Mosaic Stadium was set to host the Grey Cup for the first time in 2020. Previous events in Regina were hosted at Taylor Field in 1995, 2003, and 2013. (Canadian Football League/cfl.ca)

By Trevor Redden

Rider Nation Awaits

Grey Cup goers disappointed, but understanding of decision

May 22, 2020 | 12:00 PM

In football-mad Saskatchewan, 2020 was set to be a banner year as the City of Regina would be hosting the Grey Cup for the fourth time in history.

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the CFL and the Saskatchewan Roughriders announced this week the 2020 Grey Cup and Grey Cup Festival will be moved to 2022. If there is a season this year, it won’t start before September, and in the event games can be played the Grey Cup would be hosted by the top-ranked participant in the game.

Prince Albert business-owner Ben Gareau has had his tickets for the big event ever since they came on sale, jumping at the opportunity provided for season ticket holders to secure their seats. While disappointed, he applauded the way the situation was handled by all involved.

“I thought it was positive. I thought an abbreviated season is better than no season, and I really liked the idea of the Grey Cup going to a city where they’ve had the best record for the year. I think that’s brilliant, and who knows, that might be a keeper [moving forward],” Gareau said.

Local realtor Terry Mason is no stranger to the Grey Cup, having made a point to attend the event annually with the exception of some of the outdoor destinations in recent years. Here in Saskatchewan, he and his friends were prepared to endure the elements.

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“I would say [there’s] disappointment, but I was expecting it because of COVID-19, you know what I mean? Saskatchewan people are pretty smart people, and they don’t want a whole bunch of people to get sick,” Mason said.

“Until there’s a vaccine or something, I don’t think there should be 30 or 40,000 people in the same stadium.”

In his press conference Thursday, Premier Scott Moe acknowledged the heartbreak of not only fans but of the business community who were to receive the significant economic spinoff of such a major event. On the positive side, he pointed to a couple silver linings.

“We are very thankful that the CFL has allowed us to start to plan for the 2022 Grey Cup, and we know that that will be the greatest event ever held in CFL history and we look forward to hosting that event,” Moe said.

“If there is a way to play…and that the Saskatchewan Roughriders would be able to ultimately be the winner that would host the Grey Cup this year, in that event we would have the opportunity to host the Grey Cup yet this year and host it twice in three years.”

Locally, Gareau said he is not worried about getting his tickets refunded, as he intends to go in 2022 and would love to see the scenario laid out by Moe this fall.

On the topic of a 2022 Grey Cup back in Regina, Mason provided a broader perspective.

“Hopefully by ’22, things will be a lot better in the world. If not, I don’t think we’re going to have to worry about the Grey Cup.”

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trevor.redden@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @Trevor_Redden