THE END OF AN ERA

Photo by John Burwell

Were there any tears shed around here on Tuesday when the demolition of old Exhibition Stadium – the decades-long home of the Regina Pats – began?

It certainly didn’t stir up anything in me.  In fact, I haven’t set foot in the facility for years however it got listeners to 620 CKRM’s SportsCage feeling very reflective.

Dozens of people wrote into the show via text or Twitter saying it was an emotional day for them because they grew up going to Pats games with their father in the aged arena.  Others said that’s where they became a Pats fan in the first place.

I’m proud to say I was able to catch at least a couple of Pats games there, when the 1980s Pats were forced out of the Agridome due to a scheduling conflict.  I got to play a few games in there as well, but it was far from luxurious.

Built in 1919, Exhibition Stadium played host to hundreds, if not thousands, more events than its neighbour Taylor Field across the street however its closure hasn’t received anywhere near the hullabaloo.

Legendary Pats historian Ron “Scoreboard” Johnston published a staggeringly comprehensive article on the building at his website www.reginapatsalumni.net and it’s worth a read if you’re a big enough fan.

The most notable event to come out of Exhibition Stadium?  Likely the fact that Peter Parker broadcast the first-ever professional hockey game on radio in 1923 on CKCK Radio (beating the Leafs’ Foster Hewitt by eight days).

For me, the most memorable event to ever occur in that facility was when Tiger Williams of the Swift Current Broncos went into the stands in 1974 and assaulted Pats fans with his hockey stick.  He was subsequently charged with assault, and the charge remains on his record to this day!

He just re-told the story Saturday night in Indian Head at the sports dinner we spoke at.

Was Exhibition Stadium given its proper farewell?

Who knows.

But it’s too late now to do anything about it.

RP
@rodpedersen