REGINA — As the City of Regina plans an $8.2-million investment in upgrades to Mosaic Stadium for the Saskatchewan Roughriders and 2027 Grey Cup, local football organizations say they remain uncertain about whether they will have access to the venue in the future.
As part of the proposed upgrades, the city would replace the turf at Mosaic Stadium with a surface designed to meet updated Canadian Football League (CFL) field dimensions and goalpost specifications, which could make the field less suitable for use by other teams.
“If they decided to use stitch turfing, you can't move the lines, you can't move the hashes, you can't move the end zones,” explained University of Regina Rams head coach Mark McConkey.
The Rams, who currently play at Mosaic approximately four times a year, follow Football Canada regulations that specify an 110-yard playing surface between the goal lines, with 20-yard end zones.
The CFL rule changes would create 100 yards of play, with 15-yard end zones.
McConkey said he wishes those rules had not been changed, adding that they make things simpler for football programs across the country and for amateur football more broadly.
One option which would ensure teams can play at Mosaic is implementing painted turf, which can be changed between teams.
However, Regina football clubs have indicated they cannot bear those costs.
“A lot of amateur sport teams obviously don't have the funding available to make huge infrastructure changes,” said Regina Thunder head coach Scott MacAulay.
McConkey said he is uncertain whether the Regina Rams would be able to manage the field changes, both financially and logistically.
“It would be a big undertaking every time we had to do it. If we catch the Riders on a road game and we're at home for sure, doable, but back to back, like a Friday, Saturday would be hard to say.”
Both coaches talked about the importance of playing at Mosaic Stadium.
“For the players, I know from their perspective, they get to play in a pro stadium, or they get to play where they watched their heroes growing up, and now they get to step on that field and be able to play there. So it's a pretty special feeling being there,” said MacAulay.
The Regina Thunder play games at Mosaic Stadium when facing rivals Saskatoon Hilltops or when hosting playoff games. The team also practices at Mosaic nearly a dozen times per year and hosts their training camp at the facility.
Meanwhile, McConkey said games at Mosaic draw thousands, bringing energy to their games.
“When we're playing our rival from up north. Like we've had games where we've had eight, nine, ten thousand for us against the Huskies, and then when we're not playing them, it can be anywhere from 2,000 to 5,000.”
McConkey is confident Regina and the Saskatchewan Roughriders will engage with clubs once the upgrades are likely to be approved at Wednesday’s Regina city council meeting.
“I'm sure we'll have some phone conversations and meetings over the next number of months as once this field gets decided on.”
