Montreal Alouettes Thread

[AngeloV]

That report made no sense. Said Als lost $12m based on $6m less revenue and $6m more expense. Which if true would mean they broke even the previous year. Find that rather hard to believe.

I agree Paul. Als ticket prices aren't cheap. Let's say at an average of $50 per ticket, they would have generated 7.7M in ticket sales based on their average attendance of 17.3k. TV revenue gives them another 4M. I'm sure they had some sponsorship money, let's conservatively say 500k. That's 12.2M in revenue not including concessions. I highly doubt their costs ran up near 25M to run the team last year, which would give you the loss of 12M. At most, I say the Als lost 5M. Still not good, but that 12M figure is very exaggerated IMO.

[paulwoods13]

I agree Paul. Als ticket prices aren't cheap. Let's say at an average of $50 per ticket, they would have generated 7.7M in ticket sales based on their average attendance of 17.3k. TV revenue gives them another 4M. I'm sure they had some sponsorship money, let's conservatively say 500k. That's 12.2M in revenue not including concessions. I highly doubt their costs ran up near 25M to run the team last year, which would give you the loss of 12M. At most, I say the Als lost 5M. Still not good, but that 12M figure is very exaggerated IMO.

It's not so much that I think it's exaggerated (altho it does seem hard to imagine expenses increasing by $6M from one year to the next) as that I think the reporter has confused net change with profit and loss. The only way a net change of $12M results in a year-over-year loss of $12M is if the previous year was break even. I don't believe the Als broke even in 2017, so the entire basis for the report seems questionable.

[KCargosfan]

The Argos played 6 QBs in their ex, game today, Just FYI; and maybe they are dumb.

I think it's dumb, but I've done many and said many a dumb things in my life as well.

[argolio]

I think it's dumb, but I've done many and said many a dumb things in my life as well.

All things considered, the coaching staff handled it pretty well. The two rookies each played only one series, and Franklin and MBT saw limited action. The real QB competition is for the the #3 spot, which is why Bridge and Prukop saw the most action.

[KCargosfan]

The Alouettes have been bought by the league. Is the team in danger of folding after the year?

As I mentioned above, horrendous coaching/management personnel decisions have led this franchise into the gutter.

[gilthethrill]

The Alouettes have been bought by the league. Is the team in danger of folding after the year?

As I mentioned above, horrendous coaching/management personnel decisions have led this franchise into the gutter.

Although the Montreal organization has fallen on hard times, I don't think there is any danger of the team folding. CFL football in Montreal has been a huge success in the past and can be again with solid ownership and hard work.

[KCargosfan]

Although the Montreal organization has fallen on hard times, I don't think there is any danger of the team folding. CFL football in Montreal has been a huge success in the past and can be again with solid ownership and hard work.

I agree, but all that doesn't matter. You have to find an owner who can initially absorb millions in losses. Who owns the Canadiens?

[CFLfan]

I agree Paul. Als ticket prices aren't cheap. Let's say at an average of $50 per ticket, they would have generated 7.7M in ticket sales based on their average attendance of 17.3k. TV revenue gives them another 4M. I'm sure they had some sponsorship money, let's conservatively say 500k. That's 12.2M in revenue not including concessions. I highly doubt their costs ran up near 25M to run the team last year, which would give you the loss of 12M. At most, I say the Als lost 5M. Still not good, but that 12M figure is very exaggerated IMO.

The Als don't have the "Club Seats" that they have in Hamilton and Ottawa - average $300 a seat X $1,000
They don't have the Private Suite - at roughly $30,000 a suite.
They don't have the field level seats or the end zone patio which are all money makers. They don't have any income from naming rights.

If you look at the balance sheets of the public teams, the Bombers Operating costs were over $30 Million and the Riders and Esks around $26 Million.
The Bombers and Esks made a profit of around $2.5 MILLION last year. The Riders made $750,000 in 2017, the first year in their new stadium.
The Bombers averaged around 28k attendance and the Esks around 32k and Riders 34k - average ticket price around $80
All 3 teams made a small profit and that's with crowds of over 28k and ticket prices over $80 !!!

The Als had seat sales last year and we don't know how many of the 17k average were cheaper seat sale tickets.
So yes the Als could easily have lost $12 MILLION a year.

[Argo57]

The Als don't have the "Club Seats" that they have in Hamilton and Ottawa - average $300 a seat X $1,000
They don't have the Private Suite - at roughly $30,000 a suite.
They don't have the field level seats or the end zone patio which are all money makers. They don't have any income from naming rights.

If you look at the balance sheets of the public teams, the Bombers Operating costs were over $30 Million and the Riders and Esks around $26 Million.
The Bombers and Esks made a profit of around $2.5 MILLION last year. The Riders made $750,000 in 2017, the first year in their new stadium.
The Bombers averaged around 28k attendance and the Esks around 32k and Riders 34k - average ticket price around $80
All 3 teams made a small profit and that's with crowds of over 28k and ticket prices over $80 !!!

The Als had seat sales last year and we don't know how many of the 17k average were cheaper seat sale tickets.
So yes the Als could easily have lost $12 MILLION a year.

Combine player and football ops salary’s at $8M, I’d like to know what additional expenses could swallow up another $20M or so?

[R.J]

The Als don't have the "Club Seats" that they have in Hamilton and Ottawa - average $300 a seat X $1,000
They don't have the Private Suite - at roughly $30,000 a suite.
They don't have the field level seats or the end zone patio which are all money makers. They don't have any income from naming rights.

???

