Saskatchewan Roughriders working to bring tailgating to Mosaic Stadium

Mosaic Stadium before CFL football action between the Saskatchewan Roughriders and the Calgary Stampeders in Regina, on Friday, July 11, 2025. The game is delayed due to poor air quality. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Heywood Yu (Heywood Yu/The Canadian Press)

The Saskatchewan Roughriders are hoping to bring a proper tailgating experience to fans next season, according to an email sent to season ticket holders Wednesday.

“We have been working with the Government of Saskatchewan on potential ways to elevate our game day experience,” Roughriders President and CEO Craig Reynolds said. “Next season, we hope to bring you legal tailgating at the Mosaic Stadium footprint for Rider home games.”

The message goes on to say that season ticket holders would have “first access to tailgating spaces” if the proposal goes ahead in the coming months.

Extremely common outside NFL stadiums and some other Canadian Football League (CFL) markets, tailgating typically involves setting up barbecues, small canopies and more before the start of football games.

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The name comes from the pregame festivities often being done using the open tailgate of a truck or other vehicle.

In CFL markets where traditional tailgating is allowed, teams like the Calgary Stampeders have a set of rules for the festivities including no open alcohol, having police on site, and no branded marketing setups.

“Tailgating activities are to be concluded one hour after the game starts,” states another rule in Calgary.

Winnipeg and Edmonton have similar policies to allow tailgating in specified areas.

It’s unclear exactly what the Riders’ approach to the football tradition would look like at this point.

“The Roughriders are always exploring new ways to elevate the fan experience at Mosaic Stadium. As we are still in the early stages, we do not have any further details to provide at this time,” the team said in a statement to CTV News.

CTV News has reached out to the provincial government for comment.

- With files from Donovan Maess