Two important Saskatchewan organizations are teaming up ahead of some big events in the Queen City over the next couple years.
On Saturday morning at Local Market in the Warehouse District in Regina, Canadian Western Agribition and the Saskatchewan Roughriders announced a new partnership that will have both organizations involved at each other’s events including CWA’s 50th anniversary show and the 108th Grey Cup in Regina.
“We started talking about a partnership and how we could work together to make sure Agribition is fantastic and how we could support that, and moving into 2020 with us hosting the Grey Cup, how we could amplify that event as well,” said Craig Reynolds, president and CEO of the Roughriders.
Fans will see the partnership’s benefits coming up in the 49th Agribition show from November 25-30 in Regina.
Gate admission on the first day of Agribition 2019 and 2020 will be free for all attendees. The public will also be able to access the Agribition Express bus service courtesy of the Riders. There will be two pick up locations this year: Southland Mall and at Hamilton Street and 6th Avenue.
Chris Lane, CEO of the Canadian Western Agribition, said the Agribition Express is a core service to help get fans to Evraz Place for Agribition. It will be continuous service every day during the show and after the rodeo and motocross events at the Brandt Centre.
The service has been active for a few years now with the original Southland pickup spot. But when Lane heard there was a possibility to have the Hamilton and 6th location added, they jumped on the opportunity.
“It’s such a great central location where there’s lots of parking,” suggested Lane. “It’s the parking lot for the old Sears Outlet centre and there’s a lot of spaces, so for anybody with pickup trucks, there’s lots of space to maneuver around.”
The Riders have some other plans in place during Agribition including player appearances, contests, and engagement with the team’s mascot Gainer.
While it’s hard for fans of the Riders and Agribition to look past this month’s events, November 2020 could possibly be the biggest month of the year for the city of Regina.
Not only will it be the 50th CWA show and the 2020 Grey Cup at Mosaic Stadium, but the Riders will also be celebrating their 110th anniversary. “Those are significant Saskatchewan milestones. To be able to celebrate those milestones all year long together is really exciting,” added Reynolds.
Lane explained how they wanted to elevate their experiences for Rider fans and Agribition fans.
“You’re going to see the Riders at Agribition like you’ve never seen them before, and you’re going to see Agribition take part in the Roughriders season in 2020 like we haven’t done before either,” he said.
“There’s a lot of different ways we’re going to marry these two brands together.”
