With the prospect of Regina hosting a third Grey Cup in 2013 and the possibility of beginning construction on a new stadium next year, things are looking up in Riderville.

After stumbling to a five and 13 record in 2011 — the first time the Roughriders had finished out of the playoffs since 2001 — rookie head coach Greg Marshall was dumped. Looking to renovate a once winning team, the Riders have hired Corey Chamblin, 34, formerly the defensive co-ordinator with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, as head coach.

Riders president Jim Hopson has provided a further incentive for improvement: home-field advantage if the Riders can make it to the Grey Cup in 2013.

Of course, hosting the 101st Grey Cup Festival (better known as the Grand National Drunk) will help to fatten the Riders’ revenue, which is among the healthiest in the league. Despite the team’s dismal showing on the field, the Riders posted their second-best year, financially speaking, in 2011.

Although Hopson hopes to capitalize on holding the Canadian Football League’s championship game on the Riders’ home turf, Mosaic Stadium, Regina mayor Pat Fiacco hopes it’s the last Grey Cup to be played in the 84-year-old stadium, formerly known as Taylor Field.

Last March, the Saskatchewan government’s plan to build a $431-million, retractable-roofed stadium near the city’s downtown was shot down when the feds announced they wouldn’t pony up $100 million to help build the multi-purpose facility.

Six weeks later, Fiacco resurrected the project as the centrepiece of a $1-billion, urban-revitalization scheme, which would see the old stadium torn down and replaced by 700 residential housing units.

Since then, city council has earmarked $500,000 to advance the Regina Revitalization Initiative and approved a private/public partnership to provide funding for the stadium portion of the project.

The idea is that the private-sector partner will share the risk of developing the stadium and possibly operate the facility, while the city will retain ownership. The plan is to start construction in 2013, with completion set for 2016.

There are a few unanswered questions, however. How will the municipal portion of the stadium be financed? Through borrowing or a dedicated tax? Who will be the private-sector partner? Apparently, as many as 19 firms have shown interest in the proposed facility.

Perhaps most important of all, will the stadium be open to the air or have a fixed or retractable roof? The cost differences are significant. Winnipeg, for example, is currently building an open-air stadium for about $190 million, while Vancouver recently installed a retractable roof in the newly renovated B.C. Place stadium at a cost of about $560 million.

Fiacco, who is an ardent supporter of a retractable roof, says he’s keeping an open mind about an open-air stadium. The popular, four-term mayor is also facing a municipal election in the autumn, and the stadium project is likely to be a major election issue.

The question is: what will voters and taxpayers have to say on the issue?  IE