Saskatchewan Roughriders

Community Ownership and Structure

The Saskatchewan Roughrider Football Club operates as a non-profit corporation, registered under Saskatchewan's Non-Profit Corporations Act, making it one of only two CFL teams with such a structure alongside the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. This model ensures the team remains a community asset rather than privately owned. The club was incorporated in 1940, solidifying its status as a corporation without share capital until a significant change in 2004. At that time, the organization introduced a membership share system inspired by the NFL's Green Bay Packers, allowing fans to invest directly in the team's stability. The funds raised from share sales are placed into the team's Stabilization Fund, providing financial security for operations and long-term projects. The membership program offers two classes of permanent shares. Class A shares provide voting rights, while Class B shares are non-voting, with no individual permitted to hold more than 20 Class A shares. The initial public offering, Series I, launched in 2004 with shares priced at $250 each and closed in 2008 after all 6,000 shares were sold. Subsequent series were released to commemorate team milestones, including Series II for the 100th anniversary in 2010 and Series III in 2016 honouring the 1989 Grey Cup victory. As of March 2019, the club had issued 11,639 Class A shares and 435 Class B shares. The Saskatchewan Roughrider Foundation, established in 2019, extends the team's community impact by raising and distributing funds focused on education, health, and amateur football development for youth.

Early History and Name Changes

The team's origins trace back to September 13, 1910, with the formation of the Regina Rugby Club, which adopted old gold and purple as its first colours. The club was a founding member of the Saskatchewan Rugby Football Union later that same month. Regina played its inaugural game on October 1, 1910, losing 16-6 to the Moose Jaw Tigers at the Moose Jaw Baseball Grounds. After a winless first season, the team quickly improved, changing its colours to blue and white for 1911 and capturing its first SRFU championship. The club began an era of dominance in the Western Canada Rugby Football Union, winning six consecutive WCRFU titles from 1912 through 1920 and going undefeated in competitive play during that span, though league play was halted from 1917 to 1918 due to World War I. In 1921, the Western champion was first invited to compete for the Grey Cup, but Regina's path was blocked after a controversial provincial championship loss to the Saskatoon Quakers. The club reached its first Grey Cup final in 1923, suffering a historic 54-0 loss to Queen's University, which remains the most lopsided defeat in the championship's history. Following this loss, the team rebranded as the Regina Roughriders in 1924, retaining red and black colours. The name's origin is most credibly linked to the North-West Mounted Police, who were called Roughriders for breaking wild horses, not to Theodore Roosevelt's cavalry. The club entered another period of western dominance, winning seven consecutive WCRFU championships from 1926 to 1932 and appearing in five straight Grey Cup games from 1928 to 1932, though it lost all of them. During this time, the team occasionally played at the RNWMP/RCMP barracks when their home field at Park Hughes was rendered unplayable by weather.

League Formation and the Move to Saskatchewan

In 1936, the Regina Roughriders helped found the Western Interprovincial Football Union alongside the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and Calgary Bronks, marking the start of the highest level of western Canadian football. That same year, the team moved full-time to a newly built grandstand at the combined Park Hughes and Park de Young site, a facility later renamed Taylor Field in 1946. The Roughriders won the first WIFU championship in 1936 but were controversially barred from competing for the Grey Cup due to a dispute over their use of five American import players. The following decade saw diminished on-field success, and play was interrupted from 1942 to 1944 due to World War II. A major transformation occurred in 1946 when, following the folding of other provincial clubs, the team renamed itself the Saskatchewan Roughriders to represent the entire province, becoming the first major-league team in North America to adopt a statewide or provincewide identity. The team's green and white colours were adopted by accident prior to the 1948 season when executive Jack Fyfe purchased a set of green and white uniforms from a surplus store in Chicago after the old red and black kits wore out. The name change was made official on April 1, 1950. The Roughriders returned to prominence in 1951, winning their first WIFU regular season title with an 8-6 record and advancing to the Grey Cup, where they lost 21-14 to the Ottawa Rough Riders in the first championship meeting between the similarly named clubs. The 1950s featured competitive teams with stars like Frank Tripucka, Reggie Whitehouse, Ken Carpenter, Mike Cassidy, player-coach Frank Filchock and Cookie Gilchrist who was the first Roughrider player to rush for 1,000 yards in 1958. Tragedy struck on December 9, 1956, when four players, Gordon Sturtridge, Mel Becket, Ray Syrnyk, and Mario DeMarco, were killed in a plane crash returning from the Canadian Football Council All Star Game in Vancouver. The team retired their numbers, and the following season resulted in a last-place finish in the WIFU.

