RIDER NATION INVADES ARIZONA
By all accounts of the Arizona Coyotes and Saskatchewan Roughriders, Tuesday’s Riderville Tour Stop in Phoenix, AZ was a smashing success. Over 500 Rider Priders attended the game at Gila River Arena in which the Anaheim Ducks skated off with a 4-1 victory. Here are some photos of the day…
Coyotes coach Dave Tippett is the best head coach in the NHL and he hails from Moosimin, SK. He counts himself as a Rider fan and said if we were going to catch up with him, it would have to be at the Coyotes’ practice facility in Scottsdale.
So we did, and here’s a shot of our interview for Tuesday’s SportsCage on 620 CKRM. You can hear a portion of our chat Wednesday morning at 7:45 am on CKRM.
While I was doing this, Carm Carteri was over in Goodyear, AZ watching Regina’s Dustin Molleken (pictured|) hurl for the Cleveland Indians in Cactus League play. Unfortunately the Cincinnati Reds battered the Tribe 10-0.
On we went to the Whiskey Rose near the hockey rink for the pregame tailgate party and live SportsCage broadcast. In this shot, the Whiskey Rose staff poses before the festivities got crazy…
The place was filled to capacity, and then some. People were so glad to get together with other Rider Priders…
The star of the day was Rider receiver Chris Getzlaf who came in from Anaheim to mingle with fans. Here’s Getz with Carm on air…
Coyotes goaltenders coach Sean Burke joined John Lynch and me in the Cage…
Rider alumni Carm Carteri and Ron Cherkas…
Perhaps the shot of the night came from Bill Howe. Here’s a photo of the big screen in which the Coyotes recognize the Rider Nation…
Chris Getzlaf was interviewed on the big screen by the Arizona’s in-game host. The place went nuts as they blared “Rider Pride” over the speakers. It was quite a moment…
Another from Bill, from the big screen…
There’s some photo evidence of the Rider Nation in attendance…
Of course after the game was over, everyone congregated on the ice including Ducks forward Ryan Getzlaf of Regina. He made the highlights with a second period fight with Arizona’s Shane Doan. It was a battle of team captains…
And finally Coyotes mascot Howler and I say ‘So Long’ from Phoenix. Well, not really. We’ll be broadcasting Wednesday’s SportsCage again from the Whiskey Rose.
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Hopefully you can join us down here next year for the Riderville Arizona Tour II!
RP
Should even be a bigger and greener crowd for next years party in Arizona. Now if only the Cnd dollar would rise back to 98 cents ….
Old Hank
The Riders just keep building their brand. Cant go to most sporting events in North America without seeing at least a little Rider Pride from crowd. Except maybe Basketball games. Go to most any warm weather resort most employees and locals know about Rider Nation.The wife and I were in Radium hot springs this fall first bar/restaurant we went into rider flag on wall. My wife just could not believe it, but then she is from Manitoba but I love her anyway. LOL. Long live Rider Nation and the CFL.
Send us the date for next year, and we will plan a holiday around that! Can't wait!
Imagirl
Go Eskimos
Great idea Rod!. Other CFL teams can moan and drip about the Riders marketing schemes. Let them cry! If they want to stop the juggernaught then get out there and do something better! Sometimes you have to spend some sweat and money to make more money.
Go Riders!
It will be even bigger next year !!
Now I know where all the old fogeys in my neighborhood went!
Seeing Rider green in Mexico etc. is getting old and quite frankly embarrassing.
Then stop watching. Better yet stop posting because nobody wants to hear your negativity inspired rants anymore.
This is very impressive Rod. Heartwarming how the coyote's organization accommodated the Rider-Priders even to the point of allowing the on ice photo. I sense a bond between you and the Coyote's front office.Will you be working there at some point as rumor has it?
Then wear red …
Yes that is an awesone reply go to calgary and stay there im sick of people knocking us for supporting our team 365 dont like it to bad get over it i dont tell you what to wear
That was a great event and we had a great time. Thank you to all the organizers!
Terry from Saskatoon
Take a minute and take a bow RP. This was all you and both teams know it.
Actually Andrew Craig from the Riders did as much work as anybody. He was a trooper.
RP
Serious question, do you ever bring back bed bugs, fleas, body skin termites with all the travel you do down south and sleeping in strange beds with re-used linen?
QHR
LOL!
What the hell kinda question is that.. jebus man
Dear jebus man,
Can't you read? It said, Serious question,
Dear serious question man.. have you ever left your house? I couldn't be more serious I have a brother with bad Ocd so I get it but you still gotta live man.. that question was just creepy and pretty unwarranted seeing as your just as likely to get that crap frequenting various destination in our own fair city bub.. your covered in germs right now bud.. go check in your microscope. . Yikes@!!! Love the updates RP. . Trying not to be a butt kisser but come on man these dudes been annoying me lately..I learned my lesson commenting drunk… Read more »
Sitting back here in cold Saskatchewan I thought I would sign up for the Hockey Package and watch more on TV. Looked like the Carrier for the game broadcast was one of the Fox networks. Did notice a few green shirts in the stands but sadly the broadcasters did not even mention us. American publicity couldn't hurt the CFL……good to see TSN mentioned something on their broadcast.
Jersey etiquette 101 is to not wear a jersey from a team not in the league. If someone wore a blue jays jersey to a rider game every person would have some comment that was rude. When a rider fan does it its cool…
I have seen lots of people wear stuff from other leagues ad sports to rider games i have never heard anybody say anything about it. Never heard of this jersey etiquette thing either. Quit complaining about the riders. Wear what you wear and me and the rest of rider nation will wear what we wear. Why are you so worried about what everyone else is doing worry about yourself man.
Even getzlaf gets it. I doubt he's a coyotes fan.
That's good, the Riders will need all the money they can generate so we can bail out the Argos.
The poor folk stuck down in Arizona, they are missing a beautiful sunny Saskatchewan winter day in good old Regina …
When did Northern Ontario start representing the Province of Saskatchewan In mens curling at the Briar/Calgary? They look splendid In true colors representative of the provincial flag. No lime on their smart looking attire.
Definitely jealous! Looks like a blast! I really enjoyed the interview with the President from the Coyotes. Sounds like a very smart man. I enjoyed his quote about how not making the playoffs 3 years in a row is not acceptable. I wish this guy worked for the Leafs!