LEVELLING A LANDMARK
Riders fans wiped away tears and reminisced Friday afternoon as they watched the west grandstand at old Mosaic Stadium come down in a controlled collapse. “There’s a lot of history here,” said 40-year Roughriders fan Denise Boudreau.
Sally Ford tried maintaining her composure, but her face crumpled as she watched the west grandstand at Taylor Field come tumbling down Friday afternoon.
“There were so many memories, friendships — I’m just glad I was here,” she said tearfully as the tsunami of dust settled following the controlled collapse.
The Fords have a history with the field of green that includes the golden year when the Saskatchewan Roughriders won the Grey Cup in 1966. “There’s lot of memories up there in section 204, right under the press box on the 50 yard line,” Sally said.
Her husband, Al, played with legends like Ronnie Lancaster, Eagle Keys, Ed McQuarters and George Reed from 1965 to 1976 and later was the club’s assistant coach and general manager.
Standing next to Sally was her friend, JoAnn Martin. Her memories of Taylor Field go back to 1966 when she was named Miss Saskatchewan Roughrider. “I stood in the middle of the field with all of the girls lined up and when they called my name, I didn’t hear them,” Martin said laughing. “One of the girls yelled at me and they called my name again and it was me.”
She went to Vancouver where the Riders won the Grey Cup and later, because of her involvement with Jazzercise, put together many halftime shows for the franchise.
Against the backdrop of a true blue Saskatchewan sky, fans watched and waited with cameras from many vantage points — the top of half-ton trucks, roofs, a fire truck and a bucket truck.
The controlled collapse was slated for 1 p.m., but it didn’t happen until 2:18 p.m. “It took a little longer to cut some of the back columns,” said Ian Bartels, president of Budget Demolition. “We had 12 final cuts, so that took a little longer and then when we were placing the cable, it was hanging up on one of the cuts on the column. They didn’t want to take any risks on that so they had to get that in the right place.”
Courtney Watt took time off work and was among hundreds of people waiting to watch history in the making. “I’ve been a Rider fan my whole life,” Watt said. “I didn’t want to miss this.”
Patiently Beth and Ron Tarr stood near 10th Avenue and Retallack Street so they could witness the end of an era. “I want to see the old girl go down,” Beth said. “I’ve been a ticket holder for 29 years and my folks before us ... Our boys were in Lions band and they paraded on the field many many times ... This is nostalgic, but the new stadium is magnificent.”
Al Hagerman has lived outside of Toronto for 40 years, but while visiting Regina he couldn’t pass up watching the old stadium come down. “I had season tickets from 1967 to 1977 and my father, Orville Hagerman, was at one time the longest season ticket holder before he passed away,” Hagerman said.
Dressed with a green jersey and beads, Al’s mom, Isabelle, said she proudly flies a Rider flag in her Ontario yard and on her car.
“I have a shirt that says, ‘I may live in Ontario, but on game days my heart is in Saskatchewan,’ ” she said.
She was unfazed by the delay of the demolition. However, Denise Boudreau described the wait wryly.
“I think it’s typical of the Riders — they’re waiting for the fourth quarter,” said the fan of 40 years.
“It’s a landmark that’s disappearing and it’s been a part of Regina for a long time,” Boudreau said. “There’s a lot of history here and I think me and a lot of people just want to say a last goodbye.”
Other pieces of the old stadium, including the east-side seats, still have to come down, but Friday’s demolition was the most visible piece yet. Bartels expects the cleanup will be done by the end of December.
A few fans drifted away after waiting an hour, but Ford and Martin were among many who stayed.
“It was worth standing here for the extra time — there’s no two ways about it ... It’s heartbreaking, but I’ve been in the new stadium and I’ve never seen anything so beautiful,” Martin said. “There’s lots more good memories to be made.”