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14 MBiz | november 2015 204.326.3917 Clearspring Centre Steinbach, Mb Every motion... a shimmer. Every shimmer... an emotion. A new concept in jewellry design, Pulse TM suspends a stunning center stone in a unique and patented quiver setting. WE WANT YOUR BUSINESS! ...and we want to show you what we can do to earn it! Come see the friendliest sales staff in town!! 3250 VICTORIA AVENUE, BRANDON, MB | 204-728-3396 www.brandonchrysler.ca the grey CuP Grey Power Football fever has economic side effects By Jim Timlick T he Grey Cup is one of this country's biggest parties, and it has also become an increasingly big business. When Toronto hosted the 100th Grey Cup in 2012, the event generated more than $133.1 million in economic activity throughout the province, including $94.7 million in Toronto alone. A year later, football-mad Saskatchewan enjoyed $93 million in economic spinoffs, including $68 million in Regina. And last year's event in Vancouver created in excess of $118 million in economic benefits for B.C. In Winnipeg, 103rd Grey Cup Festival events from Nov. 25 through game day on Nov. 29 are expected to attract more than 28,000 visitors and produce in excess of $85 million in economic activity in the city, according to preliminary estimates provided by Tourism Winnipeg. "The economic impact it leaves in a city is amazing," says Chantal Sturk- Nadeau, senior vice-president of tourism for the city's official destination marketing organization. "There's bars open everywhere, parties and concerts. (Organizers) are understanding that these people are coming for four days … to really get out there and party. And from a business perspective their corporate sponsorships are much larger now than they were in the past." As with similar large-scale events such as the JUNO Awards or FIFA Women's World Cup Canada 2015, hotels and restaurants will feel the most direct impact. However, Sturk-Nadeau stresses they won't be the only beneficiaries — the transportation industry, including taxi companies and charter bus operators, will experience a significant uptick in business, as will the audio/video businesses hired to work the parties, bars and corporate events. Even local marketing companies and ad agencies will enjoy a sizeable bump in business, Sturk-Nadeau says. Jay Khanuja, owner of the King's Head Pub in the Exchange District, says his establishment enjoyed a substantial boost in business the last time Winnipeg hosted the Grey Cup back in 2006. However, he expects this year's event to have a far greater impact on his bottom line as several groups from Edmonton and Vancouver have already booked space for private events throughout the week. That could translate into an additional $3,000 or $4,000 of business each day during Grey Cup week. Khanuja says while many visitors will still attend larger events like the ones at RBC Convention Centre Winnipeg, more and more are choosing more intimate venues such as the King's Head to share a pint or a meal with friends. "We're in an era where people don't want the norm, they don't want the same thing again and again," he says. "The industry for craft beer along with … the smaller boutique restaurants are really opening up what people are looking for. That's why they're looking to more independents like us." Although Winnipeg now has about 7,400 hotel rooms, an increase of nearly 800 since 2006, most of those rooms had already been booked by early October. Sturk-Nadeau says she doesn't expect finding accommodations will be an issue during Grey Cup week. Just as it did in 2006, Tourism Winnipeg is helping coordinate efforts to find lodgings in nearby communities such as Selkirk and Portage la Prairie. "It's not a surprise for us. We were ready this time on the hotels," she says. Winnipeg hosted the Grey Cup in 1991, 1998 and 2006, and the most recent Grey Cup in our city proved to be one of the most successful in CFL history by most accounts. Sturk-Nadeau expects a similar result this time around and says all of the recent developments in the city, including more than $2 billion in tourism infrastructure investments over the past five years, could go a long way in changing people's opinions of Winnipeg. "If I came in 2006 and I'm coming again in 2015, there's some new venues that are really cool and a real neat atmosphere," she says. "I think people are going to have a good taste in their mouth and will say at the end 'Wow, has Winnipeg ever changed.' " ■ Photo by Darcy Finley

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