Roughriders announce newest 'founding partners' for stadium

The Saskatchewan Roughriders unveiled three more companies that are providing financial support to the club's contribution to Regina's new football stadium.

The Roughriders committed to kicking in $40 million for the stadium ($25 million for construction and $15 million for the club's space in the building). Work is 93 per cent complete, as of this week and the facility is set to host a university football game this fall.

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The team has not disclosed how much money each partner is providing.

On Thursday AGT Foods, Molson Coors, and Viterra joined the list of companies assisting the team.

The club has dubbed the companies 'founding partners' and each will receive permanent recognition at the stadium and the ability to secure exclusive, multi-year sponsorships, naming rights and other marketing opportunities.

"Being community owned as we are, our financial commitment would not be possible without the support of Ridernation and our corporate partners." Riders' president Craig Reynolds said Thursday.

Steve Mazurak, a club vice-president, commended the partners for being loyal to the team and seeing value in being associated with the Roughrider brand.

Murad Al-Katib, head of AGT Foods, said his company was honoured to be involved with the $278-million stadium.

"Projects like the new stadium project are truly generational projects," he said. "[They] allow us ... to celebrate the success that we, as a province, have built."

There are now seven partners supporting the Riders. In 2015, the club announced that The Mosaic Company, SaskTel, Harvard Broadcasting, and Capital Automotive Group were the first partners.

When the new stadium was announced, in 2012, the funding breakdown provided was:

• $80 million grant from the province of Saskatchewan.
• $73 million from the city of Regina.
• $25 million generatedby 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 per ticket facility fee tacked onto each football game or any other event at the new stadium.

According to the city, the agreement with the Roughriders includes $25 million for the stadium construction plus about $15 million for areas such as locker rooms, team training and health facilities, meeting and equipment rooms as well as football and business offices.