Home of the Saskatchewan Roughriders

In 2017, Saskatchewan will be opening doors of two fantastic buildings.

One is The Childrens Hospital in Saskatoon.

At the cost of around $235.5 million dollars this building has seen delays, but hopefully that is in the past and it will move forward with no more hold ups.

Funding is always needed for this specialized care facility as new equipment is forever mandatory and as the province grows, more beds will constantly be needed. Donations are welcome gifts, but our taxes are meant to pay for health and childrens health are they not?

The other massive undertaking is Mosaic Stadium in Regina.

At a cost of around $278 million dollars, the city will have a hard time using this beautiful building for anything other than football until they consider a roof. With our Canadian winters, concerts are out of the question half of the year, so how is this going to be a tourist attraction in the mean time?

The Saskatchewan Roughriders are an amazing team; Mosaic Stadium does need to be replaced. However, when the tax payers across the province are forking out more taxes for a Stadium than for a Childrens Hospital, priorities should be questioned and questions should be asked.

With only $25 million (11%) of the $278 million coming from the Roughriders and an additional 15 million dollars for team specific requirements, why a roof was not feasibly paid for by the franchise is a question taxpayers should be asking. With the $25 million the Roughriders are adding to the pot not coming from their pockets, why can they not help put the roof on their home?

Here is the breakdown of how your Stadium is being paid for…

$80 million grant from the province of Saskatchewan.

$73 million from the city of Regina.

$25 million generated by such things as naming rights, to be coordinated by the Saskatchewan Roughriders Football Club.

$100 million loan, from the province, to be paid down over 30 years through a $12/ticket facility fee tacked onto each football game or any other event at the new stadium.

The Roughriders receive their wages for the job they do and they have bills to pay like everyone. Some renovations have been accomplished to the older Mosaic Stadium over the years, but have also had property taxes waived for more than 15 years and they have revenue coming in from other areas as well, including concerts that are held at Mosaic Stadium. The food, drinks, alcohol and all the paraphernalia that fans buy the team makes money off of.

http://www.cicorp.sk.ca/+pub/Documents/Appendix_8_Possible%20Business%20Relationship%20-%20Roughriders%20and%20.pdf

If the Roughriders are a publicly owned sports team, then shouldn’t the public have choices to choose from when it comes to the house their team plays in?

Financial feasibility is always an issue…maybe that is why the Federal Government will not pitch in on Mosaic Stadium. When governments spend taxes we need to question “how does this benefit all taxpayers”?

I never understand why only one plan is ever offered. When there is a major financial undertaking like this.

When there is this much money at stake there should always be choices and there never seems to be. That is annoying, is it not?

A referendum on the “Plans” would show which Stadium should be built. The cost would reflect and the “winning” architect would proceed.

How is that hard? How would that cost more? and how would that take longer than it already has?

Some will call it Mosaic Stadium,

     

 Most will call it…

Home of the Saskatchewan Roughriders…