Sometimes you build up something in your mind, making it difficult to exceed your lofty expectations.
So when it exceeds what you hoped for, then you’re truly impressed.
But it happened to me on Saturday, when I had a momentous occasion: my first football game at the new Mosaic Stadium.
I knew the new Mosaic Stadium was a great place to watch a football game, thanks to the rave reviews and the videos posted online.
And yes, there were some extenuating factors that contributed to my enjoyment of the new stadium. For starters, I was in the second deck, on the 45-yard line, which meant I could see the plays develop and get a good look at the battles at the line of scrimmage, where the game is truly won and lost.
I don’t know if there’s a bad seat in new Mosaic, but I definitely had great seats.
Bonus: I didn’t have to walk up a dozen ramps to get to my seats.
The only downside is I wasn’t paying attention to a map when I booked the ticket. So I was in the sunny side of the stadium, basking in near 40 C heat. But I’d rather be watching a game in those conditions, than in a steady rain on a cold day.
And it was an entertaining game. Both teams made great plays. Rider receiver Duron Carter guaranteed himself a place on highlight reels across the country for the rest of the year with his spectacular touchdown catch in the second quarter.
When Toronto was pressing late in the fourth quarter, the Riders came up with a big defensive stop near their goal line. And then they held onto the ball for most of the final few minutes, until the came up with the insurance touchdown.
I usually don’t pay to get into sporting events. It’s one of the perks of being a reporter. But thanks to that game, I felt I had my money’s worth (and trust me, it was an expensive ticket).
Rider fans might not be happy to hear this, but my biggest hope for that game was to see an entertaining contest. If I would have gone to Regina and watched a 60-1 debacle, I would have been pretty ticked off, even if the Riders would have won.
I’m glad the Riders won, but I’m happier that I watched a great game.
Saskatchewan residents can be proud of the stadium we now have in this province. Yes, it’s a football venue, and its primary existence is for football. But thanks to Mosaic Stadium, the best fans in the CFL are watching games in the best place to watch a football game in the country.
It’s an outdoor venue. It has the right number of seats at 33,000. It’s well designed.
And it’s a drawing card for free agents looking to come to the CFL. While the old Mosaic Stadium had character and tradition, it was an archaic building whose best days were behind it.
Renovations at old Mosaic (better known as Taylor Field) helped improve the turf, the scoreboard and some of the seats, but you couldn’t improve the concessions, the washrooms or the concourse.
When players come to New Mosaic and see it for the first time, there will be the “Wow!” effect. The opportunity to play there, to use that dressing room and to play before those fans will help the Riders bring in top talent, especially those from football-crazed areas of the U.S. who are used to everything being first-rate.
Downsides? The signage inside the stadium could be a little bigger and clearer. And the beer variety needs improvement. One day, we’ll be able to drink a true Saskatchewan beer at new Mosaic.
Nine bucks for a Molson product? No thanks.
And for those who are wondering, no, I didn’t try to tackle the two-foot loaded hot dog. If I did, there’s a very good chance I would have needed to spend several nights in a Regina hospital.
Give me a simple stadium hot dog and a soft drink. Maybe a bottle of water to stay cool during the game.
But the signage and the lack and the mediocre brews are minor quibbles. I’m at the game to watch a game. On Saturday, I had my money’s worth.
