Saskatchewan Roughriders: Leading the CFL with PIERO Live

The Roughriders are one of the Canadian Football League’s most iconic teams, with a fiercely loyal fan base and a reputation for game-day experiences that rival any major sports franchise.

Kaleidoscope Productions manages the technical production of the Roughriders’ game-day and has been working with the Roughriders for over two decades, creating a live environment that keeps fans in their seats and continually raises the bar for entertainment across the league.

This season, they tried something never attempted before in Canadian live sports: displaying down and distance lines live in the stadium.

In a world where at-home viewing has never been better, the competition isn’t just on the field. Teams are battling with big screen TVs, beer fridges, behind-the-ball footage, and the data-driven graphics that viewers have come to expect.

The Roughriders take pride in being CFL leaders in game day production and rely on Kaleidoscope to keep pushing it forward. As long-time Ross Video partners, we’re in regular conversation about their goals and vision for Mosaic Stadium and knew they would be interested in our new solution for in-venue graphics.

That solution was PIERO Live.

When Mosaic Stadium first opened in 2017, the Saskatchewan Roughriders and Kaleidoscope Productions worked closely with Ross to build out the control room, selecting a Ross switcher, routing systems, and XPression systems to power the in-venue experience.

It was a bold move at the time; Ross was expanding its footprint in major stadiums, and Kaleidoscope trusted them to deliver a fully integrated workflow that could handle the pressure of live game days. That decision paid off. The experience showed Kaleidoscope that Ross could deliver what was needed on game day. So when Kaleidoscope saw the opportunity to combine XPression with PIERO’s tracking capabilities, they wanted to be the first in Canada to bring it to fans.

Implementation began cautiously but progressed quickly. Operators were trained in-game during the season opener, alternating shifts while PIERO Live was integrated into nearly every play. Even in its first game, the system proved reliable and intuitive. The biggest issue wasn’t what PIERO Live could do; it was choosing what to do next.

The Mosaic was the first major stadium in Canada to deploy PIERO Live, and it hasn’t taken long to become part of the Roughriders’ gameday identity. What began as a trial quickly became part of the game-day fabric.

Key integrations included:

• Game Enhancements: Down-and-distance lines and overlays brought broadcast-style clarity to the MaxTron screen.
• Sponsor Activations: The Conexus Money Zone was upgraded with live graphics for a better fan experience and more sponsor activations.
• Player Features: Milestone graphics and stat overlays kept fans informed and engaged.
• Interactive Games: Activations for entertaining fans during pre-game and half-time productions.

The results resonated at every level. The President & CEO singled out PIERO as his favorite new addition to the in-stadium experience. Fans embraced it as part of the new normal. And as the team gains experience with PIERO Live, they’re finding new ways to bring sponsors into the mix without detracting from the game.

Together with Kaleidoscope Productions, the Roughriders have shown how technology can transform game day — creating moments that matter and strengthening fan connections.