Grey Cup Proceeds

[BBRT]

Does anyone know how the revenues (ticket sales) for the cup  are allocated? Does the team hosting the cup receive any revenue streams other than ticket sales etc.?

[GOLDMEMBER]

Does anyone know how the revenues (ticket sales) for the cup  are allocated? Does the team hosting the cup receive any revenue streams other than ticket sales etc.?

Yes I believe they do. Especially all the parties and as such.

Why do you care?

[BBRT]

Yes I believe they do. Especially all the parties and as such.

Why do you care?

Well I care cause I don't know how the revenue splits work and I was curious. And the more the Bombers make off the cup the more they might have to spend on 2026 talent!

[GOLDMEMBER]

Well I care cause I don't know how the revenue splits work and I was curious. And the more the Bombers make off the cup the more they might have to spend on 2026 talent!

You'll find out when they release the 2025 financials next year.

[gobombersgo]

Teams pay the league to host the Grey Cup and then the team keeps all the profit.

[RebusRankin]

If my memory is correct, teams tend to make at least a few million from hosting the Cup.

[Tecno]

If my memory is correct, teams tend to make at least a few million from hosting the Cup.

Ya, I think it was the SSK financials the other year that said they made an extra $1M from the cup.

I would expect WFC can do even better.  Wouldn't be surprised if we make $1.5-$2M, especially since the green fans will make sure the gameday turnout will be full.

[gobombersgo]

Bombers made 7.1 mil in 2015 and 3.2 mil in 2006.

from a CBC article:

The club announced Monday that it earned a profit of $7.1 million by hosting the CFL championship game in November, in which the Edmonton Eskimos beat the Ottawa Redblacks 26–20.

It's more than double the $3.2 million in profits the team made hosting the Grey Cup in 2006.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/winnipeg-blue-bombers-profit-grey-cup-1.3530011

[Tecno]

Bombers made 7.1 mil in 2015 and 3.2 mil in 2006.

That article makes it unclear whether WFC made the $7.1M profit for the entire season/year, or just from the proceeds from the GC.  I'm not sure I've seen teams break out just the profit from the GC before?

Making $7.1M profit for the whole year sounds about right for 2015 WFC.  If a team can make $7.1M just for hosting the GC, then rather than waiting for the 10-years-since mark they'd be vying to host the cup ever 3-5 years to get the $7M windfall!

Maybe someone can clarify.

[gobombersgo]

That article makes it unclear whether WFC made the $7.1M profit for the entire season/year, or just from the proceeds from the GC. I'm not sure I've seen teams break out just the profit from the GC before?

Making $7.1M profit for the whole year sounds about right for 2015 WFC.  If a team can make $7.1M just for hosting the GC, then rather than waiting for the 10-years-since mark they'd be vying to host the cup ever 3-5 years to get the $7M windfall!

Maybe someone can clarify.

Yeah, I can see that. But, this article indicates that the stated amounts are just from Grey Cup week.

https://www.bluebombers.com/2016/04/13/wfc-posts-operating-profit-of-4-4-million-in-2015/

[Tecno]

Yeah, I can see that. But, this article indicates that the stated amounts are just from Grey Cup week.

Hmm, ya, it would appear the GC is worth more than I thought.  $7M still seems crazy though.  I just checked 2023 SSK's GC and they say it got them $3.3M profit.  Still, much more than the $1.5-ish I thought.

So again, why do teams seem to shy away from hosting a GC?  Very few put their hat in the ring each year (usually only 2 teams?).  Don't EDM, TOR, OTT want all this free money??  Weird.

[Jesse]

Hmm, ya, it would appear the GC is worth more than I thought.  $7M still seems crazy though.  I just checked 2023 SSK's GC and they say it got them $3.3M profit.  Still, much more than the $1.5-ish I thought.

So again, why do teams seem to shy away from hosting a GC?  Very few put their hat in the ring each year (usually only 2 teams?).  Don't EDM, TOR, OTT want all this free money??  Weird.

It has to be successful. You have to sell out your venue and have people buying the party packs and merch, etc. That means front loading a lot of effort that a lot of markets simply aren't doing right now.

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

These by invitation only GC events come across as very lame.

[Tecno]

It has to be successful. You have to sell out your venue and have people buying the party packs and merch, etc.

Doesn't really jive with underperforming teams/venues getting the cup more often, though!  CGY in '19 and '26?  7 years apart.  WPG: the best attendance team and best venue '15 & '25: 10 years.

SSK '23 and '27, 4 years?  At least they are probably the 2nd best venue for potential to fill things up.

It would seem WFC should be hosting more like every 5-7 years, not every 10.  Maybe we should have been doing that all during our dominance... not waiting until suckage struck again.

[tlf]

Well I care cause I don't know how the revenue splits work and I was curious. And the more the Bombers make off the cup the more they might have to spend on 2026 talent!

How would they have more to spend on talent? There is a cap? I know it's late and I had a long day but maybe I"m missing something..