Riders face road start, finish to 2019 season

The CFL has a gift for its fans just in time for Christmas.

The league has released the 2019 football schedule and it keeps the Roughriders away from home for the first two weeks of the season.

The Riders’ first home game comes on Canada Day, a 5 p.m. matchup against the Toronto Argonauts.

The club then plays two more games at home against Calgary and B.C. before its first bye week of the season starting on July 21.

Two more byes fall on the weeks of Aug. 11 and Sept. 15.

It could be a tough stretch for the Roughriders at the end of the season, where the team will go on the road for three of the final four games.

The Riders final game of the season — a home game against Edmonton on Nov. 2 — happens at 2 p.m., keeping fans out of the evening cold.

The Riders play just one Sunday game this season — the annual Labour Day Classic against Winnipeg. They have three Thursday night games, including one at home.

FULL SCHEDULE

Preseason:

• Friday, May 31 – Saskatchewan at Calgary – 7 p.m.
• Thursday, June 6 – Winnipeg at Saskatchewan – 7 p.m.

Regular Season:

• Thursday, June 13 – Saskatchewan at Hamilton – 5:30 p.m.
• Thursday, June 20 – Saskatchewan at Ottawa – 5:30 p.m.
• Monday, July 1 – Toronto at Saskatchewan – 5 p.m.
• Saturday, July 6 – Calgary at Saskatchewan – 8 p.m.
• Saturday, July 20 – B.C. at Saskatchewan – 5 p.m.
• Saturday, July 27 – Saskatchewan at B.C. – 5 p.m.
• Thursday, Aug. 1 – Hamilton at Saskatchewan – 7:30 p.m.
• Friday, Aug. 9 – Saskatchewan at Montreal – 5 p.m.
• Saturday, Aug. 24 – Ottawa at Saskatchewan – 5 p.m.
• Sunday, Sept. 1 – Winnipeg at Saskatchewan – 1 p.m.
• Saturday, Sept. 7 – Saskatchewan at Winnipeg – 2 p.m.
• Saturday, Sept. 14 – Montreal at Saskatchewan – 5 p.m.
• Saturday, Sept. 28 – Saskatchewan at Toronto – 5 p.m.
• Saturday, Oct. 5 – Winnipeg at Saskatchewan – 5 p.m.
• Friday, Oct. 11 – Saskatchewan at Calgary – 7:30 p.m.
• Friday, Oct. 18 – Saskatchewan at B.C. – 8 p.m.
• Saturday, Oct. 26 – Saskatchewan at Edmonton – 5 p.m.
• Saturday, Nov. 2 – Edmonton at Saskatchewan – 2 p.m.

Playoffs:

• Semi-Finals – Sunday, Nov. 10
• Finals – Sunday, Nov. 17
• 107th Grey Cup – Sunday, Nov. 24