Roughriders ready for farewell season at old Mosaic Stadium
CBC News | Posted: December 2, 2015 11:24 PM | Last Updated: December 3, 2015
Merchandise will be available for Christmas shoppers
With the 2015 football season ended, following the Grey Cup game on the weekend, the Saskatchewan Roughriders are ready for next year — the last year they will play at the old Mosaic Stadium in Regina.
The Riders have dubbed 2016 their farewell season for Taylor Field at the city-owned facility.
A new stadium, currently under construction, is expected to be operational for the 2017 football season although officials say the building will be substantially completed in late 2016.
Before then, however, the aging Mosaic Stadium will have one last hurrah of football. Regina plans to tear down the building and redevelop the land.
"Obviously it's going to be a real special time," Ryan Pollack, a spokesperson for the football club, said Tuesday. Pollack recounted how the Roughriders, throughout their 106-year history, have been connected to the same space — dubbed Taylor Field in 1947. The playing surface kept that name when the stadium itself was renamed Mosaic Stadium, as part of a sponsorship deal.
"It began as a dirt field then, over the years, turned to seeded grass," Pollack said, noting that the innovation of artificial turf arrived in 1979.
The team is working on plans to make the final year special.
"We're excited as details start to finalize," he said. "Obviously, our schedule has to come out for some of these things, but we're excited to kick off the campaign through various avenues in the new year."
One of the themes for the final year will be recalling favourites memories, especially from former players like the legendary George Reed.
"The first game ... I saw the people sitting on the grass on the sideline," Reed said Wednesday, recalling it came as a bit of a surprise to him. "What the hell is this here? But it all worked out."
The team also announced that some merchandise, associated with the final year at the old stadium, will be available in time for Christmas shoppers.
Reed said he is hoping the 2016 edition of the Riders will be competitive.
"Hopefully improve the team next year," he said. "As long as we do that, everything will be fine."
Notable times in Mosaic Stadium history:
- 1936: Addition of first spectator seats.
- 1948: Addition of 4,800 seats on west side (current capacity is 33,427).
- 1954: Permanent light stands added for night games.
- 1995: First time Regina hosting Grey Cup final.
[Source: Ryan Pollock/Saskatchewan Roughriders]