Even casual CFL fans know the most passionate fans are in the Prairies. I had been to every other CFL stadium so I needed to find out firsthand whether the axiom was true.
I first saw Winnipeg on my television through the old Canad Inns Stadium on the northwest side of the city. But I had watched football and women's World Cup soccer at Investors Group Field on TV. So I was excited to see the new stadium.
While the old stadium was on the northwest side, along with the old Winnipeg Arena, IGF is pretty far south of downtown. You will travel a great distance to get there. The #160 bus takes you from downtown right to the stadium. Even driving will take awhile. The stadium is at the outer edge of the University of Manitoba campus.
Then again, there is plenty of room for tailgating. The Blue Bombers take full advantage with a really nice setup. Winnipeg pride reigns supreme: cheerleaders, mascots, eating, drinking, fun but family fun.
The concourses are wide and very clean. You can make it to the bathroom, do what you need to do, wash your hands, and not miss a play. The roof will cover most fans to protect them from rain, though we saw earlier this year that a lightning storm requires seeking shelter.
The sightlines are rather good, which will be especially helpful during the Heritage Classic in October when the Winnipeg Jets play outdoors.
The sign on the sidelines says Winnipeg is the home of the loudest CFL fans. Winnipeg fans would say "First Down" really loud when the Blue Bombers make a first down and the PA announcer gives the appropriate cue. Sadly, for Winnipeg fans, they don't get to say "First Down" often enough.
When it comes to food, Winnipeg is an international city. You can find perogies all over the city. Finding butter chicken and naan is pretty easy. Shawarmas are easily available. You can find all of that and fresh veggies at the stadium.
I sat in the lower deck around the 10-yard line. The upper deck appears to have a good perspective. I sat higher up in Edmonton and Calgary and you can get a better appreciation from up high.
The Blue Bombers fans have been through very rough times, but they still love their team. An anecdote but still telling. The next day, I was in a barbecue place in St. Boniface. The guys at the next table were breaking down last night's game and what they would have done differently in the game and with the team. I haven't heard that in Toronto, Montréal, or Vancouver after a game.
Taylor Field is a very short walk from anywhere in downtown Regina. You can access the stadium off of 9 Avenue west of Albert Street or you can follow the green wave headed in that direction.
No matter how many times you have seen Taylor Field on television, your eyes can't prepare for what you are about to see. The architecture, the colour scheme of the seats, the intimacy of being surrounded by so many people yet are close to the action.
If IGF is Oriole Park at Camden Yards, Taylor Field is Fenway Park. The rust has rust down below the stands. You are standing in history even before you get to your seats. Figure that Saskatchewan became a province in 1905 and Taylor Field was born in 1910. There were female fans who were in the stadium in the early years before they could vote.
Before you walk in, tailgating is virtually mandatory. The grassy knoll alongside the stadium doubles as the Roughriders practice field. You are eating and drinking between 2 legitimate-sized goalposts. If you are colour-blind, you miss the amazing show of Saskatchewan green against the green of the grass. The greens battle to see which green is more green.
The colour mosaic of the seats is a rare moment where a peacock would get very jealous. The home side has an upper layer while the visiting side is all one layer.
The food and serving setup is pretty fancy in Winnipeg. In Regina, you have a couple of guys frying up onions in the middle of the concourse under the stands. I've never seen anything like that moment. Beautiful sauteed onions right before your eyes.
The food choices are less exotic but you have sauteed onions right before your crying eyes. This beats mustard packets in Ottawa.
When you make your way up the stairs, you realize you have stepped into what will seem as the HD version of a CFL field. You are very up close to the action, like in no other football stadium I have ever been. Like in Winnipeg, I sat about the 10-yard line at one end but felt a lot closer to the game.
The Winnipeg fans are loud but Saskatchewan has them beat. Loud cheering and applause as the opposition was getting their play started. Chants against B.C. coach Wally Buono.
The late afternoon start produced a rough sun in the eyes of those on the visiting side, especially Buono.
The team has a drum corps that made things louder throughout the game. The CFL has 9 incredible fan bases but Saskatchewan has helmets above all the others.
The new stadium is just to the west of Taylor Field and will open next year. Try if you can to see the old barn before the new one is open for football.
Regina offers plenty of food and drink options after the game, all within walking distance of the stadium. No messy commute or parking to go through in your game experience.
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photos credit: me
Having experienced both of these, I couldn't agree more. Walking out from underneath the old grandstand and making my way up to my seat was scary and exciting at the same time as I worked my way through all the green while wearing BC Lions orange!
Posted by: Tyler | August 05, 2016 at 03:07 PM
I love that memory. I know that subterranean feeling. Thanks for sharing.
Posted by: Chad | August 17, 2016 at 10:23 AM