For years, it’s been the one thing missing from the Saskatchewan Roughriders game-day experience. Not the noise. Not the passion. Not the sea of green. Tailgating.
That’s about to change.
Riders president and CEO Craig Reynolds confirmed Tuesday the organization is rolling out a full tailgating setup at Mosaic Stadium for the 2026 season and it won’t be a small trial run. It’s a significant step toward reshaping how fans experience game day in Regina.
“We’re excited to talk about tailgating,” Reynolds said on The SportsCage. “It’s going to totally change the atmosphere.”
The designated tailgate zone will be located just south of the Brandt Centre, stretching toward the rail line a space many fans already know as a pregame gathering area. Now, it’s being formalized and expanded into something much bigger.
The setup will accommodate approximately 200 tailgating groups, with each group getting two spaces one for their vehicle and another to build out their setup.
And that’s where things could get interesting.
Barbecues, smokers, tents, couches it’s all on the table.
“Whatever the heck they’re going to bring,” Reynolds said with a laugh.
Beyond the individual setups, the Riders are also planning a beer garden adjacent to the tailgating area, creating a central hub where fans can move freely between parties, meet up with friends, and soak in the pregame atmosphere.
It’s a model that’s long been a staple in U.S. college football and the NFL but one that has never fully taken hold in Saskatchewan. Until now.
And if there was any doubt about demand, it didn’t last long.
Reynolds said the response was immediate when registration opened, with the first tailgating spot entered for within seconds.
“It was like, boom, someone was ready,” he said.
That kind of reaction doesn’t surprise anyone who understands Rider Nation. For years, fans have made parking lots, backyards, and side streets their unofficial gathering spots. What’s been missing is a centralized, sanctioned space to bring it all together.
Now, they’ll have it.
And with that comes the potential for something more than just pregame burgers and beers.
Across the football world, tailgating has evolved into a culture complete with traditions, rituals, and a sense of identity unique to each fan base. In Buffalo, they jump through tables. In the SEC, it’s all-day parties that rival the game itself.
So what will it look like in Saskatchewan?
That’s the question Reynolds is most curious about.
“I can’t wait to see the traditions that get created. Our fans are great at that.”
Given the creativity and commitment of Rider fans, it likely won’t take long to find out.
Because in Saskatchewan, gathering before the game has never been the issue.
Now, it finally has a home.
