5 must-see games on Stampeders' 2025 CFL schedule

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The Calgary Stampeders now have a schedule to go with the work boots they intend to bring to the 2025 Canadian Football League season.

And after seeing the calendar of games — released early Thursday — for the upcoming campaign, they might also want to strap on some cowboy boots …

Because the agenda for the CFL club features the inaugural Stampede Bowl — a TSN Thursday Night Football clash versus the Winnipeg Blue Bombers at McMahon Stadium on the eve of the world-famous Calgary Stampede.

The July 3 contest is an inaugural — and intentional — twist to the Stampeders’ slate of games.

“We’re very excited to introduce the Stampede Bowl as part of our 2025 schedule,” said Stampeders president Jay McNeil. “The Stampeders and the Stampede are both long-standing traditions in this city, and we’re looking forward to getting the party started with what promises to be an exciting football game at McMahon Stadium.

“In addition to being one of the highlights of our 2025 season, the Stampede Bowl will help set the stage for the excitement in store for football fans in 2026, when Calgary serves as host for Grey Cup Week celebrations.”

The Stampede Bowl is just one of five games we’re highlighting on the Stampeders’ 2025 schedule …

1) Saturday, June 7, vs. Hamilton Tiger-Cats, 5 p.m., McMahon Stadium

First impressions are key, especially with the demand by home fans for the team to get better and after the Stampeders declared their intent to improve in all facets over the off-season.

So here’s the regular-season kickoff and the home opener all rolled into one to provide that first look-see at what the Stampeders put on the field in 2025.

It never hurts that the opposition includes rejuvenated QB Bo Levi Mitchell — a Stampeders legend, of course — on the other side of the field.

2) Thursday, July 3, vs. Winnipeg Blue Bombers, 7 p.m., McMahon Stadium

It’s party time in Calgary, so why not kick-start Stampede Week with a football fest?

The only previous time the Stampeders played at home on the day prior to the official Friday kickoff of the Stampede is 1983. And on six occasions — in 1987, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001 and 2009 — the Stamps played a Wednesday home game before the opening weekend of the Stampede.

It could be the start of a wonderful tradition, with hopes that it begins with a win over the always-tough Bombers, a team many CFL fans love to hate.

3) Saturday, Aug. 23, vs. Saskatchewan Roughriders, 5 p.m., McMahon Stadium

It’s loud and proud at the stadium when the ‘Christmas Bowl’ takes to the turf.

It’s half-green, with Rider Pride, and half-red, for the home side, in the stands. So it can amount to a lot of friendly banter and fun between fans for this rivalry.

This clash could make for a flood of Jolly Green Giant fanatics since it’s the only visit — barring a playoff matchup — by the Roughriders to McMahon. So the Stamps could use bigger support than usual.

4) Monday, Sept. 1, vs. Edmonton Elks, 4 p.m., McMahon Stadium

It’s the Labour Day Classic, which usually means, ‘Enough said.’

But you can never say enough about the arch-rivals meeting at McMahon for the traditional contest that offers many bragging rights to the winner.

This year’s edition comes with a twist with longtime Stamps assistant Mark Kilam — after having been canned by the Calgary club in late November — now lining up as the Elks’ new head coach.

That spices up a game that really shouldn’t need any spicing up. But again, you can never say enough about this much-ballyhooed meeting.

5) Friday, Sept. 19, vs. BC Lions, 7:30 p.m., McMahon Stadium

The Lions coming to town normally don’t produce too much noise.

But this year, it’s different since new Stamps QB Vernon Adams Jr. probably has plenty to prove against his old team.

After all, the West Coast club did opt to go with young Nathan Rourke over Adams moving forward, allowing for the Red and White to make the trade to acquire the veteran pivot.

Besides, that match could be a key test for the Stamps, given the time of year and with the Lions looking like a Grey Cup contender.

MORE SCHEDULE FEATURES

The Stampeders’ 2025 slate of games once again includes a fully interlocking schedule with home and away contests against all four East Division teams.

The Red and White also play a total of 10 games against division rivals, including two home dates with the Blue Bombers and two trips north to face the host Elks.

Other features of the Stamps calendar include:

• Pre-season games on the road against the BC Lions on May 19 and at home against the Elks on May 24

• Regular-season dates at McMahon consist of two Thursdays, one Friday and five Saturdays and Labour Day Monday

• Five summer home dates — three in June, one in July and one in August — prior to the Labour Day Classic

• Byes in Weeks 4, 11 and 15

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2025 STAMPEDERS SCHEDULE

All times Mountain

Pre-season

• at BC, Monday, May 19, 2 p.m.

• v. Edmonton, Saturday, May 24, 7:30 p.m.

Regular season

• v. Hamilton, Saturday, June 7, 5 p.m.

• at Toronto, Saturday, June 14, 2 p.m.

• v. Ottawa, Saturday, June 21, 2 p.m.

• Bye week

• v. Winnipeg, Thursday, July 3, 7 p.m.

• at Saskatchewan, Friday, July 11, 7 p.m.

• at Winnipeg, Friday, July 18, 6:30 p.m.

• v. Montreal, Thursday, July 24, 7 p.m.

• at Ottawa, Thursday, July 31, 5:30 p.m.

• v. Winnipeg, Saturday, Aug. 9, 5 p.m.

• Bye week

• v. Saskatchewan, Saturday, Aug. 23, 5 p.m.

• v. Edmonton, Monday, Sept. 1, 4 p.m.

• at Edmonton, Saturday, Sept. 6, 5 p.m.

• Bye

• v. BC, Friday, Sept. 19, 7:30 p.m.

• at Montreal, Friday, Sept. 26, 5 p.m.

• at BC, Saturday, Oct. 4, 5 p.m.

• at Hamilton, Saturday, Oct. 11, 1 p.m.

• v. Toronto, Saturday, Oct. 18, 5 p.m.

• at Edmonton, Friday, Oct. 24, 5:30 p.m.

Post-season

• Division Semi-Finals, Saturday, Nov. 1, 4:30 p.m.

• Division Finals, Saturday, Nov. 8, 4:30 p.m.

• Grey Cup in Winnipeg, Sunday, Nov. 16, 4 p.m.