CFL strike pauses preparation plans for Mosaic stadium vendors
Some food vendors at Mosaic Stadium are pausing preparations for the preseason as the CFL strike has potential to postpone the first exhibition game of the year.
Darren Zawyrucka owns Campfire Grill, which operates 45 tills across the concourse. The kitchens are cleaned and the concessions have passed their health inspections he said. However, he is holding back on ordering the food.
“In order to get the food that we need in and have the prep work done, we’d have to know (if the game is going ahead) by Thursday,” Zawyrucka said.
The Saskatchewan Roughriders are set to host the Winnipeg Blue Bombers on Monday afternoon at Mosaic Stadium.
However, the ongoing CFL strike could cancel the game.
The uncertainty means vendors have to be ready, or at least almost ready, to host thousands of fans in less than a week, Zawyrucka said.
“We have to be clean, we have to be prepared and make sure all the equipment is working, otherwise we just wouldn’t be ready in time,” he said.
Besides food, vendors need to make sure workers are in place.
Campfire Grill needs 150 volunteer workers to operate its concession stands on game days, according to Zawyrucka.
Staffing is a concern for vendors around the concourse, including Milu.
Luanne Truong, owner of Milu, said she might have to lay off some of her employees if CFL games are cancelled.
However, she said food and supplies are less of a concern because she can use those at their other three restaurants in the city.
“We have to make adjustments,” she said.
“There is no certainty in any events. Anything may come up just like the last two years we’ve had with COVID.”
Missing one preseason game would result in “significant revenue loss,” according to Zawyrucka.
But there will be bigger financial implications if the strike lasts longer than the preseason.
“If it carries on further into the summer, into June and July, then there are significant issues we’d have to deal with,” he said.
Zawyrucka said his catering company has built their summer schedule around Roughrider home games and there could be scheduling conflicts if games are cancelled or postponed.
Ideally, he said the strike would not impact the regular season, and if an exhibition game is missed, he hopes it can be made up in the next week or two.
CTV News reached out to the CFL to ask when the league would make a decision about Monday’s game but did not hear back by the time of publishing.
However, according to CFL insider Dave Naylor, the two sides would likely have to reach a collective bargaining agreement by Wednesday in order for Monday’s preseason game to go ahead.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Shooting outside of Drake's Bridle Path mansion, 1 person seriously injured: source
Toronto police are investigating a shooting that took place outside of Drake’s Bridle Path mansion early Tuesday morning, a source tells CP24.
Your body needs these three forms of movement every week
Movement is movement, right? Not exactly. Here’s what your body is looking for in addition to your morning walk or yoga session, according to experts.
'It looked so legit': Ontario man pays $7,700 for luxury villa found on Booking.com, but the listing was fake
An Ontario man says he paid more than $7,700 for a luxury villa he found on a popular travel website -- but the listing was fake.
Canadian cadets rock mullets and place second at U.S. military competition
Sporting mullets, Canadian Armed Forces officer cadets placed second in an annual military skills competition in the U.S.
The Met Gala was in full bloom with Zendaya, Jennifer Lopez, Mindy Kaling among the standout stars
The Met Gala and its fashionista A-listers on Monday included Jennifer Lopez, Zendaya and a parade of others in a swirl of flora and fauna looks on a green-tinged carpet lined by live foliage.
Quebec to limit sperm donations per donor after 3 men from same family father hundreds of children
Quebec is looking at tightening the regulations around sperm donation in the province following the release of a documentary that revealed three men from the same family fathered hundreds of children.
How to overcome 'savings guilt' when you're living paycheque to paycheque
As the higher cost of living continues to squeeze household budgets, many Canadians find they have even less left over at the end of every month to squirrel away for the future.
There's actually no such thing as vegetables. Here's why you should eat them anyway
The rumours are true: Vegetables aren't real — that is, in botany, anyway. While the term fruit is recognized botanically as anything that contains a seed or seeds, vegetable is actually a broad umbrella term.
Noelia Voigt resigns as Miss USA, citing her mental health
Noelia Voigt, who was crowned Miss USA in November 2023, has announced she is resigning from her role, saying the decision is in the best interest of her mental health.