Sellout crowd expected again at SaskTel Centre for Pats-Blades game

It’s going to be another busy night at SaskTel Centre as the WHL’s Saskatoon Blades take on the Regina Pats for the second time this week.

The Blades will be looking for a win after losing to the Pats 4-2 on Sunday. SaskTel Centre executive director Scott Ford hopes it’ll be a thrilling game.

“This is the rematch, so I’m thinking the Blades really want this win. So it’s going to be an exciting game,” he said.

He’s also hoping the expected sellout crowd will be extra-patient getting to and from the game. When the doors opened for Sunday’s game, there were more than 2,500 people through the gates within 10 minutes.

Like Sunday, there will also be hundreds of staff and volunteers working the game, including dozens of parking attendants and Saskatoon police officers directing traffic. There also are overflow lots for more vehicles.

The keys, Ford said, are to come early and to carpool wherever possible.

“Follow the direction of the parking attendants and the police. They will get you to the quickest and easiest places to park and the safest way to do it,” he said.

And if there are those who can’t wait in traffic lines after the game is over, there’s another option.

“Take advantage of the shuttle buses. We have shuttle buses running from Lawson Heights Mall, The Centre Mall and Confed. Mall. Those buses will depart at 5:15 p.m. — the first buses,” he added.

The last, free shuttle buses heading to the game will leave at 6:40 p.m. Saskatoon Transit will also have extra buses running from the downtown terminal ahead of the game. Regular fares apply for that option.

Ford is also hoping some employers might let their employees go a bit early.

“We’re telling bosses, ‘You know some of the people going to the game? Let them leave work a few minutes earlier so they can comfortably get here,’” he joked.

Doors open at 5:30 p.m. The game starts at 7 p.m.