The city of Regina has declared Mosaic Stadium – the new home of the CFL’s Saskatchewan Roughriders – officially open.
“Mosaic Stadium is an iconic venue, the best stadium in Canada and one of the best in North America,” said Mayor Michael Fougere at the official opening of the multipurpose facility.
“But it will also serve as a venue for people to gather and celebrate our great community for generations to come. This opportunity would not have been possible without the strong partnerships between the city, the province, and the Roughriders, and the recognition that this is a catalyst for the growth and transformation of our city.”
The stadium project is the first of three phases of the city’s Regina Revitalization Initiative, which also includes the Railyard Renewal Project and Taylor Field Neighbourhood.
Mayor Fougere was joined at the opening event by officials from the city of Regina, the province of Saskatchewan, and the Saskatchewan Roughriders, the facility’s main tenant. The opening ceremony also marked the unveiling of the cultural and architectural features of the adjacent, renewed Confederation Park.
The design and construction details of the stadium were revealed in May 2014. Within a month, PCL Construction began building. Owned by the city of Regina and operated by Evraz Place, officials declared Mosaic Stadium to be ‘substantially complete’ on August 31, 2016.
One month later, on October 1, the first of two test events took place at new Mosaic Stadium when the hometown University of Regina Rams played host to the University of Saskatchewan Huskies in a match designed to put the facility through its paces.
The second test was on May 27, when the Regina Rocks Mosaic Stadium concert – headlined by Bryan Adams – enabled organizers to test the building and operational plans, including the food and beverage service.
Three weeks ago, the Roughriders hosted a pre-season game in the final tune-up before their home opener on July 1 against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers as part of the City’s Canada 150 celebrations.
“Our government is proud to have been a part of this historic project,” said Premier of Saskatchewan Brad Wall. “New Mosaic Stadium sets the standard for sports venues in Canada. From the comfortable seats to the spacious concourses to the concessions, everything about the stadium is first class.
“The new Mosaic is a worthy home for the Saskatchewan Roughriders and will serve as a tremendous setting for university and amateur sports and entertainment events. Congratulations to everyone involved in bringing this project home.”
“We are honored to officially call Mosaic Stadium home,” stated Wayne Morsky, Saskatchewan Roughriders board chair. “This premier facility would not have been possible without the valued partnership and shared vision between the Roughriders, city of Regina and province of Saskatchewan, as well as the continued support of Rider Nation. Together, we look forward to creating a lifetime of new memories.”
With a standard capacity of 33,000 – expandable to 40,000 spectators for major events – the stadium provides a modern fan experience with a spectator roof and open south end zone connecting the stadium to the community. Its unique features include a sunken lower bowl, individual seating, and a 360° main concourse. Other amenities include food choices from local vendors and 37 washrooms, including gender-neutral and family-friendly facilities.
Mosaic Stadium features several lounges which can be used year-round and is also home to the Roughrider business and football operations. Saskatchewan Sport occupies 10,000ft2 of office space for several provincial sport-governing bodies.
Designed and built by HKS and PCL Construction, the stadium is the cornerstone of the city of Regina’s masterplanning efforts. Serving as a catalyst for urban revitalization, Mosaic Stadium will be the most-recognized civic building for the city and the province.
“It seems like yesterday we began working with the city, the team and everyone involved in the design process for the Regina Revitalization Initiative Stadium Project – Mosaic Stadium,” said Mark Williams, AIA, principal, HKS. “It is exciting to see the design come to life. I look forward to experiencing this venue with the rest of the province and Rider Nation. This stadium will change the way fans experience the Canadian Football League – similar to how our recent projects changed the National Football League experience.”
PIC: 2017 Musco Sports Lighting LLC
July 5, 2017
