112th Grey Cup generated $93 million economic impact: study

Photo: Reuben Polansky/3DownNation. All rights reserved.

The 112th Grey Cup in Winnipeg, Man. generated an economic impact of over $93 million, according to a study from Sport Tourism Canada (STC). The Blue Bombers made the announcement on Tuesday.

The Grey Cup Festival, which ran from Nov. 10 to 16, 2025, drew almost 49,000 unique guests and a total attendance of more than 345,000 visitors across venues, parties, and celebrations. Attendees visited for an average of 3.2 days and 3.9 different events.

28,000 guests came from out of town with 95 percent of them staying overnight for an average of 4.2 nights. 51 percent of overnight visitors stayed in hotels or motels.

“The numbers confirm what we already knew — Winnipeg delivered one of the best Grey Cup Festivals in the history of this league,” said Blue Bombers president and CEO Wade Miller in a statement.

“Over $93 million in economic activity, over 28,000 out of town visitors, and a fan experience rated 4.5 out of 5 — that’s a Winnipeg result. The benefits reached hotels, restaurants, retailers, and tourism partners throughout the city.

“This city and province showed Canada what it means to host. Thank you to the Province of Manitoba, the City of Winnipeg, Tourism Winnipeg, our corporate partners, committee members, volunteers, staff, and the CFL fans who made this a Grey Cup to remember.”

The study also indicated that events employed 362 jobs, 346 of which were local. These positions paid $18.9 million in wages and salaries.

“These results reinforce the lasting value that major events can create for a host community,” said Grey Cup Festival executive director Jennifer Thompson.

“The Festival showcased Winnipeg and Manitoba to visitors from across Canada, strengthened partnerships throughout our community, and created experiences that people will remember for years to come. We’re incredibly proud of what was accomplished together.”

The 112th Grey Cup drew a sold-out crowd of 32,343 and an average television audience of 4.02 million across TSN, CTV, and RDS, which marked a 12 percent increase year-over-year.

The Saskatchewan Roughriders defeated the Montreal Alouettes in the game by a score of 25-17, marking the fifth championship in franchise history.

Trevor Harris was named Most Valuable Player after he completed 23-of-27 pass attempts for 302 yards, winning his first Grey Cup as a starter. Samuel Emilus was named Most Valuable Canadian after he made 10 catches for 108 yards, finishing only two receptions shy of tying the Grey Cup record.

This marked the fifth time Winnipeg hosted the Grey Cup and the second one at Princess Auto Stadium.

“We’re thrilled by the 112th Grey Cup’s lasting impact in Winnipeg and the surrounding communities,” said CFL commissioner Stewart Johnston. “The Blue Bombers were incredible hosts, showcasing our world-class game and combining it with tremendous weeklong celebration of football. These findings are a testament to everyone who worked tirelessly to craft an unforgettable event and, of course, our unbelievable fans.”

The study was prepared by STC using its STEAMPRO economic impact model, which makes use of Statistics Canada data and is validated by the Canadian Tourism Research Institute at the Conference Board of Canada.