The City of Regina has unveiled concept drawings of a proposed 33,000-seat stadium that would be home to the Saskatchewan Roughriders football team.
The design shows a sunken bowl-type stadium that would be located on Evraz Place lands, near where Mosaic Stadium now stands. It has what is described as a "spectator roof" to protect fans from the weather while still being open over the field.
There would be a band of louvers around the stadium to block the famous Saskatchewan winds. They could be opened in the summer to allow the breeze to pass through and closed in the fall to shield fans.
Gone would be the bench-style seating in Mosaic Stadium.
"The sort of goal is to kind of keep the magic of a place like Mosaic Stadium and the fun that we've all enjoyed there, but kind of evolve it for the future," architect Dipesh Patel said Wednesday at a news conference in Regina.
"We've got a circular footprint and that gives us the most seats we can on the sides, so 80 per cent of the seats are on the sides. And every seat has a good view, of course."
The concept design has cost the city $575,000 so far.
Deputy city manager Brent Sjoberg said the concept gives people an idea of what can be done for $278 million.
However, the city still has to put out a request for proposals and builders may have some other ideas for the final design.
"In some cases we say 'These elements are mandatory. You must do it in this particular way,' " said Sjoberg. "With other elements we say 'We're looking for your thoughts and advice, experience.' It's a little bit more flexible in terms of our requirements. Of course they need to meet the budget specifications, they can't spend more.
"Early indications [are that] all these things we're showing you are within the budget funding. We need to confirm that," he added.
One of the requirements is that the stadium be ready to have a roof, which could be added down the road.
Riders' president and CEO Jim Hopson said the team is concerned about the locker rooms and training facilities. But it's also thinking about game day, said Hopson.
