Elks 2023 schedule released
Edmonton's regular season opens June 11 vs. Saskatchewan
EDMONTON – The road to the 110th Grey Cup at Tim Hortons Field in Hamilton has been charted, as the CFL unveiled its 2023 schedule on Tuesday.
The Edmonton Elks kick off their 74th regular season on Sunday, June 11, when the Green and Gold host the Saskatchewan Roughriders at Commonwealth Stadium. Highlights of the Elks' 18-game schedule include the annual Labour Day Classic (Sept. 4) and rematch (Sept. 9) against the Calgary Stampeders, and a visit from the defending champion Toronto Argonauts on June 25.
CLICK HERE FOR THE ELKS 2023 SCHEDULE
KEY DATES
- Regular season/home opener: Sunday, June 11 vs. Saskatchewan Roughriders
- Labour Day Classic: Monday, September 4 @ Calgary Stampeders
- Labour Day Rematch: Saturday, September 9 vs. Calgary Stampeders
- Regular season finale: Saturday, October 21 @ Winnipeg Blue Bombers
The Elks' preseason matchups will feature a road game in Calgary (May 22) and home game against Winnipeg (May 27).
Edmonton's regular season and home opener at Commonwealth Stadium is set for Sunday, June 11 against the Saskatchewan Roughriders.
2023 season seats are currently available by visiting GoElks.com, while single-game tickets will go on sale in the spring.
COMPLETE 2023 EDMONTON ELKS SCHEDULE
Preseason
- Monday, May 22 @ Calgary Stampeders (2:00 p.m. MT)
- *Saturday, May 27 vs. Winnipeg Blue Bomber (2:00 p.m. MT)
Regular season
- *Week 1: Sunday, June 11 vs. Saskatchewan Roughriders (5:00 p.m. MT)
- Week 2: Saturday, June 17 @ B.C. Lions (5:00 p.m. MT / 4:00 p.m. PT)
- *Week 3: Sunday, June 25 vs. Toronto Argonauts (5:00 p.m. MT)
- Week 4: Friday, June 30 @ Ottawa Redblacks (5:30 p.m. MT / 7:30 p.m. ET)
- Week 5: Thursday, July 6 @ Saskatchewan Roughriders (7:00 p.m. MT)
- *Week 6: Thursday, July 13 vs. Hamilton Tiger-Cats (7:00 p.m. MT )
- Week 7: Thursday, July 20 @ Winnipeg Blue Bombers (6:30 p.m. MT / 7:30 p.m. CT)
- *Week 8: Saturday, July 29 vs. B.C. Lions (5:00 p.m. MT / 4:00 p.m. PT)
- Week 9: Bye
- *Week 10: Thursday, August 10 vs. Winnipeg Blue Bombers (7:00 p.m. MT)
- Week 11: Thursday, August 17 @ Hamilton Tiger-Cats (5:30 p.m. MT / 7:30 p.m. ET)
- *Week 12: Sunday, August 27 vs. Ottawa Redblacks (5:00 p.m. MT)
- Week 13: Monday, September 4 @ Calgary Stampeders (5:00 p.m. MT)
- *Week 14: Saturday, September 9 vs. Calgary Stampeders (5:00 p.m. MT)
- Week 15: Friday, September 15 @ Saskatchewan Roughriders (7:30 p.m. MT)
- *Week 16: Friday, September 22 vs. B.C. Lions (7:30 p.m. MT)
- Week 17: Bye
- Week 18: Friday, October 6 @ Toronto Argonauts (5:00 p.m. MT / 7:00 p.m. ET)
- *Week 19: Saturday, October 14 vs. Montreal Alouettes (2:00 p.m. MT)
- Week 20: Saturday, October 21 @ Winnipeg Blue Bombers (5:00 p.m. MT / 6:00 p.m. CT)
- Week 21: BYE
All home games in *BOLD played at Commonwealth Stadium.
ELKS REGULAR SEASON SCHEDULE BY WEST DIVISION OPPONENT
Head-to-head (reg. season)
- 128-106-3 all-time (70-46-1 home / 58-60-2 away)
- 0-4 in 2022 (30-23 loss Week 3 / 49-6 loss Week 5 / 26-18 loss Week 13 / 56-28 loss Week 14)
2023 meetings
- Week 13: Monday, September 4 @ McMahon Stadium - 5:00 p.m. MT
- Week 14: Saturday, September 9 vs. Commonwealth Stadium - 5:00 p.m. MT
Need to know
After meeting four times in the 2022 regular season, the Elks and Stampeders will see each other just twice in 2023, as the provincial rivals square off in the annual Labour Day Classic and rematch games. The Elks will visit McMahon Stadium for the 57th time on Labour Day, before welcoming the Stampeders to Commonwealth Stadium five days later for the rubber match on Sept. 9. Calgary swept the Elks last season, posting a 4-0 season record against Edmonton for the first time since 2012.
