Call it "Brandtland." And Regina's taxpayers may blissfully never again have to hear about the Regina Exhibition Association Ltd. and its annual requests for $10.8 million. If Shaun Semple wants parts of REAL District for $6.5 million and promises to spend millions refurbishing its aging buildings for a few tax breaks, make him take the whole cash-sucking thing.
Shaun Semple, CEO of Brandt Industries, spoke as a delegate during a City Council meeting inside Henry Baker Hall on Wednesday, April 29, 2026, in Regina. As CEO of the Brandt Group of Companies, Semple's hands are on almost everything Regina-based these days. It's surprising he wasn't in the backrooms earlier this week with general manager Jeremy O'Day, head coach Corey Mace and CEO/president Craig Reynolds when the CFL's Saskatchewan Roughriders were conducting their Canadian and Global drafts.
Indeed, Reynolds was asked if he could foresee the community-owned, reigning Grey Cup-champion football team someday becoming the "Brandtland Roughriders." Reynolds laughed before replying earnestly: "I don't foresee that coming anytime soon." That's reassuring.
Reynolds has publicly supported Semple's proposal. The Roughriders' facilities are inside Mosaic Stadium, a city-owned building that is overseen by REAL because it sits inside the District. Semple's deal includes obtaining exclusive rights to hosting at least two major events annually inside the stadium.
Former Mayor Pat Fiacco and recently defeated councillor Terina Nelson also support Semple, alongside numerous business owners and Roseann Hill Blaisdell, the CEO/president of Harvard Developments. It's a heavyweight family of supporters, emphasized by Semple bringing his two sons to Wednesday's executive committee meeting and describing his offer as a "philanthropic" gift to Regina.
The executive committee voted 7-4 to approve Semple's proposal, which should soon be voted on by city council. Brandt already owns the WHL's Regina Pats and recently took over the Regina Red Sox, reigning champions of the Western Canadian Baseball League. Semple's company is also working on a proposed distillery and entertainment complex at REAL, upgrading Currie Field, with plans to replace the old ball diamond, and designing extra traffic lanes on Saskatchewan Drive for better access to the 100-acre property.
The Pats play in the Brandt Centre and, even with small crowds buying overpriced tickets for WHL games that feature future superstars Maddox Schultz and Liam Pue, it can still take 45 minutes to get out of REAL's parking lots. Semple has frequently complained about the Pats having an unfavourable lease arrangement regarding ticket sales, sponsorships and concessions. That would certainly change if he takes over the whole enchilada.
Daren Anderson, who recently announced his resignation as the city's chief financial officer, told reporters that Brandt's initial offer did not include all the buildings the company is now pursuing.
