What goes into building a new stadium and the length of time to do it.
TIMELINE: The road to new Mosaic Stadium
Rob Vanstone Regina Leader-Post June 23, 2017
A timeline of the major developments in the quest for a new stadium:
Dec. 2, 2004: The Saskatchewan Roughriders propose an estimated $12 million in upgrades to Taylor Field with the goal of landing the 100th Grey Cup game, to be played in 2012.
Feb. 28, 2005: The NDP-led provincial government forgives a $2.8-million loan to the Roughriders, principally to assist with plans to upgrade Taylor Field. “We have to be prepared to think big sometimes,” says Eric Cline, the then-minister of industry and resources. “One of the things that attracted us about this project is wanting Taylor Field to be upgraded to a national, if not a world, standard. We don’t want our facility to be behind those in other places.”
June 23, 2006: Taylor Field is renamed Mosaic Stadium following the signing of a 10-year, $4-million sponsorship agreement between the Roughriders and The Mosaic Company. The home of the Roughriders had been named Taylor Field — in memory of former player, coach and executive Neil J. (Piffles) Taylor — since 1947.
Nov. 11, 2007: The Roughriders play host to their first home playoff game since 1988, defeating the Calgary Stampeders 26-24 in the West Division semifinal before a capacity crowd of 28,800.
April 9, 2008: The idea of putting a “bubble” over the playing field to make it accessible year-round is floated. Regina Mayor Pat Fiacco tells reporters that the city has identified $5.8 million in needed repairs to the aging stadium.
Nov. 5, 2008: Fiacco declares “the status quo is not an option” regarding the stadium situation, citing the options as being a new stadium or a complete retrofit of the old one. Fiacco says the cost of the latter option would “easily be over $100 million.” A feasibility study is launched to explore the options in greater detail.
Dec. 9, 2008: Fiacco says the city is looking into what it would cost to build a domed stadium.
July 20, 2009: The Roughriders and three levels of government (federal, provincial and municipal) commit $1 million to a feasibility study regarding a possible domed stadium for downtown Regina. An estimated cost exceeding $350 million is cited. The study will also look at the possibility of a retractable roof. Fiacco envisions a stadium on the current site of the CP rail yards, which are expected to relocate, with the Taylor Field site to become a residential area. The study is announced at the same time the results of a review, conducted by consultants Bill Shupe and Rob Giberson, are released. They recommend a covered stadium as the preferred option. The review adds that a renovation of the existing Mosaic Stadium would cost $109 million over five years, and that improvements to the old facility or a new open-air stadium would do little to increase economic activity downtown. The provincial government covers the $70,000 cost of the review.
March 1, 2010: The feasibility study is released. It estimates that a 33,000-seat covered stadium would cost an estimated $386.2 million — $431.2 million if a retractable roof is added. The study says that an indoor stadium could operate successfully in downtown Regina.
March 1, 2011: One year to the day after the feasibility study is released, the plan for a domed stadium is dead. The provincial government withdraws its funding commitment to the stadium, citing the federal government’s rejection of cash for the project.
April 19, 2011: Fiacco unveils his vision for Regina Revitalization Initiative, which includes a stadium replacement and the vacating of 53 acres of land on the Taylor Field site — to be occupied by housing units and commercial outlets. The new stadium would be located downtown on space opened up in the CP container yards.
Aug. 22, 2011: Regina city council approves the RRI plan, with a $1-billion price tag and a Taylor Field replacement deadline of 2016.
Dec. 19, 2011: City council decides on a P3 (public-private partnership) funding model for stadium construction.
May 4, 2012: A $278-million, 33,000-seat open-air stadium is proposed for city-owned Evraz Place. Regina Exhibition Association Ltd. (REAL) will operate the new stadium. As part of the RRI, the plan will also include 700 affordable housing units, along with retail and commercial development. In addition, $24.4 million is earmarked to tear down Taylor Field and redevelop the site. The overall revitalization project is expected to take 10 to 15 years to complete.
July 14, 2012: Fiacco, Premier Brad Wall and Roughriders chairman of the board Roger Brandvold sign a non-binding memorandum of understanding (MOU), establishing the future funding partners — announcing that a new, $278.2-million Mosaic Stadium will be open full-time in 2017. Including debt servicing and maintenance, the price tag will be $675 million over 30 years.
