‘We’re past those dark days’: Edmonton Elks celebrate increased attendance after ‘ugly’ win

Photo courtesy: Edmonton Elks

The Edmonton Elks have proven to be a much-improved team in 2026, and now it appears they’ve finally turned the corner off the field as well.

20,020 fans — as well as a few hundred dogs — were in attendance at Commonwealth Stadium on Friday night for the Green and Gold’s 19-17 victory over the B.C. Lions. That was a marked improvement from the sparse crowds that have become commonplace in Edmonton during their past few seasons.

“That was the dark days. We’re past those dark days,” head coach Mark Kilam insisted post-game.

“This was the best crowd we’ve seen outside of Labour Day. Full credit to the fans for showing up. I wish we could have put on a bigger show, but I’m glad we came away with the dub. Winning at home and playing well at home is important to us. It’s something that we talk about, and happy we could get it done for the fans.”

Edmonton drew just 14,664 fans for their home opener in Week 3, hitting a startling new low. 15,898 showed up for last week’s blowout win over the Ottawa Redblacks, fueling fears that even a winning record couldn’t solve the attendance crisis. Friday’s crowd provides a glimmer of hope.

The Elks drew over 20,000 fans just twice in 2025, once on Labour Day and again when hosting the Saskatchewan Roughriders’ diasporic horde. Average attendance last season fell to 19,050, representing a 7.1 percent drop year-over-year. Years of putrid football and resentment over organizational change had diminished the season-ticket base from over 20,000 a decade ago, to just 7,000.

Now that the Green and Gold are bold once again and sit atop the West Division, they are hoping an improved atmosphere will continue to help them at home.

“That was just great seeing everybody. I feel like every week it gets more packed,” noted defensive back Kenneth Logan Jr., who notched a sack and an interception in the victory. “Seeing the fans stick with us through the ups and downs of the game, and then just finding a way to make some noise and be here for us when we needed them.”

The Elks didn’t perform a masterpiece for the resurgent masses at Commonwealth. Despite knocking the reigning Most Outstanding Player, Nathan Rourke, out of the game on the second play from scrimmage and picking off backup Chase Brice four times, Edmonton’s offence struggled to find the end zone. Star running back Justin Rankin was virtually a non-factor, finishing with nine yards rushing, and missed assignments forced Vincent Blanchard to attempt five field goals.

However, quarterback Cody Fajardo believes the only data point worth caring about right now is the one in the left-hand column of the standings.

“Everybody can talk about what they want about our offence; we’re a 5-1 football team,” he told reporters. “This team can win in three different phases. Tonight it just happened to be our defence standing on their heads for us and being the ones to shine, but we did enough offensively in order to win the game. We had one turnover. We won the turnover battle. I don’t want to sit up here and apologize ever for a win, because it’s really tough to win in this league.”

Edmonton has a long way to go before they can get back to consistently drawing crowds between 30,000 and 40,000, as they were prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, a record-setting 22-game home losing skid, and their controversial name change. However, team president Chris Morris revealed to 3DownNation this offseason that an average of just 20,000 would bring the franchise “close” to profitability. Anything in the 22,000 to 25,000 range could see them comfortably making money.

For that to occur, the players on the field will have to continue to hold up their end of the bargain. Fajardo is confident that will happen.

“Great teams find ways to win bad football games, and that’s what we did tonight,” he said. “We’re a 5-1 football team that found a way to beat a very good B.C. team at playing ugly football, at least offensively. I’m gonna go home with a smile on my face, looking at our record 5-1. But when I watch the tape, I’ll be pissed off and find ways to get better.”

The Elks (5-1) will return to action on Thursday, July 23, when they visit the defending Grey Cup champion Saskatchewan Roughriders (4-1). Kickoff is slated for 9:00 p.m. EDT.