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Tackling New Mosaic: 5 Observations from Kate Pettersen

Manager, Social Media & Content
@maxmillien

By Kate Pettersen: Special to The Snap

The Saskatchewan Roughriders and the fans that make up Rider Nation have a rich and wonderful history. Of course, it has been filled with ups and downs but includes all-important moments that have led to the opening of the brand new, state of the art, Mosaic Stadium. A home opener matchup with their rival Blue Bombers on Canada Day with sunny skies in the forecast had all the fixings for an incredible evening and that it was.

I hopped on a plane the morning after covering BC vs Toronto and was happy to see a handful of familiar faces making the trip west on the same flight. Johany Jutras, the woman behind the lens at most CFL games and members of the CFL on TSN panel including Rod Smith, Milt Stegall and Chris Schultz who offered to block for me as I made my way back to row 26.

When I arrived in Regina I was offered a VIP tour from Riders Director of Media Relations Ryan Pollock and we spent two hours walking around the stadium. A football lover’s dream version of a “coffee and catch up,” hopping from seat to seat to check out different views while enjoying a nice Tim Horton’s on Canada Day. After careful consideration, here are five things I think are worth talking about…

1. Pieces of History

To summarize what I saw inside the stadium itself, no detail was skipped over. A highlight was how much of the team’s roots and history had been included in the design and décor of the new stadium. One lounge on the main concourse has pillars featuring the actual benches that were used as seats in the old stadium.  Walls throughout the facility are covered in stats, titles, honours and photos of former Rider greats. There are little pieces of Old Mosaic strategically placed throughout the new stadium giving it a fresh look with a nice mix of old charm.

2. Atmosphere

As expected, the atmosphere inside the stadium was electric from start to finish. The crowd was loud and made it tough on the Bombers which was evident as the Riders battled back from a 14-point deficit to tie the game and send it to overtime. Crowd roars sounded more like thunder and fans got the home team amped up for an exciting finish.

In terms of where to sit, there’s something for everyone. I spent the first half of the game running around the stadium to “test” each spot myself. Regular seats in the lower bowl offer great views both from the sidelines or in the end zones. Pilsner Country is a ticketed standing room option for fans who want to get a little rowdier. And, there are also a number of different suite style options including an outdoor half-moon table with four chairs that is perfect for families, the AGT Lounge which offers a full buffet style meal along with a prime seat or regular suites for entertaining friends and clients. For me, the best part is that all the way around the stadium there are places to stand and watch the game so if you’re heading to get food, you won’t miss a minute of the action.

 

3. Beer

The setup for beer might be one of the coolest and arguably the most important feature in the stadium. For each game 272 kegs are stored in 7 cellars underneath the stadium meaning beer is flowing through a pipe system right into each vendor booth. And speaking of vendors, fans have a ton of different options. With booths being contracted out to local restaurants you can choose anything from burgers and pizza to beef brisket, perogies, poutine, sushi, ribs or my personal favourite, Taco in a Bag.

4. Party in the Park
The new tailgate location is a stone’s throw from the stadium which makes it a great spot to check out before the game. While the park itself is fenced in, it’s an open flow which means no lines to get in and you can come and go as you please. I took some time to walk around and chat with fans and was pleasantly surprised with how many activities there were. It really has something for everyone with a DJ spinning fresh tracks, cold beer, food trucks and a variety of “tailgate style” games for kids and adults.

 

5. Logistics

Some of the challenges of the old stadium included long lines at the entrance, a congested concourse, outdated and small bathrooms and an all-around lack of flow throughout the building. By design, all of those challenges should be eliminated in the new stadium. For the most part entry was smooth and easy but a few gates had lines longer than expected. My guess is this is in part because of the old rule of only being able to enter at your designated gate. Once people get used to the fact that they can enter at any gate, things will run a bit more smoothly. And, as I mentioned before, being allowed to stop and stand around the top of the lower bowl really creates a nice flow and less congestion on the concourse.

I was only half surprised to see the main Rider Store (located on the outside of the stadium) had a line the size of Texas more than seven hours before kickoff. Crazy! The good news is, there are two main stores and three pop ups throughout the stadium game day so you won’t be without your Rider green options.

Thank you, Rider Nation

My experience in Regina was as wonderful as I had expected it would be. I loved meeting fans and experiencing an exciting game from the stands with them. You’re all such fun people to be around.

Big congratulations to the Saskatchewan Roughriders and all of Rider Nation on a successful opening of their new stadium. I hope you can bring the noise again this weekend and help your team get their first “W” of the season.