There may not be any Riders football this season due to COVID-19, but the team still has a big event planned for this weekend.
The province of Saskatchewan has proclaimed September 6th as “Saskatchewan Roughrider Day”. That is the date that the annual Labour Day Classic against Winnipeg would have been played and it will kick off the team’s 110th anniversary with events planned around Mosaic Stadium.
From 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., Saskatchewan Roughrider Day will take place with a Drive-Thru experience, presented by Capital Auto Mall, that will safely allow people to be together just outside the gates of Mosaic Stadium. This drive-thru event will feature fan favourites from our Rider alumni, prizes and giveaways, prepared autograph cards from current Roughrider stars, Gainer the Gopher and the 620 CKRM Rider Cheer Team. In addition, there will be activations and giveaways from Rider Partners including Capital Auto Mall, Harvard Broadcasting, SaskTel, Molson Coors, Tourism Regina, Directwest, and J.P Wiser’s.
“The Labour Day Classic is always one of the most exciting games of the year for Roughrider fans across the province. We wanted to find a way to continue to bring the energy and excitement this weekend is known for even though we aren’t able to gather in our traditional way,” said Roughriders President and CEO Craig Reynolds. “Instead, I’m thrilled that we’ll be able to rally Rider Nation around Saskatchewan Roughrider Day, reminding us all that even apart we remain connected in our love for this team.”
The Riders Director of Game Entertainment and Events, Russell Kovshoff says they had to get creative to maintain COVID-19 guidelines, adding they’ve created what will be a very safe environment.
“Yeah so we’ll be able to hold 200 vehicles per hour, with groups from the same household in a vehicle,” he said. “We’re going to have social distancing with our staff and full PPE, and because we can’t hand people things like we normally can we’ll have trays and “grabbers” you might see those around where you can pick things up from a distance to pass to people in the vehicles, we really got creative with this,” Kovshoff said.
For those unable to attend Saskatchewan Roughrider Day in person – and even for those that do – the team says you should be checking out the team’s Facebook, Twitter and Instagram accounts for exciting online engagement opportunities, performances from Saskatchewan artists Tenille Arts and W3EAPONS, contests and giveaways including a signed Cody Fajardo jersey.
“This day is really for all of Rider Nation as a way to celebrate the Green and White, but most importantly it’s a way for us to say thank you for all of our fans who have stuck by our side,” added Reynolds. “Next year I am hopeful we will celebrate Labour Day like we always do – by beating the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.”