Latest news with #gamepostponed
CTV News
3 days ago
- Climate
- CTV News
Some football fans disappointed, others make the most of postponed Rider game
Fans line up at Mosaic Stadium to catch the matchup between the Saskatchewan Roughriders and the Calgary Stampeders. (Damian Smith / CTV News) With the air quality too poor for the matchup between the Riders and the Stampeders to continue Friday night, some football fans were left disappointed, with others trying to make the most of it. Earlier in the day, the Riders had anticipated a clear evening and that the game would go as scheduled. 'The guidance we had tonight was that it was going to clear,' Roughriders' CEO Craig Reynolds said on Friday. 'Right around game time or right before game time, the smoke was coming from the west. It cleared in Moose Jaw, which was for us, the signal that it was going to clear in Regina.' However, as the day went on, the air quality health index reached a 10, which is considered an extreme risk to the public. The Riders held onto hope to play the game, with hopes of even starting the match at 11:15 p.m. Unfortunately, the smoke was too much of a risk for the players and the fans, so the game was postponed to Saturday. 'When kickoff was supposed to happen last night, it would have been the equivalent of, over three hours, smoking one to two cigarettes,' said Chris Pascoe, an associate professor at the University of Manitoba. 'If you were exposed for the whole day at that level, it would be the equivalent of roughly eight cigarettes.' Some fans were able to find a positive spin in an unfortunate evening. 'They're great rivals and they're great fans,' said Jason Baillie, a Stampeder fan visiting from Calgary. 'We just kind of chopped it up with some of the Riders' fans, met some people and hung out.' 'Generating those conversations with the opposing team's fans, that was the positive that we can shed the light on is having those conversations and camaraderie with the fans here,' said Brendan Toft, who made the trip with Baillie. Some home fans were not so lucky, with an entire family unable to stay another day in Regina. 'My sister had other plans for today, so she's just left to go back to saskatoon,' said Mathew Clark, a Riders' fan. 'My parents also went back out to the lake.' Many fans had this game marked on their calendars, with both teams having successful years in the West Division. The game started at 2 p.m. on Saturday, ending in a 24-10 win for the Stampeders, who now tie the Riders for first in the league, both with records of 4-1. -With files from Allison Bamford
Globe and Mail
4 days ago
- Climate
- Globe and Mail
Rough Riders-Stampeders CFL showdown postponed to Saturday due to poor air quality
A CFL game on Friday between the Saskatchewan Roughriders and Calgary Stampeders was postponed due to poor air quality in Regina. The West Division showdown, featuring the 4-0 Riders and the visiting 3-1 Stampeders, has been rescheduled to Saturday afternoon (4 p.m. Eastern time) after several delays on Friday night. Friday's game was originally scheduled to kickoff at 7 p.m. CST. At 5:30 p.m., the CFL announced that the game would be delayed by 45 minutes with warm-ups scheduled to being at 7 p.m. followed by kickoff at 7:45 p.m. A second extension was announced at 8 p.m. but unlike the initial delay, no time frame was included in the announcement. At 10 p.m. a third extension was announced for player warm-ups at 10:45 p.m. followed by kickoff at 11:15 p.m. When the air quality wasn't at an acceptable level at 10:45 p.m., the game was officially postponed to Saturday. According to an agreement between the CFL and CFL Players' Association, games would not be played if the Air Quality Health Index (ASQHI) is higher than seven. For most of the evening, the AQHI hovered above 10. The issue with the air quality is a result of wildfires in northern Saskatchewan. This is the second Riders game this season to be delayed due to wildfire smoke, following a pre-season tilt with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers on May 24. That game was delayed one hour by the smoke.
CTV News
4 days ago
- Climate
- CTV News
CFL cancels Roughriders' Friday night home game versus Stampeders, postponed to Saturday afternoon
Mosaic Stadium before CFL football action between the Saskatchewan Roughriders and the Calgary Stampeders in Regina, on Friday, July 11, 2025. The game is delayed due to poor air quality. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Heywood Yu What was most likely the most anticipated game of the 2025 CFL season, will have to wait another day. The Canadian Football League (CFL) postponed Friday night's Saskatchewan Roughriders, Calgary Stampeders matchup at Mosaic Stadium to Saturday due to poor air quality. Kickoff is now scheduled for 2 p.m. Saturday. 'Rider Nation, you are truly amazing,' the Riders said in a social media post. 'Throughout the day, the CFL and Roughriders monitored air quality with the help of in-house meteorologists and forecasting models. Those forecasts indicated the smoke would clear, and the air quality would be at an acceptable level to play football.' 'Unfortunately, the wind died down and it is not currently an acceptable level to play,' the statement added. The announcement coming after more than a three and a half hour delay due to heavy smoke which descended on Regina Friday from wildfires in the province's north. According to the CFL, games will be stopped if the in-stadium monitored air quality health index (AQI) reaches eight or above during warmups or the game. Throughout the afternoon and into Friday evening, the AQI was recorded at 10-plus, or extreme risk. Kickoff for the Week 6 matchup was originally scheduled for 7 p.m., but at 5:30 p.m. the Canadian Football League (CFL) announced the game would be delayed to begin at 7:45 p.m. Then at 7:30 p.m., the league pushed the start time again. 'Air quality continues to improve but has not yet reached a level considered safe for play,' the CFL said at the time. 'As a result, the start of the game remains delayed. Once it is safe for players to begin warming up, kickoff will take place 30 minutes later.' UPDATE: Air quality continues to improve, but has not yet reached a level considered safe for play. As a result, the start of the game remains delayed. Once it is safe for players to begin warming up, kickoff will take place 30 minutes later. We will provide an update as soon as… — CFL Communications (@CFL_PR) July 12, 2025 Thousands of fans waited for the next two and half hours for the next update from the league. At 10 p.m., the CFL – in consultation with both teams – announced the latest the game would start was 11:15 p.m., if the air quality improved. The smoke did not clear enough for play to begin. According to the Riders, tickets purchased for Friday's game will be valid for Saturday afternoon's game. 'More details will be sent via email,' the Riders said. 'Once again, we are thankful for your passion for our club and that you have stuck out with us all evening.' Saskatchewan headed into Week 6 of the season atop the West Division with a 4-0 record, but Calgary may be their toughest challenge yet. The Stampeders (3-1) sits second place in the division, just two points back of the Riders in first. The winner of the game will earn the top spot in the division headed into Week 7. - With files from Drew Postey.
