Morris told reporters on Friday. “Everybody’s walking around with some pride. Everybody’s walking around like they feel like they’re part of something special.” The Riders always draw a crowd when they play in Edmonton and more than 30,000 tickets were sold for the matchup during the 2025 season. The Elks say ticket sales for Saturday’s game are on pace to exceed that total. Donations for Edmonton’s Food Bank will also be accepted at the game as part of the Purolator Tackle Hunger campaign. Kickoff is at 5 p.m.