Head-to-head (reg. season)
- 116-84-4 all-time (62-37-1 home / 54-47-3 away)
- 0-3 in 2022 (59-15 loss Week 1 / 46-14 loss Week 9 / 31-14 loss Week 20)
2023 meetings
- Week 2: Saturday, June 17 @ B.C. Lions (5:00 p.m. MT)
- Week 8: Saturday, July 29 vs. B.C. Lions (5:00 p.m. MT)
- Week 16: Friday, September 22 vs. B.C. Lions (7:00 p.m. MT)
Need to know
The Elks will be looking to deliver some payback to B.C. in 2023, after going 0-3 against the Lions last season, with Edmonton's season bookended with losses to B.C. Edmonton won’t have to wait long to get its hands on the Lions, as the teams meet twice in the first eight weeks of the season. Two of the Elks' meetings with B.C. this season will be directly proceeded with a bye for Edmonton, in Weeks 9 and 17.
Head-to-head (reg. season)
- 123-95-2 (74-36-2 home / 49-59-0 away)
- 1-2 in 2022 (26-16 loss Week 2 / 34-23 loss Week 10 / 26-24 win Week 15)
2023 meetings
- Week 1: Sunday, June 11 vs. Saskatchewan Roughriders (5:00 p.m. MT)
- Week 5: Thursday, July 6 @ Saskatchewan Roughriders (7:00 p.m. MT)
- Week 15: Friday, September 15 @ Saskatchewan Roughriders (7:30 p.m. MT)
Need to know
For the second consecutive season, Edmonton’s home opener comes against the Saskatchewan Roughriders, who defeated the Elks 26-16 in Week 2 at Commonwealth Stadium in 2022. This time it will be the last game of the CFL's opening weekend, on June 11, in what will be Edmonton's first home regular season game on a Sunday since 2015. The teams’ other two meetings of 2023 will come in Regina, where the Elks posted their lone victory against a West Division opponent last season, silencing Mosaic Stadium with a 26-24 win in Week 15 on the strength of a last-minute field goal by Sergio Castillo.
Head-to-head (reg. season)
- 102-91-3 (59-37-2 home / 43-54-1 away)
- 0-2 in 2022 (24-10 loss Week 7 / 48-11 loss Week 18)
2023 meetings
- Week 7: Friday, July 20 @ Winnipeg Blue Bombers - 6:30 p.m. MT
- Week 10: Thursday, August 10 vs. Winnipeg Blue Bombers - 7:00 p.m. MT
- Week 20: Saturday, October 21 @ Winnipeg Blue Bombers - 5:00 p.m. MT
Need to know
Edmonton will look to put the brakes on a seven-game losing streak to the three-time defending West Division champion Blue Bombers, the longest in the Green and Gold history dating back to the club’s inaugural season in 1949. The Elks’ last victory against Winnipeg came in their 2018 regular season finale, at Commonwealth Stadium. The 2023 season will mark the seventh time that Edmonton closes its regular season schedule at Winnipeg, and first since 2003. The Double E are 2-4 in those games.
ELKS SCHEDULE BY THE NUMBERS
- By day:
- Thursday - 5 (Weeks 5, 6, 7, 10, 11)
- Friday - 4 (Weeks 4, 15, 16, 18)
- Saturday - 5 (Weeks 2, 8, 14, 19, 20)
- Sunday - 3 (Week 1, 3, 12)
- Monday - 1 (Week 13)
- By division opponent:
- West: 11
- East: 7
- Longest homestand:
- 2 games (Week 8 vs. B.C. and Week 10 vs. Winnipeg)
- Longest road streak:
- 2 games (Week 4 @ Ottawa and Week 5 @ Saskatchewan)
- Most regular season meetings:
- 3 against B.C. Lions, Saskatchewan Roughriders, Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
- Road: vs. Lions (Week 2) | vs. Roughriders (Weeks 5, 15)| vs. Blue Bombers (Weeks 7, 20).
- Home: vs. B.C. Lions (Weeks 8, 16) | vs. Roughriders (Week 1) | vs. Blue Bombers (Week 10).
- 3 against B.C. Lions, Saskatchewan Roughriders, Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
Michael Arcuri