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The final season at Mosaic Stadium is nearly upon us and so the long goodbye begins.
On Wednesday, the City of Regina and some of its partners unveiled plans to say farewell.
It starts with a kick-off celebration BBQ, Saturday, May 21. It will include a number of sport and cultural groups and pavilion performances from the Regina Multicultural Council Mosaic Festival.
There will be entertainment for all ages including exhibits and displays about the history of the facility.
The Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame is getting involved. In May and June it will host kids from a number of public and catholic community schools to learn more about the stadium and how sport can be a positive in people’s lives. They will get to play on the current Mosaic Stadium turf.
And there is chance for a selfie. Mosaic Stadium will be open for families to take a souvenir photo on the field. There will even be a professional photographer on hand and for a small fee will take a snap with the money raised going to charity.
Public photo dates are:
- Thursday, June 29
- Sunday, July 11
- Sunday, August 21
- Friday, September 16
- Saturday, October 1
The farewell events include a competition for community organizations to submit a proposal to host their own goodbye event in the final months of the stadium. Submissions will be reviewed on creativity, community impact and accessibility.
Finally, a large-scale commemorative art piece will be commissioned which will be permanently installed on a wall in the new stadium.
The deadline for both is May 31, 2016.
Speaking in the shadow on the new stadium, Mayor Michael Fougere said he hopes fans from across the province will get involved.
“I hope they partake in the activities that we have planned and the Riders have planned to be on the field, take it all in, talk about your memories themselves and say farewell to a beautiful stadium that has served us so well for so many years,” he said.
Fougere has his own favourite memories of Mosaic Stadium, particularly the energy “the best fans in the world bring” each game.
“The Paul McCartney concert, the Grey Cup win in 2013 and the Rolling Stones concert are standouts,” Fougere explained.
Even the Hospitals of Regina Foundation is getting involved this farewell season. Along with Trilight Entertainment, it is behind the premiere screening of the movie A.R.C.H.I.E. which was produced and filmed in and around Regina.
With the voice talents of Michael J. Fox, it is the story of a young girl adjusting to life and loss in a new town with the help of a robotic dog.
It will be shown for children and families on the Maxtron Aug. 20, 2016. All the proceeds raised will support Regina’s pediatric programming.
The Riders also have the own events planned which will be unveiled in the coming weeks. It may include the opportunity for fans to purchase sections of the turf and the seats they have been in, in some cases, for decades.