Winnipeg | CFL Blue Bombers | Princess Auto Stadium

[Kinguni]

Originally Posted by neutroniks

That being said,

What a statement game by our boys in blue. Collaros looked good. Oliveria looked good. O-Line looked good. If the last few seasons are any indication, as long as we can stay in this gear and play that clean, Post-Season chances are looking good. Keep protecting Collaros and if he keeps making good decisions, we're looking competitive.

Protecting Collaros is key, and something that hasn't happened this season until this game.

[Wpg_Guy]

Winnipeg Blue Bombers post $12.1-million operating profit for 2025 season
By: The Canadian Press
Wednesday, Apr. 15, 2026



WINNIPEG – The 2025 CFL season was a very profitable one for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.

The community-owned club released its 2025 annual report Wednesday. It showed the Blue Bombers posted a $12.1-million operating profit and an $8.4-million investment in capital improvements at Princess Auto Stadium.

The Blue Bombers are one of two community-owned CFL teams, along with the Saskatchewan Roughriders.

In 2021, the Bombers, Manitoba government and Triple B Stadium Inc. established a capital fund dedicated to long-term stadium maintenance and improvements. Last year, the CFL club allocated a total of $12.9 million ($11.9 million to the fund, $1 million to its operating reserve) which equalled its overall profit for the year.

Total operating revenue in 2025 reached $82.8 million, an increase of $28.1 million over the prior year, as Winnipeg hosted the 112th Grey Cup. Operating expenses rose to $70.7 million (up from $47.7 million in 2024), again attributable to staging the Grey Cup.

Last year, $8.4 million was invested in stadium projects. That included a new players’ lounge, HVAC remediation, additional contactless security screening devices, and concession equipment to improve capacity and the speed of service. The Bombers also just completed the installation of two new high-resolution videoboards at Princess Auto Stadium.

“We are extremely proud of our financial results for 2025, strengthened by a sold-out season that averaged more than 33,000 fans per game,” Bombers president/CEO Wade Miller said in a statement. “These results are a testament to the continued support of our season-ticket members, corporate partners, and fans.

“They are the reason this club remains strong, on and off the field.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 15, 2026.

Winnipeg Free Press

[Wpg_Guy]

It's good to see the continuous capital improvements in the stadium.

‘It exceeded what we had planned’
Bombers 2025 report reveals franchise record operating profit
By: Taylor Allen
Wednesday, Apr. 15, 2026


JOHN WOODS / FREE PRESS FILES
Winnipeg Football Club president and CEO Wade Miller said hosting the 2025 Grey Cup contributed towards the club’s record $12.1 million operating profit.


The Winnipeg Football Club has over 12 million reasons to smile.

Their 2025 annual report was released early Wednesday and it revealed an operating profit of $12.1 million — a franchise record.

That number is boosted by the Blue Bombers hosting the 2025 Grey Cup and Grey Cup Festival which resulted in $6.3 million in net revenue. The club also made history by selling out every game — a first in team history — to lead the CFL in attendance for a fourth consecutive year.

“It’s a lot of hard work and it’s 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,” WFC president and CEO Wade Miller told the Free Press.

“Our fans really make that experience unbelievable and our staff have just worked so hard to make that happen so it’s great to see the results. “

The expectations are always high around these parts, but not even Miller could’ve projected these numbers.

“It exceeded what we had planned, for sure. We budget conservatively and this was obviously a great result,” said Miller.

“When you think about 14 straight sellouts dating back to August of 2024, I’m not sure many people thought that would be possible.”

In 2025, the club poured $8.4 million in capital improvements at Princess Auto Stadium, which included a new players’ 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.

“Princess 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,” said Miller.

“We need results like this every year to maintain the stadium.”

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 — an increase of $23 million from 2024.

Without hosting the CFL title game, the Bombers still would’ve profited around $6 million.

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.

This year’s 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’ Thunder Concert events (July 3-4), Canada versus Zimbabwe in men’s rugby (July 18), an AC/DC concert (Sept. 20), and the NHL’s Heritage Classic featuring the Winnipeg Jets and Montreal Canadiens (Oct. 25).

It’ll be a tough act to follow, but Miller is encouraged.

“Season ticket renewals have been strong, new season tickets have been strong, so we’re going to work hard towards that,” said Miller.

“Obviously, our goal every year is to sell out every single game and we’re 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’s a great experience on game day.”

Bombers training camp opens May 10. They’ll start the season on the road in Calgary on June 5 before hosting the Hamilton Tiger-Cats on June 11.

Winnipeg Free Press

[Crisis]

^^^^ But would you trade the $12M for a Grey Cup win.

[FactaNV]

Originally Posted by Crisis

^^^^ But would you trade the $12M for a Grey Cup win.

