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As Ontario is set to allow U.S.-style tailgating at sporting events, there is support in Regina to try it out at university games.
While there aren’t any current plans to allow tailgating in Saskatchewan, Gene Makowsky — the minister responsible for the Saskatchewan Liquor and Gaming Authority — said that if there is a demand for it, he’d be open to exploring the option.
University of Regina Students’ Union (URSU) president Shawn Wiskar said URSU would be one of the first groups to step up in support of tailgating at Rams football games.
Wiskar said currently, students gather at The Owl campus bar a couple of times per year for pre-game parties. Then they take a shuttle to Mosaic Stadium for games and return to the university afterwards.
He said following Ontario in holding U.S.-style tailgating in the parking lots near games is something students and Rams fans would be interested in.
“You’re definitely going to see more of an increased interest in these kind of activities and you’re going to see more and more students saying, ‘If they’re doing it in Ontario, what’s stopping us?’ ” said Wiskar.
Wiskar would like to see the university’s version of tailgating expanded to match the American model. He said while the Rams have good community support, it could be better. Wiskar believes allowing tailgating at Rams games could really help fans embrace the stereotypical university community experience that you see in the United States.
“If there was an opportunity to go party there, have a good time, tailgate and then go watch some outstanding football, I think that would definitely attract more of a crowd,” said Wiskar.
The Rams are likely the only U of R team where tailgating would work. Most other teams, except for the hockey teams, play on campus. Wiskar said the liability around tailgating in the university parking lot is probably one that the university wouldn’t want to take on.
Rush support allowing tailgating in Saskatchewan
With the warmer weather of spring arriving, the Saskatchewan Rush currently plan to host tailgating events in the parking lot of its offices on Idylwyld Drive, just across from SaskTel Centre.
However, Rush director of business development Brandon Urban said the team would be more than happy to see the event move right into the arena parking lot in the future.
“We’re in favour of anything that enhances the overall game-day experience from the moment they arrive to the second they leave,” Urban said.
He said tailgating makes sense in Ontario, and would likely work in this province, too.
“They have no shortage of sports teams to support there and to tailgate for, so it’s an exciting thing,” he said. “We would love to see it come to Saskatchewan.”
Urban said that while the Rush definitely supports tailgating coming to Saskatchewan, the team is content to wait and see if and when the province decides to change the liquor laws.
— With files from 650 CKOM’s Bryn Levy
