After a lengthy absence caused by pandemic, Rider fans return to Mosaic Stadium

Les Staff has no problem keeping a long-distance relationship with his beloved Saskatchewan Roughriders. He’s originally from this province but now lives in Vancouver. On Saturday morning, he was back, sitting outside Mosaic Stadium waiting for the doors to open.

“That’s how deep green goes,” Staff said.

That day, the Riders welcomed fans back to their home field, allowing them to watch practice. Doors opened at 10:30 a.m. and attendance was capped at 500 people.

For the first time since CFL’s West Division Finals on Nov. 17, 2019, there were spectators in the stands to watch football.

After the 2020 season was canceled because of COVID-19, Staff wasn’t waiting any longer to get reacquainted with the team.

“It has been far too long since I’ve seen a Roughrider play on the field. And even at practice, it’s worthwhile to come here today because I’ve had green withdrawal for a year and a half,” he said.

Staff plans to catch a couple of games this season. He’s back for a few weeks and has tickets to the team’s home opener on Aug. 6 against the B.C. Lions.

“I don’t cry a lot, but there may be a tear that day when they come out of that tunnel,” he said.

After two weeks of vacay, I was back at Mosaic Stadium for the first time since the 2019 West Final. A welcome return to ‘normal’ and kudos to HC @cdickenson26 for he and the team acknowledging and applauding the fans who showed up on the first day back for them. #Riders #CFL pic.twitter.com/zAKQcn5JOa

— Jamie Nye (@jamienye) July 17, 2021

Paige Hansen traveled three hours into the city to rekindle her love for the sport. It’s her thing.

“Some people go on holidays or trips but me? I love my football and that’s my source of happiness,” Hansen said.

She isn’t alone. Hansen and her friend, Maddy Thiele, have season tickets and plan to catch every single game this season.

“I don’t think anything’s gonna honestly compare to this feeling because football is so important to Saskatchewan and just finally having everyone back … it’s just going to be intense,” Thiele said.

In nearly 30 years of holding season tickets, Marc Cyrenne believes he has only missed five games. He showed up to North Central Regina out of curiosity, to see how the roster is shaping up.

“It’s exciting for us. I can’t imagine I was exciting this for those guys in the field,” Cyrenne said.

Staff says the Riders are so deeply woven into the fabric of the province that when the team has been sidelined, you notice. He feels that Saskatchewan hasn’t been the same since 2019.

“Culturally and then also personally, this is part of who I am,” he said. “They talk about society having glue and things that stick it together. And in this province, that glue is green,” he said.