The City of Regina will contribute $1.5 million to the Saskatchewan Roughriders to help host the 2027 Grey Cup Festival next fall. City council approved the expenditure in a 6-2 vote during its Wednesday meeting, following an in-depth discussion on the source of the funds. Councillors Shanon Zachidniak and Sarah Turnbull opposed the motion, expressing concerns that providing the funding could ultimately lead to a tax increase.
Funding Breakdown
The $1.5 million includes an estimated $400,000 for police services during the event. The remainder will be delivered as cash or in-kind donations. In addition, Tourism Saskatchewan has pledged $5 million, and the Regina Hotels Association has committed $225,000.
Economic Spinoff
Roughriders CEO Craig Reynolds thanked the city for its support in a written letter to council. He noted that the 2027 festival will offer many similar attractions to the 2022 Grey Cup Festival, which was the last time Regina hosted the event. However, a key difference is that all events will be held indoors.
“Programming will feature a one-of-a-kind Grey Cup arrival in downtown Regina, dedicated family spaces, youth sport activations, cultural showcases, and interactive experiences, many of which will be offered free of charge,” Reynolds wrote.
Regina saw more than 26,600 visitors and $43.8 million in economic spinoff during the 2022 Grey Cup, according to Jennifer Johnson, deputy city manager of Tourism Regina. She said the city anticipates similar economic benefits in 2027.
Johnson added that the city expects to collect $396,000 from Grey Cup ticket sales through the city’s $12-per-ticket stadium fee applied to events at Mosaic Stadium. The fee goes toward paying down the stadium’s remaining $150.7 million in debt.
Source Still Unknown
Councillor Zachidniak pushed to identify a source for the $1.5 million, concerned it might lead to a property tax increase in 2027. “I don’t think that property owners who are feeling a lot of financial strain would be supportive of this,” she said.
City staff reported that the money in the city’s event fund has already been committed to other events. The remaining options are to fund it through a mill rate increase or to draw from the general fund reserve, which is typically used for unbudgeted spending or emergencies. Jeff May, the city’s director of financial planning and analysis, told council that $20.7 million is currently available in the reserve, which is below the recommended minimum of $35.8 million.
