The 109th Grey Cup and its accompanying festival generated $67.8 million in Canadian economic impact, according to a new study conducted by Sport Tourism Canada. The study also indicated that the event added $25.7 million to the GDP of Saskatchewan.
“We are incredibly proud of the 109th Grey Cup and festival and everything it brought to the city of Regina and the province of Saskatchewan,” said Saskatchewan Roughriders’ president and CEO Craig Reynolds in a statement.
“Our goal was to create a provincial celebration that provided something for the entire family. Through the hard work of more than 1,000 volunteers and the tremendous support of Rider Nation and CFL fans across the league, we accomplished something truly special not only for those that attended, but for the entire Saskatchewan community.”
The 109th Grey Cup was held at Mosaic Stadium in Regina on Sunday, Nov. 20 as the Toronto Argonauts defeated the Winnipeg Blue Bombers by a score of 24-23. It was the fourth Grey Cup ever played in Regina and the first hosted at the new facility, which opened in 2017.
The game drew an average television audience of 3.1 million on TSN, which was an increase of 7.5 percent from the 108th Grey Cup in Hamilton. Over eight million viewers watched a portion of the game as the audience peaked at 4.7 million late in the fourth quarter.
The attendance for all Grey Cup events was 210,000, spanning six days of festival activities. One-third of all attendees travelled to Regina from outside the province in order to participate in the festivities.
“The power of the Grey Cup in bringing together Canadians from coast to coast to coast never ceases to amaze me. We knew the city of Regina, the province of Saskatchewan and the Roughriders would put on a tremendous event but seeing that vision come to life was truly awe-inspiring,” said CFL commissioner Randy Ambrosie.
“We’re beyond grateful to our passionate fans, Rider Nation, organizers, staff and volunteers; it is their incredible efforts that grew our great game and brought in nearly $70 million nationally to strengthen and support Canadian families and communities.”
According to the study, the event generated $19.6 million in tourism spending with Regina welcoming 26,669 out-of-town visitors. The average amount spent by each party attending the Grey Cup and its related events was $1,516. This figure includes accommodations, restaurants, entertainment, and retail spending.
“The success of the 2022 Grey Cup Festival speaks to Saskatchewan’s renowned hospitality, volunteer spirit and resident pride. More than $25.7 million in GDP is a tremendous boost to the province’s visitor economy,” said Jeremy Harris, a Saskatchewan MLA who serves as the Minister Responsible for Tourism Saskatchewan.
“It is also gratifying to see the high satisfaction scores and know that so many guests are eager to return to Regina for another sporting event. The festival is a model for how to host an event that delivers great experiences and leaves visitors wanting more.”
The event supported 388 jobs that included $22.8 million in wages and salaries in Canada. Of these totals, 291 jobs and $16.7 million in wages and salaries were in Saskatchewan. The Grey Cup Legacy program has invested $750,000 back into the province through donations to various communities.
“We are thrilled to see the $21.2 million economic impact that the 109th Grey Cup and 2022 Grey Cup Festival brought to Regina. Hosting major events like the Grey Cup brings people to our city, spurring activity for our local businesses and ultimately enhancing our quality of life and civic pride and presents an opportunity to showcase our identity as a fantastic host city,” said Regina mayor Sandra Masters.
“The city of Regina thanks the CFL, the Grey Cup Host Organizing Committee, the Saskatchewan Roughriders, and all the partners, volunteers, and fans for making this memorable event such a huge success.”
