REGINA, SK – The Regina Leader-Post reports that attempts at brokering a deal to serve local craft beer at the new Mosaic Stadium have failed, leaving Molson Coors as the sole beer supplier for Saskatchewan Roughriders games and other events at the facility.
In March, it was reported that Molson Coors had obtained pouring rights the city-owned stadium via a deal with the Roughriders, but with a clause in the contract that some local beer would be allowed as well. The Roughriders indicated at the time that they would be “working with the Saskatchewan Craft Brewers Association (SCBA) to discuss potential opportunities.”
Further reports in May indicated that the SCBA and the Regina Exhibition Association Limited (REAL), which operates Evraz Place where the stadium is located, would “issue a press release very soon that will provide details for how the members of the SCBA will be able to provide locally made craft beer in the new stadium.” But no release was issued, and by the time the stadium officially opened in late June, local beer still wasn’t available.
In today’s report, Kari Stenson, President of the SCBA, says that “both sides presented some creative options but in the end a deal could not be brokered due to existing commercial pouring arrangements and obligations for beer in place for the stadium.”
For more details, see the full Regina Leader-Post article, as well as further analysis of the issue at Ben’s Beer Blog.