CFL commissioner Randy Ambrosie was in Regina on Thursday to officially launch the countdown to the 2022 Grey Cup Festival. The long-awaited event will help reinvigorate the province coming out of the COVID-19 pandemic and unite CFL fans across the country for a celebration of the three-down game.
“CFL fans have waited a long time for the Grey Cup Festival in Saskatchewan,” said Ambrosie in a statement. “The championship game on November 20 will cap off the excitement of a province-wide lead-up to a five-day, national celebration in Canada’s heartland. The countdown begins now!”
For the first time ever, all Grey Cup events will be hosted on a 100-acre, single footprint area, which makes it easy for fans to take part in all the fun. REAL District will host everything on the campus, including the team party rooms, the one-and-only Riderville, plus family events and the 109th Grey Cup at Mosaic Stadium.
“We’re thankful for the many partners that have invested in the 2022 Grey Cup Festival to bring fans together in a celebration that has been a long time in the making,” said Roughriders’ president and CEO Craig Reynolds. “Saskatchewan is the heartbeat of the CFL, and our partners are the heartbeat of what will be the best Grey Cup Festival our country has ever seen.”
Thursday’s kickoff re-introduced aspects of the winning bid from 2020 and gave a sneak preview of some of the exciting things planned for the 2022 Grey Cup Festival. The event’s Volunteer Host Organizing Committee, led by co-chairs Darren Anaka and Nathan Morrison, is working hard behind the scenes to deliver an unforgettable event with something for everyone.
“Saskatchewan is built on an incredible volunteer spirit, and this event is no different,” said Reynolds. “In addition to our Volunteer Host Organizing Committee, we’ll be recruiting over 2,000 volunteers to help us deliver a memorable Grey Cup Festival. We know Saskatchewan people will step up to the challenge when we put out the call for volunteers later this year.”
Among the major events and partners announced were:
- Mosaic Village, the name for the Grey Cup Festival footprint. This will be the home of Festival events and activations such as the team parties, Riderville, the SaskPower Family Fair, and much more!
- NexGen Energy Street Festival, a free, family-friendly outdoor street festival, with more than 400,000 sq. ft. of fun activities and adventures.
- Richardson Pioneer Rider Nation Community Celebration, a contest for small-to-medium sized Saskatchewan communities with the chance to win one of six (6) $25,000 donations for sport, culture or recreation initiatives and individual Grey Cup Festival celebration parties at the winning towns to further the communities’ fundraising efforts.
- Harvard Media Community Stage, this outdoor area located at the south end of Confederation Park will be home to local music acts, entertainers, and community programming throughout Grey Cup Festival Week. This all-ages area is free to attend.
- Capital Auto Outdoor Tailgate, this ticketed event will take place on festival grounds in Confederation Park and will feature live entertainment for thousands of fans prior to gates opening at Mosaic Stadium on Grey Cup Sunday.
More details will be announced in the coming months with information posted on the official website of the 2022 Grey Cup Festival. Tickets for the Grey Cup go on sale to the general public on June 14, 2022.
