‘Totally amazing’: CFL fans enjoy Grey Cup game, festival in Regina

It was — mostly — a joyous event in Regina on Sunday night as thousands of football fans took in the game and the end of Grey Cup 109.

Some left Mosaic Stadium a bit early, but the steady stream out of the gates started in earnest after time ran out and the Toronto Argonauts had clinched the championship with a 24-23 victory over the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.

It was the first CFL game Bonnie Campbell had attended.

“It was awesome. It was really totally amazing. This is my very first game. I’ve never been to a game before, so this is totally awesome,” she said.

Campbell is a Bombers fan, and although the blue and gold didn’t come out on top, she said nothing could compare to the experience of a live game.

Some Bombers fans didn’t take the loss too well, coming out of the stadium looking sour and dejected, their costumes falling flat in the aftermath. Winnipeg was looking for its third straight CFL title.

However, there were all kinds of football fans at the game and most of them had nothing but good things to say about the game itself.

“The first half was a little slow and then the second half, you were on your feet. It was great — lots of action,” said one man.

“It was nice to see someone different win, but definitely the two blocked field goals at the end of the game, that was definitely fun to see too,” said another.

There was more than a fair share of people in green and white at the stadium, despite the Saskatchewan Roughriders having been eliminated from playoff contention before the end of the regular season.

“I wish it was a repeat of 2013 with the Riders, but it’s not,” said one man in a Riders jersey. “I was hoping for the Argos to win.”

Another Rider fan said: “I really enjoyed (the game). I got my money’s worth at the very least even if the Riders weren’t in it.”

Most fans were equally happy with the halftime show.

“The songs were good. Me and my friend Nicole were singing along to them,” said one woman.

“I’m not even a country fan but for an act at halftime it was really good,” said another man.

While there were those who weren’t interested in a country music act, others thought Tyler Hubbard of Florida-Georgia Line fame was the highlight.

The game Sunday night was only the finale; the Grey Cup Festival started days ago with fans taking in events, the street party and team parties.

“It was just all so incredible, the whole atmosphere. Go Regina, go festival committee, go CFL,” said a woman named Maryanne.

She went to pretty much everything on offer, though she did regret not seeing the drone show. It was cancelled Thursday and Friday night due to weather.

“Regina life, Sask life is great and the Riders are awesome. The city’s great and that’s why people want to be here and that’s why the Riders are a successful organization,” said Brett Benson.

“I’ve been to enough that they are just all good because everyone takes the pride, and the time, and the energy and the effort to make it a good operation. Every Grey Cup I’ve been to, it’s all been good.”

Benson took his two kids to the Family Fun Zone and said it was great to have the family out with all the festivities.

— With files from 980 CJME’s Gillian Massie