Taylor Field: Remembering 10 years since Riders’ final game

Oct. 29, 2016, remains etched in the minds of Saskatchewan Roughriders fans, young and old.

It was one final chance to gather and celebrate a stadium ingrained in the fabric of Saskatchewan sports.

Ten years have passed since the final game at Mosaic Stadium at Taylor Field, which saw a sold-out crowd of more than 33,000 fans laugh, cry and cheer together in Regina.

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The Roughriders suffered a 24-6 loss to the B.C. Lions on a rain-soaked evening, but what followed lifted the spirits of the crowd: a lengthy postgame ceremony celebrating some of the biggest moments in franchise history.

Fans shared their memories of Taylor Field on The Green Zone on Thursday, the 10th anniversary of the historic final game.

Among the callers was Larry, who got the chance to perform the Canadian national anthem during a 2015 game between the Riders and Hamilton Tiger-Cats.

“I’ve never played for that many people before,” said Larry. “That was really cool and something that I will always remember.”

Few players dominated the turf at Taylor Field quite like the late George Reed, who became one of the greatest running backs in CFL history over his 12 seasons in green and white.

His introduction to the home of the Roughriders in 1963 was a big change, however, with far fewer amenities than at his school, Washington State University.

“First time when I saw all the facilities here I said, ‘What the hell was I getting myself into?’” Reed said in 2016. “That was the first thing that came to my mind because I wasn’t prepared.”

Officially opened as the new home of the Riders in 1936, a year before lights were installed at the facility, the stadium was named after local football player and coach Neil “Piffles” Taylor in 1947.

Grandstands were added in 1948 and 1958, though Reed said fans got a much closer look at the field when he began his CFL career.

“First two years I played, they even let people sit on the grass on the sideline there,” Reed said.

Bob Poley’s connection with Taylor Field predated his time as a professional, as he suited up for the junior Regina Rams program before making his Riders debut in 1978.

Speaking with The Green Zone in 2016, the all-star offensive lineman said it was a special place to both play and watch football.

“It was a wonderful place to play football,” Poley said.

“I go back and talk many times about all the great moments that were at Taylor Field. I watched some wonderful football games there and was part of lots of them (when) I played there.”

Poley was an anchor of Saskatchewan’s offensive line, which captured the 1989 Grey Cup in Toronto with a 43-40 victory over Hamilton.

He said getting to walk back onto Taylor Field with the Grey Cup in his hands was one of the proudest moments of his career.

“I think one of the nicest things that I got to do at Taylor Field was carry the Grey Cup in with (Roger) Aldag and all those people on that cold November day,” Poley said.

“It was a special moment on the turf there again.”

Taylor Field hosted three Grey Cup games over its lifespan, including the historic 101st Grey Cup in 2013, won by Saskatchewan 45-23 over the Tiger-Cats to secure the only championship won by the Riders on their home field.

The legacy of Taylor Field still stretches across the province, with the wood bleachers now sitting in the backyards, basements and front porches of fans who were able to win them at auctions in 2017.

Northeast of Saskatoon, the Bruno Golf and Country Club has used turf from Taylor Field to carpet its putting greens since 2000.

“The town floated a loan for $22,000 and change to buy the turf,” said Bruno Deputy Mayor Debbie Kramer. “It was installed by volunteers, it replaced our sand greens and it’s been there ever since.”

Four greens still had Taylor Field turf surrounding the pins this season, including the third hole, which featured a cut-out number three from the 30-yard line.

the Bruno Golf and Country Club has used turf from Taylor Field to carpet their putting greens since 2000. (Debbie Kramer/submitted)

According to Kramer, the connection with the Riders has allowed the course to be played by fans from across the province.

“I think it’s really special for everyone who plays on the course,” Kramer said. “Even people that come here from out of town to play, when they know the history it’s the nostalgia. The Riders are a big part of Saskatchewan and Bruno was no different.”

The Taylor Field greens won’t be back in 2027, however, as they’ve reached the end of their lifespan and will be replaced over the coming months.

Kramer said that history isn’t being lost in Bruno, though, with the town still determined to use the turf in other ways.

“We’ve talked about when that green gets replaced, maybe taking that three and putting it in a shadow box at the golf clubhouse,” Kramer said. “(To) maintain that little piece. The other turf, a lot of it has gone to the archery club, so we’ll still have pieces of Taylor Field around the town.”

Reed was on hand in 2016 to send off the stadium, appearing alongside Aldag, Gene Makowsky and Darian Durant at centre field during the postgame ceremony.

In an interview before that fitting tribute, the late Riders star reminisced about the bonds he formed during his time on the Taylor Field turf and how much they meant to him later in life.

“We will always have memories with the guys that you played with, you never lose that,” Reed said. “The surroundings, that’s one thing. But the guys that you played with is what it’s all about, and that’s what’s important to me.”