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![\"JOHN](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/4142742_web1_251109_grey_cup_12.jpg\")
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JOHN WOODS \/ FREE PRESS FILES<\/p>\n
Winnipeg Football Club president and CEO Wade Miller said hosting the 2025 Grey Cup contributed towards the club\u2019s record $12.1 million operating profit.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a lot of hard work and it\u2019s been a lot of years of our staff working tremendously hard at each component of our business to create the unbelievable atmosphere on game day that is truly second to none in sports in Canada, in my opinion,\u201d WFC president and CEO Wade Miller told the Free Press.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur fans really make that experience unbelievable and our staff have just worked so hard to make that happen so it\u2019s great to see the results. \u201c<\/p>\n
The expectations are always high around these parts, but not even Miller could\u2019ve projected these numbers.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt exceeded what we had planned, for sure. We budget conservatively and this was obviously a great result,\u201d said Miller.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen you think about 14 straight sellouts dating back to August of 2024, I\u2019m not sure many people thought that would be possible.\u201d<\/p>\n
In 2025, the club poured $8.4 million in capital improvements at Princess Auto Stadium, which included a new players\u2019 lounge, HVAC remediation, additional contactless security screening devices, and concessions equipment to improve capacity and speed of service. More stadium investments have been made for 2026 with the installation of two new high-resolution video boards, the redesign of the Rum Hut, and replacing seats in the loges.<\/p>\n
\u201cPrincess Auto Stadium is our responsibility: every beam, every seat, every system. We reinvest into it every single year to ensure the longevity of our stadium for fans in our community,\u201d said Miller.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe need results like this every year to maintain the stadium.\u201d<\/p>\n
By hosting the Grey Cup, the total operating revenue in 2025 went up by $28.1 million from the previous year to a total of $82.8 million. The championship game being in town also meant the operating expenses were $70.7 million \u2014 an increase of $23 million from 2024.<\/p>\n
Without hosting the CFL title game, the Bombers still would\u2019ve profited around $6 million.<\/p>\n
The Bombers also invested into the amateur football scene in the province. They donated flag football kits to every school in Manitoba, 675 helmets to local teams, established a girls high school flag football league with 420 participants, and launched three new rural flag football leagues.<\/p>\n
This year\u2019s Grey Cup is in Calgary, but there are still a few events taking over Princess Auto Stadium in 2026 that will help the bottom line: Country Thunder and Rockin\u2019 Thunder Concert events (July 3-4), Canada versus Zimbabwe in men\u2019s rugby (July 18), an AC\/DC concert (Sept. 20), and the NHL\u2019s Heritage Classic featuring the Winnipeg Jets and Montreal Canadiens (Oct. 25).<\/p>\n
\n\t\tWinnipeg Free Press | Newsletter\n\t<\/p>\n
\t\t\tThe Warm-Up<\/p>\n
Winnipeg Jets Game Days<\/p>\n
On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop.<\/p>\n
\t\t\tSign up for The Warm-Up<\/a><\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t It\u2019ll be a tough act to follow, but Miller is encouraged.<\/p>\n \u201cSeason ticket renewals have been strong, new season tickets have been strong, so we\u2019re going to work hard towards that,\u201d said Miller.<\/p>\n \u201cObviously, our goal every year is to sell out every single game and we\u2019re just going to focus on the home opener on June 11 and then keep it rolling from there. We just want to make sure it\u2019s a great experience on game day.\u201d<\/p>\n Bombers training camp opens May 10. They\u2019ll start the season on the road in Calgary on June 5 before hosting the Hamilton Tiger-Cats on June 11.<\/p>\n winnipegfreepress.com\/taylorallen<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t Taylor Allen Taylor Allen is a sports reporter for the Winnipeg Free Press. Taylor was the Vince Leah intern in the Free Press newsroom twice while earning his joint communications degree\/diploma at the University of Winnipeg and Red River College Polytechnic. He signed on full-time in 2019 and mainly covers the Blue Bombers, curling, and basketball. Read more about Taylor<\/a>.<\/p>\n Every piece of reporting Taylor produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print \u2014 part of the Free Press\u2018s tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press\u2019s history and mandate<\/a>, and learn how our newsroom operates<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Reporter
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