CFL Game Between Roughriders and Stampeders Postponed Due to Poor Air Quality

The Canadian Football League (CFL) contest scheduled for Friday evening between the Saskatchewan Roughriders and the Calgary Stampeders faced postponement due to hazardous air quality in Regina. This highly anticipated West Division game featured an undefeated Roughriders team (4-0) taking on the 3-1 Stampeders and was initially set to begin at 7 p.m. CST.

As the situation unfolded on Friday, the CFL first announced a 45-minute delay at 5:30 p.m., pushing warm-ups to start at 7 p.m. and kickoff to follow at 7:45 p.m. However, another delay was announced at 8 p.m., this time without a specified timeframe. A third delay was communicated at 10 p.m., rescheduling warm-ups for 10:45 p.m. and the kickoff for 11:15 p.m. Ultimately, when air quality issues persisted past the scheduled warm-up time, the game was officially postponed to Saturday.

The air quality concerns stem from wildfires in northern Saskatchewan, which caused the Air Quality Health Index (AQHI) to remain above 10 for most of the night. According to an agreement between the CFL and the CFL Players’ Association, games are not to be played if the AQHI exceeds seven. This postponement marks the second time this season that the Roughriders have experienced delays due to wildfire smoke, as a preseason game against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers also faced a similar situation earlier in the year.