CFL Era and Championship Success

The Saskatchewan Roughriders became charter members of the newly formed Canadian Football League in 1958, a year that also marked the beginning of Ken Preston's 20-year tenure as general manager. This period became one of the most successful in franchise history, with the team missing the playoffs only five times and appearing in five Grey Cup games, winning one. The following years featured similar results, with various head coaches, as the Roughriders missed the playoffs for three consecutive seasons, their worst such streak since joining the WIFU in 1936. A turnaround began with key roster additions. In the 1963 offseason, the team signed fullback George Reed from Washington State to replace Fred Burket, and just before the 1963 season opener, general manager Ken Preston acquired quarterback Ron Lancaster from Ottawa on a straight cash basis. The duo of Lancaster and Reed became central to the team's offence for over a decade. Under head coach Eagle Keys, the Roughriders broke through to win their first Grey Cup in 1966. The championship season was built on a powerful rushing attack led by George Reed, who had amassed over 1,700 yards rushing the previous year, and a defence bolstered by the signing of tackle Ed McQuarters before the 1966 campaign. This victory ended a long championship drought for the province. The Roughriders added a second Grey Cup in 1989, led by head coach John Gregory and players like quarterback Kent Austin, defensive end Bobby Jurasin, and receiver Don Narcisse. The most recent championship was secured in 2025.

• 1966 Grey Cup: First championship victory, led by coach Eagle Keys.
• 1989 Grey Cup: Second title, commemorated with Series III membership shares featuring Austin, Jurasin, and Narcisse.
• 2007 Grey Cup: Third championship, won over rival Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
• 2013 Grey Cup: Fourth title, won at home in Regina.
• 2025 Grey Cup: Fifth championship, the most recent win.

Stadiums and Rider Nation

For over eight decades, the Roughriders' home was historic Taylor Field, originally the grandstand built at Park Hughes in 1936. The stadium was renamed Taylor Field in 1946 and became the team's permanent home. In 2017, the club moved to the newly constructed Mosaic Stadium at Evraz Place, a modern facility that maintains the intimate atmosphere cherished by supporters. The team's fan base, known collectively as Rider Nation, is notable for its size and loyalty, drawing support from across Saskatchewan and all of Canada. This widespread support persists despite the Roughriders playing in the smallest market in the CFL, which is also the second-smallest market for a major-league sports team in North America, behind only Green Bay, Wisconsin. The connection between the team and its community is strong, exemplified by the sale of membership shares and the operation of the Saskatchewan Roughrider Foundation. Games, particularly against archrival the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, are often sold out well before the season begins. The city of Regina and the Roughriders have hosted the Grey Cup four times, in 1995, 2003, 2013, and 2022, with a fifth hosting scheduled for 2027. The 2013 Grey Cup was especially memorable as the Roughriders won the championship in their own stadium. The team's colours and logo, featuring a stylized wheat sheaf, are common symbols of provincial pride across Saskatchewan.

Records, Rivalries, and Hall of Famers

The Saskatchewan Roughriders have established a rich competitive history within the CFL. They have won the Western championship a record 29 times, demonstrating consistent success in their division. The team has appeared in the Grey Cup final on 20 occasions, securing the national championship five times. Their nine first-place finishes in the West Division show their ability to dominate the regular season. Individual excellence is also a feature, with 20 former Roughrider players inducted into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame, honouring legends like George Reed, Ron Lancaster, and Don Narcisse. The team's rivalry with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers is considered one of the fiercest and most historic in Canadian sports, dating back to their days as founding members of the WIFU in 1936. The rivalry intensified as both clubs were perennial contenders, and games between them often decided playoff positioning and championships. The Roughriders' other significant historical matchup was with the Ottawa Rough Riders, highlighted by their first Grey Cup meeting in 1951. The team's history includes several notable individual records, such as Cookie Gilchrist becoming the first Roughrider to rush for 1,000 yards in a season in 1958, and George Reed's remarkable 1,700-yard rushing season in 1965. The following table outlines the team's Grey Cup victories and the seasons in which they finished first in the West Division, highlighting key periods of success.