The Alouettes do have Suites - https://en.montrealalouettes.com/corporate-loges/
The Alouettes do have club seats - https://en.montrealalouettes.com/2019-business-club/
The Alouettes also have a smaller scale lounge area - https://en.montrealalouettes.com/douglas-hall/
The Alouettes also have a smaller size patio type of set-up (Budweiser Bier Garden) - https://d3ham790trbkqy.cloudfront.ne...ade2019_EN.svg

[R.J]

https://3downnation.com/2019/06/02/e...uettes-report/

Not surprising considering this is the group that was thought to not have enough money, but the media loved him anyways. Still sad though, because now it means pretty much everyone said to be interested is out - minus Bronfman group who denied interest in the first place, but a couple of media members feel strongly that they're still in the background.

I still feel that long term, the Alouettes and Impact are best served under one umbrella and playing in a shared venue. I've always hoped the Molson's/Canadiens would get involved, but with Bell owning !8% of the Habs, I'm a little concerned that we'd see another CFL/TSN exclusive extension, which to put it mildly, I'm against.

[R.J]

https://twitter.com/TonyMarinaro/sta...13868819652608

I can't embed tweets for some reason, but I wonder who the new supposed mystery group is ?

I'll also add that I hope Maciocia isn't pushed onto any ownership group the way Ambrosie supposedly tried to with Guzzo - let the new owners hire whomever they want. I shouldn't be surprised though, because Ambrosie is easily the worst Commissioner's I've ever seen - will probably end being the Commish that pushes me away from the CFL. Never thought I'd dislike a Commish more than Orridge or Goodell, but Ambrosie takes the cake for me.

[CFLfan]

I have to agree with the Gazette reporter, here we are a week before the season starts and they are trying to find a buyer, the worst possible time.
They couldn't find a buyer at all in the off-season and now they are scrambling at the last minute.

Maybe the new group is Saputo, they are the only potential owners that have their own stadium.

https://montrealgazette.com/sports/f...-possible-time

[bannedforlife]

The Als don't have the "Club Seats" that they have in Hamilton and Ottawa - average $300 a seat X $1,000
They don't have the Private Suite - at roughly $30,000 a suite.
They don't have the field level seats or the end zone patio which are all money makers. They don't have any income from naming rights.

If you look at the balance sheets of the public teams, the Bombers Operating costs were over $30 Million and the Riders and Esks around $26 Million.
The Bombers and Esks made a profit of around $2.5 MILLION last year. The Riders made $750,000 in 2017, the first year in their new stadium.
The Bombers averaged around 28k attendance and the Esks around 32k and Riders 34k - average ticket price around $80
All 3 teams made a small profit and that's with crowds of over 28k and ticket prices over $80 !!!

The Als had seat sales last year and we don't know how many of the 17k average were cheaper seat sale tickets.
So yes the Als could easily have lost $12 MILLION a year.

Where have I seen this before?


Hmmmmm?

[bannedforlife]

Not surprising considering this is the group that was thought to not have enough money, but the media loved him anyways. Still sad though, because now it means pretty much everyone said to be interested is out - minus Bronfman group who denied interest in the first place, but a couple of media members feel strongly that they're still in the background.

I still feel that long term, the Alouettes and Impact are best served under one umbrella and playing in a shared venue. I've always hoped the Molson's/Canadiens would get involved, but with Bell owning !8% of the Habs, I'm a little concerned that we'd see another CFL/TSN exclusive extension, which to put it mildly, I'm against.

Why? Although I agree with you, who else is there? CBC, Rogers, CTV? TSN is all the CFL has and they'll be lucky if they can get another contract the same size unless they can get a Game of the Week on Rogers. Which begs the question why did Rogers/MLSE buy into the Argos? The CBC is out of the pro sports game (sports where they essentially have to put some money into) and CTV has bought into the NFL hype. Even if they offered big money DAZN would be a death knell for the league.

[bannedforlife]

I can't embed tweets for some reason, but I wonder who the new supposed mystery group is ?

I'll also add that I hope Maciocia isn't pushed onto any ownership group the way Ambrosie supposedly tried to with Guzzo - let the new owners hire whomever they want. I shouldn't be surprised though, because Ambrosie is easily the worst Commissioner's I've ever seen - will probably end being the Commish that pushes me away from the CFL. Never thought I'd dislike a Commish more than Orridge or Goodell, but Ambrosie takes the cake for me.

Not sure how reliable Marinaro is.

[CFLfan]

Guzzo sheds light on why he didn't buy the Als and the circus going on.

“But, for example, if this was a team in another country, let’s say, I wouldn’t even look at it twice. If it wasn’t for the fact that I’m a Montrealer, I wouldn’t even look at this deal after I saw what I saw.”

https://montrealgazette.com/sports/f...es-sale-circus

[CFLfan]

Lapointe back in the picture?

https://3downnation.com/2019/06/05/c...-group-report/

[CFLfan]

Combine player and football ops salary’s at $8M, I’d like to know what additional expenses could swallow up another $20M or so?

Don't know where you came up with only $8 M......…….try doubling that.
Why don't you check out the Bombers balance sheet and you can see how much it costs to run a football team. You can check the Esks and the Riders too - all similar.
Then you can understand why the Als could lose so much money.

Bombers - "Operating expenses totaled $30.8 million, an increase of $3.4 million over 2017"

Football operations at $12 MILLION, Plus Marketing & administration another $11.8 MILLION, Plus stadium operations $5.6 MILLION

https://d3ham790trbkqy.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2019/04/2018-Winnipeg-Blue-Bombers-Annual-Report.pdf

[ArgoRavi]

Guzzo sheds light on why he didn't buy the Als and the circus going on.

“But, for example, if this was a team in another country, let’s say, I wouldn’t even look at it twice. If it wasn’t for the fact that I’m a Montrealer, I wouldn’t even look at this deal after I saw what I saw.”

https://montrealgazette.com/sports/f...es-sale-circus

The only circus is Guzzo himself. He would have been a disaster as owner.