Rider Transit means 'smooth' ride down Sask. Drive to new Mosaic, fans say

Upwardof 33,000 fans were expected to attend the Saskatchewan Roughriders' first pre-season game Saturdaythe biggest crowd yet to test out the city's new transit plan.

Free shuttle serviceto the stadium was being offered frommalls and two downtown locationsup to 30 minutes before kickoff and was scheduled to last until an hour after the game ended.

Some fans took to social media to complain about the long lines at theNormanviewCrossingstop.

Saturday's event wasthe third and final trial runfor the new stadium, as well asthe city's plan to push mass transit to the facility, which offers no public parking, before it officiallyopens for regular season games July 1.

There were no lineups at the gates bykickoff, just a steady trickle of tardy fans.

On site security said lines had beensteady throughout the evening, but wait times were not lengthyasa number of guards were stationed in multiple rows to conductbag checks.There was also an express lane for those entering without a bag.

Season ticket holderPaula Fiorantesaid she arrived around 6:30 p.m. and walked in without waiting.

"It was smooth down Saskatchewan Drive. There was hardly any traffic. So different from when it was at the old Taylor field," she said, pointing to the likely reason being many fans took the buses.

Wayne Morin lives a few block away on Queen Street and said vehicles lined the block. Because he didn't have company over and was headed to the game, he wasn't bothered, but acknowledged hecould very well be in the future.

"I guess you'll have to see what happens with that," he said of the parking.

• Finally! Roughriders to play 1st game in new Mosaic Stadium

CBC spoke with a number ofout-of-towners who said a free ride to the game from downtown was a win.

Kathy and Kevin Trithart, from Weyburn, Sask., saidthey used to park closer to the old stadium and head to games on foot.

"This is better. I don't have to walk, I can ride," said Kevin Trihart.

"I like not having to drivewhere there's a lot of cars and stuff like that, so I think it works good for me."

As of around 5 p.m. CST, there were no lineups at the two downtown pick-up spots. At the stops, a person in an orange safety vest working for a firm contracted by the city recorded head counts of how many passengers hopped aboard, when the bus left and the next one arrived.

The city said more than7,400people took transit to stadium's last event, which was a Bryan Adams, Our Lady Peace and Johnny Reid concert.

The stops atSouthland Mall and Victoria Shopping Centre proved to be the busiest pick-up and drop-off locations last time, so the city had planned on making some adjustments.

• Transit, long lines pose problems in Mosaic trial run

"If you want to cut down on traffic congestion and stuff, I think this is the way to go," said Shawn Meekins, who said he used the bus in previous years.

"It was a heck of a time trying to get out of there through all the traffic. People parked on people's lawns for $10, there's signs out there. It seemed like a bit of a zoo some days trying to get the bus out of there."

JeffAuerfrom Saskatoon said he and his family typically stayat theDelta Hoteland is relieved this will be the first game not depending on a getting a cab back to the stadium.

"We know it's going to be there," he said of the city bus."We don't have to worry about trying to get a ride back."