Darian Durant says a bittersweet goodbye to Mosaic Stadium

Mosaic Stadium is home to Rider Nation and soon some of the most dedicated fans in the CFL will have a new home.

CBC Saskatchewan is sharing some of the memories from Mosaic Stadium before it is torn down. 

• How rock 'n' roll made its way under stadium lights
• Saskatchewan Roughrider champions salute the stadium
• 'I will love it till I die': Longtime Saskatchewan Roughriders fans bid farewell to Mosaic Stadium

This is the fourth in a four-part series. 

Saskatchewan Roughriders starting quarterback Darian Durant and his team will play their final game at the old Mosaic Stadium today. 

"It's bittersweet. There have been so many good times in this place. Of course, the Grey Cup championships, hosting the western final after being absent for maybe 20 or 30 years," Durant said. 

The Riders take on the B.C. Lions at 5 p.m. CST. 

There's no guarantee Durant will be part of the team that moves down the street into the new stadium next season, as his contract expires in February.

Durant, who has been with the organization for a decade, has ink on his left bicep that reads "against all odds, I'm gonna shine". If anyone knows how quickly fortunes can change in football, it's Durant. 

• INTERACTIVE: Do you know the history of Mosaic Stadium?

He has seen it all in his football home since he first signed with the team in 2006. Many of the wins, losses and injuries have played out between the sunny and shady sides of Mosaic Stadium. The site where the stadium now sits will be developed as a new neighbourhood named after Taylor Field. 

When it comes to the building itself, Durant is honest about what's not working.

"There has been a lot of construction that needs to be done. There's certain leaks and things that come along with the older building," he said. 

He also knows why fans love the stadium.

"This is a very intimate place, intimate setting and it's going to be missed."

Durant refuses to set foot in the new stadium before he knows if he'll be on the team, but clearly he's thought about it.

"What I really hope is that it's just as loud over there as it is here. No team wants to come here and play so I'm really hoping that crowd noise is the same over at the new place."

At the old stadium, a larger-than-life picture of Durant drapes down the side of the building not far from legendary quarterback Ron Lancaster.

In it, Durant is hoisting the Grey Cup in 2013, a crowning achievement for the ultra-competitive quarterback and like many of his adoring fans, a favourite moment at the stadium.

"The week leading up it was wonderful. You could see the fans from all over Canada coming in. The atmosphere in this city was just amazing. The week leading up, of course it was cold, but us as a team, we didn't feel any of that because it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity."

Winning the Grey Cup first and foremost, but doing it here in front of the best fans in Canada, just made it that much more special.- Darian Durant

For Durant, there was talk of his legacy going into that game and he knew winning the Grey Cup at home would cement his legacy here in Saskatchewan, something he wanted.

Early in the game, Durant says Kory Sheets was running the ball well. The dream was coming together — the team jumped out on the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.

"I was totally fine with the blowout win. It made that fourth quarter much easier to deal with stress wise and it was just the most special moment of my football career. Winning the Grey Cup first and foremost, but doing it here in front of the best fans in Canada, just made it that much more special."

For Durant, the win was redemption.

"Especially in 2009 losing in such heartbreaking fashion, it was just a big sigh of relief. Like, it's finally, finally over. The naysayers can go to bed. We did it, and we did it at home."

That home Taylor Field turf is also where Durant suffered one of the most difficult moments in his football career, a season-ending injury in the 2015 opener.

"That's probably my most devastating moment here. You start to question yourself why? What did you do wrong? What did you need to do to prepare better?"

His focus is like the tattoo on his arm, against all odds, shining bright.

Perhaps what has made Durant an enduring quarterback is that he notices the little things.

Game aside, when it comes to the old Mosaic Stadium, he says what he will miss the most is where the fans spend their time.  

"The thing I'm going to miss most about it is just the different colours of the sections. It's something you don't get to see a lot of, especially coming from the states," he said. 

"It's definitely the most memorable thing about the stadium. I would love to see that at the new Mosaic but of course everything will be green down in there. This is what makes it unique; it's just a unique stadium in itself."