Roughriders fans can skip proof-of-vaccination line by pre-screening

From now on, Saskatchewan Roughriders fans will have to deal with a second lineup at Mosaic Stadium.

The CFL team will start demanding proof of either two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine or a negative test starting with Friday’s matchup against the Toronto Argonauts.

However, those hoping to skip the vaccine line can spend a bit of time at Evraz Place the day before or prior to the game: The team is pre-screening anyone who wants to save some time on game day.

Pre-screening began Thursday afternoon, with another session set for Friday from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

People can show up at the ticket office, show their ID and proof of vaccination or a negative test and then get a green Roughriders wristband.

Miriam Johnson, the Roughriders’ director of marketing, explained that fans can skip past the lineup for proof of vaccine if they have that wristband.

She also said it isn’t possible to give one of the bands to someone who doesn’t have the shot.

“It cannot be taken off, except if you actually cut it off … They do not rip, they do not tear. Once they go on, they do not come off, unless you’re yanking it off or cutting it off,” she explained.

But what if you’re busy the day before the game?

“Then what you need to do (is) when you come to the gates to enter into the game, go ahead and go on to … MySaskHealthRecord, the online version. If you can take a screenshot on your phone of that record, it’s going to be really easy to go up to that first checkpoint. Show that with your photo ID, then you will be taken to the next step, which is security,” she continued.

From there, it’s a matter of the same security and ticket-checking that people are already used to from the first few home games.

980 CJME went down to the ticket office to see how pre-screened fans felt about the process. The response was very positive.

“I walked in, I pulled out my immunization record that I keep in my wallet (and) I also pulled out my driver’s licence. They confirmed that they matched. Then I held out my wrist and I grabbed my bracelet,” season-ticket holder Matthew Stochmal said.

“Standing in lines at Rider games is always a bit of a chore, so getting in early and getting the wristbands on, hopefully that will make it a bit easier for us.”

He said it only took him about two minutes to get in, and two minutes to get out.

The Roughriders face the Argonauts on Friday at 7:45 p.m. Gates are to open two hours before kickoff to help ease congestion at the gates.

— With files from 980 CJME’s Andrew Shepherd