Sept. 5, 2012: RRI receives unanimous assent of members of the Regina executive committee. The next step is a vote by the full city council (which has approved a design-build-finance procurement model). The plan approves a 0.45-per-cent mill-rate increase for Regina taxpayers for a decade.
Sept. 19, 2012: City of Regina unveils a concept design for new stadium. Riders president-CEO Jim Hopson describes the design as “iconic.”
Oct. 3, 2012: The executive committee unanimously approves the purchase of 17.39 acres of Canadian Pacific Railway land for $7.5 million. The land, along Dewdney Avenue from Albert Street to Broad Street, is to include residential and commercial property as part of the city’s long-term plan to revitalize downtown.
Oct. 9, 2012: CP land purchase is approved by city council.
Jan. 16, 2013: City council’s executive committee approves stadium financing. The deal includes $188.8 million over 30 years for stadium maintenance. The committee also approves a request-for-qualifications evaluation, which is to pare down to three the number of companies eligible to bid on the stadium project.
Jan. 28, 2013: City council approves funding agreements for and conceptual design of the new stadium by a 10-1 vote. Coun. Shawn Fraser casts the lone opposing vote.
Aug. 15, 2013: Demolition of old buildings begins on the stadium site.
July 8, 2013: Council approves a 30-year, $75-million stadium lease with Sask Sport Inc. Sask Sport will receive 10,000 square feet of office space and 600 hours per year of access to the field. Field access is to be given to Sask Sport along with affiliated non-profit sport organizations.
Jan. 27, 2014: Council approves a $100-million loan from the province that will help to finance the stadium project. The term of the loan will be 31.5 years with an annual interest rate of 3.99 per cent. With interest, the city will be obligated to repay $171 million over the full term. There is an option to repay the loan earlier without penalty.
March 14, 2014: PCL Construction is named the preferred builder. PCL is to design, build and provide interim financing for the stadium. PCL’s bid includes HKS (lead design and sports architect), B&H Architects (architect of record) and TD Securities (finance team lead). The short list consisted of PCL, Bouygues Construction Graham Community Partners and Clark Builders/Turner Construction.
May 22, 2014: The official stadium design is revealed by Mark Williams of HKS. A 20-year extension of the naming rights deal with The Mosaic Company is also announced.
June 16, 2014: Ground is broken at the stadium site, beginning the process of excavating 300,000 cubic metres of dirt.
Oct. 29, 2014: Excavation work is mostly complete. PCL Construction is using four cranes — 61, 66, 73 and 87 metres tall — for the first time while doing a commercial project in Regina.
June 16, 2015: One year into construction, 44 per cent of the stadium is complete and steel-structure work is underway. The city unveils a general-admission lounge, which can accommodate 500 people.
Sept. 1, 2015: The Riders’ new lease calls for the team to pay $230,000 per year to rent Taylor Field/Mosaic Stadium. The agreement is two years shorter than usual to cover the transition into the new stadium.
Sept. 5, 2015: “Project Stadium Sneak Peek” allows members of the public to check out the stadium — which is slightly more than half complete — as it takes shape.
Nov. 9, 2015: Stadium is about 60 per cent complete.
March 16, 2016: Stadium 77 per cent complete. The structural-steel roof is nearly finished.
Aug. 31, 2016: The city announces substantial completion of the new stadium, meaning in essence that all basics for the stadium’s intended purpose are in place. The stadium is completed on time and on budget.
Oct. 1, 2016: The University of Regina Rams defeat the University of Saskatchewan Huskies 37-29 in the first football game — and the first test event — at the new stadium.
Oct. 29, 2016: The Saskatchewan Roughriders play their final game at Taylor Field, losing 24-6 to the B.C. Lions. Closing ceremonies include appearances by George Reed, Roger Aldag, Gene Makowsky and Darian Durant.
May 27, 2017: Bryan Adams is the headliner at the second test event at Mosaic Stadium, where 75 per cent of the seats were available — an increase of 25 per cent from Oct. 1.
June 10, 2017: The Roughriders play their first game at Mosaic Stadium, opposing the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in CFL pre-season action.
July 1, 2017: Winnipeg is to visit again — this time in the first regular-season game at the new facility.
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