Free bus rides to Saskatchewan Roughriders games under consideration

The Saskatchewan Roughriders want more Regina fans to take the bus to home games - so it's making Regina Transit rides free.

Right now, a return trip from a mall to the game costs $3 each way.

Under a proposal, the Riders would pay all the costs to transport people to games in 2017 and 2018 and the fare would be eliminated.

It will cost the CFL club $165,000 for each of the two years - the first two it will be operating out of the new Mosaic Stadium in Evraz Place.

The city will also start bringing fans to the games earlier - 2¼ hours before the kickoff, compared to the current 1½ hours. 

Downtown pickup spot added 

In addition to the four malls where fans are picked up and dropped off, there will also be a downtown point where people can hop on a "Football Express" bus.

The bottom line is that the city and the Riders hope to almost triple the number of people who take the bus to games to around 5,600.

The city's community and protective services committee today voted in favour to send the plan to city council for final approval on July 25.