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| An inside look at new Mosaic Stadium. |
REGINA - Every time I sit inside new Mosaic Stadium part of
me still doesn’t believe what I am seeing.
I keep having to convince myself that this place is actually
real. I attended the first football game ever held at the state of the art sports facility
in Regina, when the University of Regina Rams downed the U of Saskatchewan
Huskies 37-29 on Oct. 1, 2016 in U Sports action.
So far, I have made it to two of the Saskatchewan
Roughriders home games during the CFL club’s inaugural season in the new park.
Even during my third overall visit there on Saturday when the Roughriders
downed the visiting Toronto Argonauts 38-27, I kept constantly looking around.
I still haven’t gotten over being in awe of the “new” aspect of the place.
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| The Roughriders Pep Band plays outside new Mosaic Stadium. |
It has been cool to see the Roughriders play in a modern
home.
It is even better to see the charm of game day has
transferred over from old Taylor Field to the new park. I will likely have a
better appreciation of that fact after I more digest the “newness” aspect of
the facility.
When they built new Mosaic Stadium, they definitely got it
right. It is a place the province of Saskatchewan can be proud of. All the
amenities are way better than the old park, and I know that is quite the “Captain
Obvious” statement.
At halftime, it no longer takes up the whole break to use
the washroom. You are in and out within five minutes even with a lengthy line.
Actually, the washrooms of the facility are so immaculate you question if you
should be using them.
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| The Roughriders Drum Line plays at the tailgate party. |
It is easy to get in and out of concessions. It is nice be
able to buy beer on tap.
It has been great to be able to circle the stadium on the concourse.
At Taylor Field, it was impossible to see friends on the other side of the park
once you entered the place for the game.
The best surprise has actually been the familiarity around
Roughriders games.
One of the best parts of game day is arriving two hours
beforehand to take in the other festivities. It seemed so reassuring when I ran
into the Roughriders Pep Band during my first home game at the new park – a 37-20
victory over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats on July 8.
They were belting out a whole pile of traditional team
songs, and it seemed to set a good vibes tone for the rest of the night.
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| Gainer the Gopher entertains the fans. |
Seeing the drum line parade all over the place is another
great site.
The tailgate party, which used to be on the practice field
beside the old stadium, was moved to a newly built park on the west side of the
new stadium. It has become a great meeting place. It is filled with games for
the kids and concessions and beer stands that are easy to get to.
The new tailgate area is well shaded by numerous trees and
has a relaxed feel to it. The park is also has a spot to bring special things
in like a small Canadian Football Hall of Fame exhibit that was present on
Saturday.
Slowly, I am starting to get an idea where the veteran
diehard fans are in the park. For the most part, they are seem to be sitting in
areas geographically that are close to where they sat in at the old park. If
you attend Roughriders games on a regular basis, you develop an attachment to
the community that comes to games consistently.
One minor difference seems to be the fact the south end zone
known as “Pil Country” has replaced Section 28 of the old park in being the
spot that holds the most rowdy and colourful fans. Section 28 existed on the
east side of Taylor Field.
The only thing that is missing at the new park is the
history and the shared memories from the old park. Those can never be replaced.
With that in mind, new Mosaic moments are starting to be
made at the new park.
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| The Roughriders paid tribute to the late Joe McKnight on Saturday. |
Before Saturday’s game, the Roughriders held a moving
tribute for running back Joe McKnight, who was tragically killed in a road rage
incident on Dec. 1, 2016 in Terrytown, Louisiana. The tribute included a video
honouring McKnight, who joined the club last season. A large contingent of his
family was brought in for the contest.
The team presented the McKnight family with one of the late
tailback’s #33 jerseys, which was signed by the members of the Saskatchewan
team.
During the win over the Argos, a great romance moment
between team and fan was created by Roughriders receiver Duron Carter. After he
made his spectacular one-handed touchdown catch shortly before halftime, he
proceeded to give the ball off to 12-year-old lifelong supporter Paige Hansen.
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| Duron Carter (#89) makes an acrobatic TD catch just before halftime. |
Paige and her mom, Michelle, have been going to games for
years, and they know a few of the players. I knew where they were sitting in
the north end zone, and when Carter sprinted to that part of the park, I
figured he was running to give the ball to them.
I saw the family after the game, and they said Carter told
them before the contest he was going to give them the ball if he scored in the north
end zone. I didn’t hang out long enough post-game to see Carter come out,
autograph the ball and visit with the family.
Carter hauled in nine passes for 131 yards and scored two
touchdowns that night, but the fact he gave the first TD catch ball to Paige
Hansen ensured that game and performance will always be remembered.
It was great to see media outlets both mainstream and
non-mainstream pick up on that story. From there, I learned young Paige
survived cancer at age four and has been an ambassador for both the Children’s
Wish Foundation and the Canadian Cancer Society thanks to Drew Edwards of
3DownNation.
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| “Pil Country” is becoming home to the more rowdy fans. |
I never knew the Hansens’ background story. I always just saw
them as great fans, and similar with most fans at the park, conversations focused
on the Roughriders and subjects that are light in nature. Their story in
connection with Saturday’s game made that night at new Mosaic Stadium that much
more special.
One day, the overall “newness” of the Roughriders new home
will pass. The best part is you know in your heart more great memories are waiting
to be made.
If you have any
comments you would like to pass along about this post, feel free to email them
to stankssports@gmail.com.