Nope - long term health of the club. Take that 12 mil, invest 5 in the stadium, 5 in paying down debts and a couple mil for acquisitions.

[optimusREIM]

Let's keep the sellouts going. It feels good to see the team do well financially.

[bomberjet]

Bombers sign QB Taylor Elgersma. Great news.

[pspeid]

Originally Posted by bomberjet

Bombers sign QB Taylor Elgersma. Great news.

The Bombers made a number of good free agent moves in the off season. It bodes well for the Blue to get back into contention.

[bomberjet]

Too bad they couldn't have made some moves like this last year for the home Grey Cup!

But yes they will be much better this year based on the signings. Elgersma should be the future QB after Collaros retires at end of season.

[Crisis]

Originally Posted by bomberjet

Bombers sign QB Taylor Elgersma. Great news.

Yup, jealous about that. Great to see another USports QB sign with a team on the understanding that he will actually be competing to play that position. Hope he turns into the next Nathan Rourke (expect when he's playing the guys in green).

[Wpg_Guy]

Quintin Soloviev

[Wpg_Guy]

• Video Link

[Wpg_Guy]

[BlackDog204]

Originally Posted by Wpg_Guy

2027 is going to be the year that the idiot Commissioner ruins the game, by eliminating the 55 yard line. This will be detrimental for people sitting in the end zone, as their view will be adversely affected. I wish the CFL would just admit this was a big mistake, and keep the game the way it is.

[borkborkbork]

Woof, those prices. In 2014 the fanatic section was under $350 for the season. What a difference a decade of hyperinflation makes

[The Jabroni]

Originally Posted by BlackDog204

2027 is going to be the year that the idiot Commissioner ruins the game, by eliminating the 55 yard line. This will be detrimental for people sitting in the end zone, as their view will be adversely affected. I wish the CFL would just admit this was a big mistake, and keep the game the way it is.

Yeah, not a huge fan of the changes either, but let's see how this turns out.

If it does end up becoming a bust, then we can all call for the commissioner's head and be done with it and bring it back to the way it was.

Those prices though...

[bomberjet]

So Usports may be the ones to save the 55 yard line haha They're not planning to implement the changes the CFL is. Might delay enacting the new dimensions because places like Princess Auto Stadium are dual use with both leagues.

[CoryB]

I actually had a chance to ask to Commissioner about the new field dimensions and how it could impact shared facilities and if they held discussions with other Canadian football organizations before announcing the changes.

They did not bother even discussing the changes with any other levels first and they are going all in regardless.

I saw it explained elsewhere, a large driver of the field size change is that the current facilities in Toronto and Montreal cannot fit a full field in. With the changes they can.

In terms of Winnipeg, the reality is once it is possible, ie USports moves to the new field size, the north end zone will get rebuilt to move it back up to the field and expand the highly lucrative Rum Hut zone. Just going to put this out there, if it worked with the sight lines to the score board having the whole north end patio covered with a roof and the whole area called "The Rum Hut" likely would not be a bad idea.

[BlackDog204]

Originally Posted by CoryB

I
In terms of Winnipeg, the reality is once it is possible, ie USports moves to the new field size, the north end zone will get rebuilt to move it back up to the field and expand the highly lucrative Rum Hut zone. Just going to put this out there, if it worked with the sight lines to the score board having the whole north end patio covered with a roof and the whole area called "The Rum Hut" likely would not be a bad idea.

USports announced that it had no intention of copying the CFL, and eliminating the 55 yard line, so this will not happen, as the University of Manitoba Bisons share the facility with the Bombers.

BTW, what is going to happen with the field next year, considering the Bisons will be playing with the same field dimensions as before, while the CFL Bombers will have to eliminate the size, and the 55. How will the two organizations co-exist, and how challenging will it be for the maintenance crew to paint the field, so that aligns with the different dimensions.

[cjones2451]

Originally Posted by The Jabroni

Yeah, not a huge fan of the changes either, but let's see how this turns out.

If it does end up becoming a bust, then we can all call for the commissioner's head and be done with it and bring it back to the way it was.

Those prices though...

Why does everyone heap this on the Commish only? All 9 BoG voted for this including Wade Miller. Craig Reynolds, Jay McNeil, Chris Morris, Amar doman, PKP, Scott Mitchell. All either smart businessmen or ex players. There is obviously unity with all the clubs on this and growth in revenue and IMO they would not have got the DAZN interest and TSN having to step up to get the big increase in TV money. The bigger salary cap is going to lead to better quality players coming or staying with the CFL and you can make an expansion team work with an 15-18K stadium so hopefully we see a team in Quebec City soon and then maybe 12 (Halifax and London?)

I also would not be surprised if there is not an "on field" social area in at least one of the endzone with standing tables, etc. No only here but in other stadiums too.