February 18, 2016

Looking forward to the Farewell Season

Here is a quick look at the final ten home games for the Farewell Season at Mosaic Stadium that will begin with a preseason game on June 11th against the B.C. Lions and will be capped with the final regular season home game on October 29th when the Lions pay another visit to Saskatchewan.

(all times local)

PS Week #1 – Saturday, June 11th (7:00pm)

B.C. Lions

This will be the first look Rider fans will have at Chris Jones at work on the sidelines. It will also be the first opportunity for the numerous new faces to Green and White to strut their stuff for the coaching staff. The biggest on-field test will hopefully be a 100% Darian Durant throwing passes for the first time since week one of the 2015 season.

Week #2 – Thursday, June 30th (8:00pm)

Toronto Argonauts (Regular Season Home Opener)

After enjoying a week one bye after a grueling training camp, the Riders will open the Farewell Season at home to Ricky Ray and the Toronto Argos. The Argos lone visit to Mosaic Stadium saw the visitors score 17 fourth quarter points in a 42-40 overtime victory over the Riders. This will also be the first time former receiver John Chiles will face his former team.

Week #4 – Saturday, July 16th (5:00pm)

B.C. Lions

The Lions will see a lot of Saskatchewan this season as they will open their preseason schedule at Mosaic Stadium as well as close Mosaic Stadium in late October. Sandwiched in between is a summer stop. They have had great luck at Mosaic Stadium winning three of their last four games. The last time the Riders defeated the Lions on Mosaic Stadium turf was October 19th in a 35-14 victory.

Week #5 – Friday, July 22nd (7:00pm)

Ottawa REDBLACKS

This will be the third time Henry Burris and the REDBLACKS have paid a visit to Mosaic Stadium. The first two games were split with the Riders winning an overtime classic in 2014 and Ottawa edging out a 30-27 victory last season. Former Ottawa bookends on the defensive line, Shawn Lemon and Justin Capiciotti will face their former team for the first time in this game.

Week #8 – Saturday, August 13th (5:00pm)

Calgary Stampeders

This is the back end of a home and home set with the Stampeders. The two West Division rivals will play 12 days earlier at McMahon Stadium in Calgary. This will be the only time this season the Stampeders will visit Mosaic Stadium.

Week #11 – Sunday, September 4th (1:00pm)

Winnipeg Blue Bombers (Labour Day Classic)

This is the game the Rider Nation circles on their calendar every year, but this edition has so many story lines:

The final Labour Day Classic at Mosaic Stadium

The return of Weston Dressler, Ryan Smith and Macho Harris

See it the Riders can extend their 11 game Labour Day Classic winning streak

Former Coordinators Richie Hall and Paul LaPolice are now the defensive and offensive coordinators for Winnipeg

The only thing that would make it a perfect storybook ending would be a 12 straight Labour Day Classic victory.

Week #13 – Sunday, September 18th (2:30pm)

Edmonton Eskimos

The day Chris Jones was hired away from the Edmonton Eskimos, this game would be a must see at Mosaic Stadium. The defending Grey Cup champs will also look across the field and see former players Shamawd Chambers, Andrew Jones, Kendial Lawrence, Otha Foster as well as their entire 2015 coaching staff looking back at them.

Week #14 – Saturday, September 24th (7:30pm)

Hamilton Ti-Cats

Kent Austin will make one final stop at the field that made him famous. The former Roughrider quarterback and head coach won Grey Cups with the Green and White as a player in 1989 and as a head coach in 2007. He also has bad memories, losing the 2013 Grey Cup at Mosaic Stadium. This will also mark the return of long-time Rider great, John Chick to a place he called home for seven seasons.

Week #18 – Saturday, October 22nd (2:00pm)

Montreal Alouettes

Montreal is the only team the Riders swept in their difficult 2015 season. It will be a cavalcade of stars at receiver for Montreal with the likes of SJ Green, Duron Carter, Nik Lewis and Kenny Stafford. We may also see long time CFL vet and former Rider and current Alouettes quarterback, Kevin Glenn make his final appearance in Saskatchewan.

Week #19 – Saturday, October 29th (5:00pm)

B.C. Lions (The Final Regular Season Home Game)

The Farewell Season at Mosaic Stadium will be capped by Wally Buono and the Lions paying their first and only visit. There will be a fantastic ceremony saluting a stadium that has given Rider fans so many memories. It will also be a capper on what could be a story-book, rebound season for the Green and White.

The Farewell Season will be a historic one for Saskatchewan and the CFL.  So many memories have been made at the old friend, with a few more to be made in 2016. Don’t miss your chance to see Mosaic Stadium one final time. Keep clicking back to riderville.com for all of your ticket information as well as following the Riders on social media at (Twitter) (Instagram) (Facebook).