‘Even more excitement’: Rider fans take part in first tailgate at Mosaic Stadium

For the first time since it opened in 2017, Mosaic Stadium saw Rider fans tailgating before the Green and White kicked off their 2026 season against the BC Lions. (Damian Smith / CTV News)

Ahead of Saturday’s home opener for the Saskatchewan Roughriders, Mosaic Stadium saw Rider fans in tailgating action for the first time.

“I think people being able to tailgate the parking lots and cook up some food, it’s going to make things awesome and fun,” said Nicholas, a Rider superfan. “Game days are always fun, and you have a lot of excitement. But I think with the new tailgate rules, I think there’s going to be even more excitement.”

• Excitement builds for first Mosaic Stadium tailgating experience

The tailgating parameters involve purchasing a season pass to book one of a couple hundred spots, with each pass securing two side by side parking stalls, one for a vehicle, the other for the tailgate setup.

Almost seven months after their Grey Cup win, the momentum didn’t stop outside of Mosaic Stadium. Fans of the Green and White are ready to go back to back, reflecting on last year’s accomplishments.

“It was something else. I mean, none of us ever expect to win a great Cup, we’re only at number five now,” said Nathan Clearihue, a lifelong fan. “The fact that right from the get go, they’re like, ‘It’s our time,’ and just kept drilling that home. Every game, every chance they got the ball, it was business.”

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“You just knew there was a special feeling and aura from that team.”

Lifelong fan Crystal Keir credits head coach Corey Mace for the organization’s success, since he was hired in November 2023.

“When Mace came, he just brought a different energy to the entire place,” she said. “He’s a great guy in general, but he brought a different fire to the boys.”

“Last year especially, it just felt like a really special and a historical season for just the whole organization and for Rider Nation as a whole. I’m going to remember it for a very long time.”

Tailgating will be open to Rider fans five hours before kickoff on game days.