Riders End 12-Year Drought With Grey Cup Win
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By Harry Kettle
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Summary:
- The Saskatchewan Roughriders defeated the Montreal Allouettes 25–17, claiming their first Grey Cup in 12 years.
- Thousands of fans flooded Regina’s Green Mile after the game.
- PM Mark Carney handled the coin toss, and MGK headlined the halftime show, rounding out an electric championship night.
Green confetti drifted across Princess Auto Stadium on Sunday night as Saskatchewan fans soaked in a moment they’d been waiting more than a decade for. The Roughriders beat the Montreal Alouettes 25–17 and grabbed their first Grey Cup since 2013.
Over 32,000 Fans Were Present
The celebration began as soon as the clock ran out, with fans in green and white pouring out of their seats, cheering, hugging, and trying to hold on to the feeling as long as possible.
Riders groups of fans and superfans left the stadium in their green cowboy hats, covered in face paint and strings of green beads, and expressed their thrill about the electric night.
The stadium hosted exactly 32,343 people, marking the building’s 15th straight sellout since August 2024.
The final minutes were loud enough to make your chest vibrate. When the Riders secured the win, Canadian football fans who had been cheering for the team for decades shortly turned Regina into one big street party.
Albert Street, better known as the Green Mile, was jammed with fans waving flags, honking horns, and chanting “Let’s go, Riders!” Kids climbed onto parents’ shoulders, including one girl proudly hoisting a plastic Grey Cup replica for the crowd to admire.
Teens dressed in gopher costumes were seen soaking it all in, shouting “Let’s go, Riders!”.
PM Carney Tossed the Coin
Winnipeg, Manitoba where the final was being held kept the entertainment going, too. Prime Minister Mark Carney handled the coin toss, MGK delivered a high-energy halftime set, and Our Lady Peace opened the night.
For many fans, including Kerry Yu, mother of Montreal lineman Tiger Shanks, just being there was special.
I’m so proud of him and proud of the team
Not everyone knew who to root for, especially Winnipeg locals caught between western loyalty and longstanding grudges.
However, some fans solved the dilemma in their own way, choosing to cheer for the third team on the field, namely, the refs. It was that kind of loud and joyful night that everyone had been anticipating for a long time.
