REGINA — Anticipation is in the air for the Saskatchewan Roughriders' home opener Saturday at Mosaic Stadium.
This will be the first meaningful game the Riders have played since winning the Grey Cup last November. The trophy will be on display Saturday.
“I’m super excited to see the Grey Cup reveal tomorrow,” said Adrian Godbold, owner of Regina Plumbing and Heating.
Godbold began following the Riders when he was 17 years old and has had a close connection to the team throughout the years.
“My partner, Ryan Rennebohm, his family, his grandfather and his great-grandfather all played and coached for the Riders. It runs pretty deep.”
That family connection makes showing up for the team even more important, Godbold said.
“It makes it that much closer to the heart and a better experience.”
Saturday’s game is also exciting for Godbold, as family members from New Brunswick will be attending their first-ever game.
“So I've got to make sure they're dressed properly,” he said at the Rider Store.
Family tradition also runs deep for Cole Beckman and his father, who is coming down from Saskatoon to see Saturday’s game.
“It's an awesome bonding time for us. It's just awesome going to the games with him and getting to experience it.”
Beckman said he’s been going to games with his dad since he was a kid.
“I remember he would always rip around the field and also throw a bunch of footballs too.”
For the game, Beckman is excited to see what this year's Riders have to bring.
“It's going to be a great time, and hopefully they can make a good push this year.”
Not everyone attending the game is a diehard Roughriders fan. However, B.C. Lions fan Leo Rojas couldn’t deny the excitement brought to Mosaic Stadium.
“Rider Nation are some of the best fans, if not the best fans in the league; I'll have to admit that. Even being from B.C. And I've always had a good time. It's a beautiful stadium, and it's always a good game.”
For the past five years, Rojas and his friend have had a tradition of exchanging trips between Saskatchewan and B.C.
“He used to live out in B.C., but he's from here originally. So when he moved back, that's when we started this.”
Fans attending Saturday’s game are also looking forward to the debut of Riderland Park, which will feature tailgating for the first time at Mosaic Stadium.
Rojas said tailgating will help build up the energy.
“It gets everybody in the mood, gets everybody ready to go. When kickoff time comes, everybody's energy is high and excited to go and watch the game.”
Godbold said he’s looking forward to tailgating based on his experience at other sporting events.
“It's going to bring up the experience level here, and it already is world-class, but this is just going to add to it. It's going to be awesome.”
Before the game begins, two CT-156 Harvard II training aircraft from 15 Wing Moose Jaw will fly by around 5 p.m. CST.
Kickoff will follow shortly after.
