Saskatchewan to host 114th Grey Cup in 2027

The biggest game in Canadian football will be back at Mosaic Stadium in 2027.

Saskatchewan is set to host the 114th Grey Cup, CFL commissioner Stuart Johnston announced on Monday morning. The game will be played on November 7, 2027. Johnston confirmed that the 2027 season will be starting a bit earlier than normal, resulting in the earlier championship.

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“We can’t wait to see Mosaic Stadium come alive again,” Johnston said, adding that Saskatchewan put in a “truly outstanding bid” for the event.

Saskatchewan has hosted the Grey Cup four times in the past, in 1995, 2003, 2013 and most recently in 2022. The most recent of the Roughriders’ 19 appearances in the championship game came in 2013, when the Green and White beat the Hamiton Tiger-Cats 45-23.

“Grey Cups in Saskatchewan are incredibly special. More than a game, they are week-long gatherings that bring the entire CFL community together,” Riders president Craig Reynolds said in a statement.

“Mosaic Stadium was built to host events of this magnitude, and welcoming the league here again in 2027 is a tremendous honour.”

Reynolds thanked both the Government of Saskatchewan and the City of Regina, along with the other partners who helped make the Grey Cup bid a reality.

“I look forward to seeing Rider Pride on full display as Saskatchewan welcomes fans from across the nation for the 2027 Grey Cup,” Scott Moe, Saskatchewan’s premier, said in a statement.

“Our government is excited to support this event and the economic benefit that it will bring to local businesses and our province’s growing tourism sector.”

Chad Bachynski, Regina’s mayor, was also brimming with excitement at Monday’s announcement.

“This celebration of Canadian spirit and community pride will bring people together in the power of sport and once again showcase our world-class venues and Regina hospitality,” Bachynski said in a statement.

“Hosting the Grey Cup is an honour and an opportunity to energize our economy, inspire our youth, and create unforgettable memories for fans from coast to coast. Regina is ready, and we can’t wait to deliver an experience that reflects the heart and soul of Saskatchewan.”

Grey Cup brings big money to host city

Saskatchewan most recently hosted the Grey Cup in 2022, when the Toronto Argonauts beat the Winnipeg Blue Bombers 24-23 to secure the CFL championship. A report published the following year by Sport Tourism Canada found the event had a $67.8 million economic impact and added $25.7 million to the province’s GDP.

“It was an outstanding week from a revenue perspective,” Reynolds said after the 2022 Grey Cup.

“Attendance exceeded our expectations for sure and with attendance usually comes profitability and revenue — and every event was like that.”

Meanwhile, the drought of major concerts at Mosaic Stadium, which has been ongoing since 2019, is set to end on Sept. 15 with a show by the Foo Fighters and Queens of the Stone Age. The most recent concert at the stadium, two performances by Garth Brooks back in 2019, brought in an estimated $18.7 million in economic activity as fans spent their money at restaurants, hotels and other local businesses.

–with files from 980 CJME’s Nicole Garn and Britton Gray