Moe says gov’t has spoken to Riders about returning to practice

The Saskatchewan Roughriders soon could start practising for the 2020 CFL season — even though it’s still unclear if there will be a 2020 CFL season.

Premier Scott Moe said Thursday the Roughriders would be permitted to start working out as long as they follow the public health orders put in place by the province to limit the spread of COVID-19.

Saskatchewan would be emulating Manitoba, which announced Thursday professional sports facilities in the province would be allowed to reopen as of Friday.

“If (the Roughriders) were to start practising — or start requesting to practise — they would be able to do that as that is their workplace,” Moe told reporters during a conference call. “We have many workplaces in this province that are operating with people in addition to the 10-person order that we have in place.

“However, in doing so, the expectation would be that the Roughriders organization — or the Blue Bombers organization, in this case — would take every precaution to keep not only the players safe but those in and around the team safe.”

In Manitoba, Premier Brian Pallister announced Thursday the facilities of teams like the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and the NHL’s Winnipeg Jets could reopen as long as precautions are taken, such as physical distancing and enhanced sanitizing.

As well, physical contact between participants would be limited and members of the public wouldn’t be allowed in.

“We would be more than willing to work with the Roughriders organization on putting together a plan, if they should so choose, on some of the parameters that may be beneficial for (practices) to occur,” Moe said.

“We’ve had discussions with the Roughriders organization about the league in general and what opportunities there are for this type of preliminary practices to begin.”

Even if practices are allowed, there isn’t a guarantee the 2020 CFL season will go ahead.

The league already has postponed the opening of training camps — that was to happen last Sunday — due to COVID-19 restrictions. On Wednesday, commissioner Randy Ambrosie said the season wouldn’t start until at least September if it was to start at all.

Players arriving in Canada to play would have to adhere to quarantine requirements before suiting up.

Alberta already has said gatherings are limited to 15 people until September, so large crowds wouldn’t be able to attend games at Calgary’s McMahon Stadium or Edmonton’s Commonwealth Stadium.

The CFL already has announced the 2020 Grey Cup game won’t be held in Regina unless the Roughriders win their way in. The team with the better regular-season record among the finalists will play host to the league championship.

“We were looking forward to hosting the Grey Cup here in Regina, not only for the event and for the ultimate success of our hometown Roughriders but most certainly the economics were very much being planned for by the community,” Moe said.

“As disappointed as we are, we fully understand the challenge that we are collectively facing as a society with our response to COVID-19 and we understand how this just may not be able to occur in the way that we had originally planned.”

The CFL awarded Saskatchewan the 2022 Grey Cup game, so if the Roughriders earn the right to play host to the 2020 contest — assuming there is one — Mosaic Stadium would be the site of the league final twice in three years.