Riders use Green and White scrimmage as a trial run for new game day protocols
The Saskatchewan Roughriders used their annual green and white scrimmage as a game day practice for the team and volunteers.
Fans were allowed back in Mosaic Stadium for the first time since November 17, 2019 on Saturday.
The Riders organization used the intersquad game to practice new COVID-19 protocols.
“There will be digital ticketing in effect today that is going to be in effect all year long,” Craig Reynolds, President and CEO of the Riders, said. “We have a clear bag policy as well which will just speed up the entry and prevent people from rummaging through your things obviously being conscious of COVID and making sure our fans feel safe.”
Reynolds added fans will notice some other changes throughout the season, mostly on the field. He said only players and coaches will be allowed on the turf.
“Before you used to see the big flag with a couple hundred volunteers we just won’t be able to do that, certainly not at the beginning of the season. You know even out anthem singer would normally be on the field and they won’t be able to at the start of the season,” he said.
Some fan favourites, like sunflower seeds, also won’t be allowed in the stadium this season either.
“There is just a lot of hands to your mouth and saliva involved in that,” Reynolds said. “Obviously blow horns was another one that is prohibited and that’s just as people blow through that they are spitting saliva out into the crowd.”
He said the Riders are working with the Saskatchewan Health Authority to come up with ongoing best practices, adding some of these rules will ease when COVID-19 cases subside and others being permanently implemented.
The team will continue training camp next week as they prepare for their home opener against the BC Lions on August 6.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'They needed people inside Air Canada:' Police announce arrests in Pearson gold heist
Police say one former and one current employee of Air Canada are among the nine suspects that are facing charges in connection with the gold heist at Pearson International Airport last year.
House admonishes ArriveCan contractor in rare parliamentary show of power
MPs enacted an extraordinary, rarely used parliamentary power on Wednesday, summonsing an ArriveCan contractor to appear before the House of Commons where he was admonished publicly and forced to provide answers to the questions MPs said he'd previously evaded.
Leafs star Auston Matthews finishes season with 69 goals
Auston Matthews won't be joining the NHL's 70-goal club this season.
Trump lawyers say Stormy Daniels refused subpoena outside a Brooklyn bar, papers left 'at her feet'
Donald Trump's legal team says it tried serving Stormy Daniels a subpoena as she arrived for an event at a bar in Brooklyn last month, but the porn actor, who is expected to be a witness at the former president's criminal trial, refused to take it and walked away.
Why drivers in Eastern Canada could see big gas price spikes, and other Canadians won't
Drivers in Eastern Canada face a big increase in gas prices because of various factors, especially the higher cost of the summer blend, industry analysts say.
Doug Ford calls on Ontario Speaker to reverse Queen's Park keffiyeh ban
Ontario Premier Doug Ford is calling on Speaker Ted Arnott to reverse a ban on keffiyehs at Queen's Park, describing the move as “needlessly” divisive.
'A living nightmare': Winnipeg woman sentenced following campaign of harassment against man after online date
A Winnipeg woman was sentenced to house arrest after a single date with a man she met online culminated in her harassing him for years, and spurred false allegations which resulted in the innocent man being arrested three times.
Woman who pressured boyfriend to kill his ex in 2000s granted absences from prison
A woman who pressured her boyfriend into killing his teenage ex more than a decade ago will be allowed to leave prison for weeks at a time.
Customers disappointed after email listing $60K Tim Hortons prize sent in error
Several Tim Horton’s customers are feeling great disappointment after being told by the company that an email stating they won a boat worth nearly $60,000 was sent in error.