100th Grey Cup economic assesment

[bluto]

Good for Rudge for presenting this to the City's Economic Development Committee. Numbers like this should be put in the face of all of the high-foreheads both there as well as in elected office (at each level of government). Showing that the Toronto Argonauts are good for business to those people is key to the long term prosperity of the club... including someday getting any manner of assistance in moving to our new home (whatever it will be).

This from the Official site:

TORONTO - During a special presentation today to the City of Toronto’s Economic Development Committee, Toronto Argonauts and 100^th Grey Cup Festival Executive Chairman & CEO, Chris Rudge, officially unveiled the results of the Economic Impact Assessment conducted for the event.The total economic activity generated by the 100^th Grey Cup was more than $133.1 million throughout the province, with $94.7 million occurring in Toronto. These expenditures supported $38.4 million in wages and salaries throughout the province, and supported 795 jobs, of which 596 - including $26.6 million in wages and salaries - occurred in Toronto. The net economic activity (GDP) generated by the event was $70.2 million in the Province of Ontario, of which $48.9 million occurred in Toronto. The assessment was prepared by the Canadian Sport Tourism Alliance using the STEAM PRO economic impact assessment model which is widely considered to be the gold standard for evaluating the economic impact of a particular event in a region or area.
To view a copy of the assessment, download the .PDF here.
"The City of Toronto scored an economic touchdown with the 100th Grey Cup Festival," said Mayor Rob Ford. "This tremendously successful event brought in nearly $95 million in economic benefits, resulted in hundreds of jobs for our residents, and was enjoyed by hundreds of thousands of people."
Considerable tax revenues were also generated by the event, totalling nearly $25.3 million. The event supported federal government tax revenues of nearly $11.6 million; with an additional $9.3 million in taxes accruing to the province of Ontario, and more than $4.3 million to municipalities in the province, of which $3.4 million was in Toronto. The event attracted more than 199,400 spectators, including 86,400 out of town spectators to Toronto. Each out of town spectator spent an average of $354.87 in the community over the course of their trip. The average day-trip visitor spent $122.60 and the average overnight visitor spent $646.98.
“The Grey Cup Festival was a huge win for our city, both on and off of the field,” said Councillor Michael Thompson (Ward 37 Scarborough Centre), Chair of the City’s Economic Development Committee. “It is most gratifying that an event of such national importance also brought with it economic, cultural and employment benefits for our city and its people.”
Commented Toronto Argonauts and 100^th Grey Cup Festival Executive Chairman & CEO, Chris Rudge,“We are very pleased with the results produced by this assessment. The Festival was an important celebration of sport and culture for our city, province and country, and this evaluation demonstrates the positive, far-reaching financial impact it had on all of us. The people of Toronto opened their arms to the nation and were rewarded with a tremendous infusion of economic spending that also resulted in job creation and millions of dollars in municipal and provincial tax revenue. We look forward to hosting the Grey Cup festival and game again soon.”
The economic impact results were derived from surveys taken during the 100^th Grey Cup Festival. A total of 1,148 visitor parties who were approached responded to the survey, with 444 indicating they were from Toronto, while 704 were visitors. The study was commissioned by Heritage Canada and the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport.

We'll see if the rest of the media carries this story...

[zontar]

Breaking news...
Rogers Sportsnet is reporting a mouse was discovered in the Blue Jays clubhouse today this coming in the same week manager John Gibbon's wife bought a new hat. Updates every 20 mininutes...

[Invader]

Grey Cup's are economic generators for the entire region, with 30,000 fans coming in from out of town (and out of province) to spend 4 days in in the host city, on average. This isn't just disposable income that would be spent on another activity if there was no Grey Cup, this is new money being attracted to Toronto.

This highlights the importance of keeping the Argos viable and bringing the Grey Cup to Toronto every few years. Like every other team in the league, the Argos will need a new stadium built.

The 3-levels of government need to get together now with the Argos and work out a "stadium solution" which will allow the team to keep providing entertainment for Toronto football fans for another 140 years.

[argotom]

No suprise here as the Sun is awesome in Toronto for covering the Argos and CFL, this story made it in the news portion today on page 14.

http://www.torontosun.com/2013/05/22/gr ... or-ontario

[bluto]

No suprise here as the Sun is awesome in Toronto for covering the Argos and CFL, this story made it in the news portion today on page 14.

http://www.torontosun.com/2013/05/22/gr ... or-ontario

bravo to the Sun! shared on FB. you all should do likewise.

[Argo57]

I have to say watching the Leafs and Blue Jays makes me wonder why more Toronto sports fans don't appreciate the entertainment value that the Argonauts and the CFL offer. Ticket prices are very reasonable the Canadian game is second to none and the players give it their all and haven't lost touch with the "Regular Joe".
Argo Family Day last year was a great event, guys like Jim Barker are great to talk to and down to earth.
As I have posted before my son is an diehard Ticat fan and they do a great job with their open practices as well.
I know I am preaching to the choir with you all but it would be nice to see 35 to 45k at the Argo games in the near future!!!
Roll on camp!!!!!!

[bluto]

I have to say watching the Leafs and Blue Jays makes me wonder why more Toronto sports fans don't appreciate the entertainment value that the Argonauts and the CFL offer. Ticket prices are very reasonable the Canadian game is second to none and the players give it their all and haven't lost touch with the "Regular Joe".
Argo Family Day last year was a great event, guys like Jim Barker are great to talk to and down to earth.
As I have posted before my son is an diehard Ticat fan and they do a great job with their open practices as well.
I know I am preaching to the choir with you all but it would be nice to see 35 to 45k at the Argo games in the near future!!!
Roll on camp!!!!!!

definitely would be nice to see the attendance trend continue upwards... with last season's success and what looks to be another season of winning football, you'd have to think it would. filling the lower bowl's 30k would be nice to see.