The Ken Preston and Eagle Keys Eras

Ken Preston's tenure as general manager from 1958 to 1978 provided the Roughriders with remarkable stability and success. During his 20 years, the team only missed the playoffs five times and went to five Grey Cup final games, winning one. The 1962 season saw the Roughriders return to the playoffs, setting the stage for the acquisitions of George Reed and Ron Lancaster. The duo contributed to a productive 1963 season where Saskatchewan finished 7-7-2 and won a playoff series for the first time since 1956. Eagle Keys took over as head coach in 1965 after one year as offensive coordinator and guided the team to an 8-7-1 record and a western semi-final loss. His leadership culminated in the 1966 Grey Cup championship. The period from 1963 to 1975, often called the Ronnie and George show, defined a generation of football in Saskatchewan with Lancaster at quarterback and Reed at fullback.

Questions about Saskatchewan Roughriders

When were the Saskatchewan Roughriders founded?

The team was founded on September 13, 1910, as the Regina Rugby Club. It changed its name to the Regina Roughriders in 1924 and adopted its current provincial name, the Saskatchewan Roughriders, in 1946. The club has maintained an unbroken organizational continuity since its founding, making it the third-oldest professional gridiron football team in existence today. It is the oldest professional sports team still in existence that continuously has been based in Western Canada.

How many Grey Cups have the Roughriders won?

The Saskatchewan Roughriders have won the Grey Cup five times. Their championship victories came in the years 1966, 1989, 2007, 2013, and 2025. The team has appeared in the Grey Cup final a total of 20 times throughout its history, establishing itself as a perennial contender in the Canadian Football League. Their first appearance was in 1923, a 54-0 loss to Queen's University.

Who owns the Saskatchewan Roughriders?

The Saskatchewan Roughriders are community-owned through a non-profit corporate structure. The Saskatchewan Roughrider Football Club Inc. is registered under the Non-Profit Corporations Act of Saskatchewan. Since 2004, the team has offered membership shares to the public, similar to the Green Bay Packers model, with Class A shares providing voting rights and Class B shares being non-voting. Prior to 2004, the club operated as a corporation without share capital.

Who are the Roughriders' biggest rivals?

The Roughriders' biggest and most historic rival is the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. The rivalry dates back to their days as founding members of the Western Interprovincial Football Union in 1936. Games between the two teams are intensely competitive and are often sold out well before the CFL season begins, drawing significant attention across the prairies. The teams have met in several critical playoff games and Grey Cup matches, including the 2007 championship.

What is Rider Nation?

Rider Nation is the affectionate name for the vast and loyal fan base of the Saskatchewan Roughriders. Despite the team being based in the CFL's smallest market, its supporters come from across Saskatchewan and all of Canada. The fans are known for their passionate support, often wearing the team's green colours and creating a strong atmosphere at home and away games. The term reflects the nationwide scope of the team's following.

Where do the Roughriders play their home games?

The Saskatchewan Roughriders play their home games at Mosaic Stadium at Evraz Place in Regina. This new stadium opened in 2017. For the previous eight decades, from 1936 to 2016, the team played at the historic venue known as Taylor Field. The club's earlier homes included Dominion Park, the city exhibition grounds after World War I, and Park Hughes starting in 1921. A permanent grandstand was constructed at the Park Hughes site in 1936, solidifying it as the team's long term home before the recent move.

Sources and further reading

• Saskatchewan Roughriders (Wikipedia)
• Saskatchewan Roughriders™ Roster | CFL (riderville.com)
• Saskatchewan Roughriders | Sports and Leisure (ebsco.com)

Checked by the Garbutt Disposal desk. Last updated 2026-10-20.