FAN FARE AT MOSAIC
Concertgoers will have plenty of food choices during Regina Rocks Mosaic Stadium on Saturday. Mayor Michael Fougere was on hand as chef Lloyd Frank gave a preview of tasty treats such as a two-foot sausage in a baguette and key lime pie on a stick.
Whether you want to share a two-foot long hotdog with a friend, sample some pulled pork poutine or enjoy a key lime pie on a stick, there are going to be plenty of culinary choices to choose from on Saturday for the second test event at Mosaic Stadium.
Several local restaurants will be offering their cuisines including Rock Creek Tap & Grill, Beer Bros., Coney Island, Western Pizza, Wok Box and Sweet Ambrosia Bakeshoppe.
“To partner up with a game day experience, that is very cool,” said Darren Carter, managing partner at Beer Bros. “We are proud of our community and the business that we have built.”
Vendors will be in generic spaces on the concourse for the second test event.
“We have a space on the main floor, so we will have that open for the weekend. We are excited about that,” Carter said. “I think everyone has a bit of a generic space. Inside our space, the vibe comes out of the people and the staff who will be working there.”
Carter is happy to see that local businesses are having such a prominent role in the food service area of the stadium.
“We walked in here a couple of times for different meetings and it is neat to see the local restaurant community coming together,” he said. “They are employing local people, using local products.”
While there are only six vendors for the second test event, there will be roughly 12 vendors in the stadium by July 1, when the Roughriders open their season. The beer distribution system will be tested in select locations on Saturday, but most concession areas will serve beers in cans.
A full lineup of beverages will also not be available for Saturday.
“We are the exclusive service provider and it was our decision to work through the top local providers to find good operators that meet the criteria that complements the other food offerings in the stadium,” said Mark Allan, president and CEO of Regina Exhibition Association Limited (REAL).
“We have been in touch with most of the other food vendors, and I think new opportunities will open up over time. It will be an open shop going forward to see how we do.”
What also won’t be found on Saturday are local craft beers, but REAL will be viewing a presentation from the Saskatchewan Craft Brewers Association soon.
Currently, an exclusive pouring contract exists between the Riders and Molson.
“An exclusive pouring rights deal normally means exclusive, and that has been paid for and the funds used to pay for exclusivity help fund the stadium,” said Allan.
“I am expecting an interesting proposal coming forward from the craft brewers that will honour the Riders commitment to Molson. We are trying to be inclusive in the stadium.”
Visitors for Saturday’s concert are asked to bring cash, as there will be limited debit and credit card transactions in the stadium to test out the point-of-sale system.
ATMs will be available throughout the stadium as well.