Manitobans can expect a blue day on Saturday, but for all the right reasons.

IG Field's 33,000 person capacity will be bursting with blue for the annual Banjo Bowl between the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and the Saskatchewan Roughriders. On Wednesday evening, the Winnipeg Football Club announced it is a sold-out game.

While looking at how many green jerseys will be in the stands, Darren Cameron, the club's Senior Director of Public and Player Relations says "the amount is down significantly."

He could not say exact numbers.

Fans and players are both gearing up for the game after last week's Labour Day Classic 23-8 win in Saskatchewan.

"I just want to go out there and play for the guys that are playing right there next to me, playing for me," Brandon Alexander says ahead of Saturday's game in a press conference, moments after learning he was named the CFL Top Performers of the Week after the win against the Roughriders. "I really appreciate it, but we’ve got a task ahead and we’ve got to continue what we’ve got to do.”

Saturday's Banjo Bowl will see the opening of The Pre-game Tailgate area for the first time since 2019.  

"The Blue Bombers House Band lead by Jennifer Hanson will perform at the Blue & Gold Stage in the tailgate area prior to kickoff and will also headline the halftime show as part of the Manitoba 150 concert series," the club says in a statement.