Category: Sports Business

CFL Commissioner Orridge Endorses More Fan Engagement in State of the League Address

November 26, 2016

Even as Grey Cup Final tickets for as little as $89 were still being offered on the league’s official website less than 60 hours before the game, CFL Commissioner Jeffrey Orridge insisted the 9-team Canadian Football League “is a big deal”. That phrase summed up Orridge’s closing statements in his annual “State of the League” … More CFL Commissioner Orridge Endorses More Fan Engagement in State of the League Address

New Study Shows Soccer Supporters Most Engaged Sports Fans

November 21, 2016

A new sports survey, commissioned by the highly respected US publication, SportsBusiness Journal, has found soccer fans to be the most dedicated and engaged supporters among seven major North American professional sports leagues and American college sports. The goal of the “Sports Fan and Engagement Study”, released by Simmons Research, was to give clients an … More New Study Shows Soccer Supporters Most Engaged Sports Fans

Canadian Sports Executives Head up Game-changing Initiatives

November 16, 2016

Three prominent Canadian sports executives were in the news this week for leading initiatives that could develop into lucrative partnerships and help establish significant legacies within their respective organizations. Arizona Coyotes President and CEO Anthony LeBlanc of Thunder Bay, ON, has reached an agreement with Arizona State University to develop a new sports complex east … More Canadian Sports Executives Head up Game-changing Initiatives

Playoff run key to TFC’s bottom line

October 27, 2016

Toronto FC President Bill Manning didn’t mince words when asked on the eve of the MLS team’s first ever home playoff game how impactful the match would be to the club’s bottom line. “Massive”, replied Manning. “Getting into the playoffs does make an impact on the bottom line financially. It’s something we as an organization … More Playoff run key to TFC’s bottom line

James Hinchcliffe: The Mayor of Hinchtown

October 24, 2016

Oakville’s James Hinchcliffe is Canada’s lone representative in the Verizon IndyCar series. In May 2015 he suffered a traumatic accident at Indianapolis Motor Speedway that left him hospitalized for nearly two months. He would return to racing in his SPM Honda Arrow car ten months later in time for the start of the 2016 season. James is also … More James Hinchcliffe: The Mayor of Hinchtown

Sport$trategies: The Business of Sport Podcast

October 8, 2016

A new sports business podcast that offers insights from national & international sports business experts on topical themes & issues with reviews of current sports business trends, sports media & sports technology. The premiere episode looks at WME-IMG’s $4B acquisition of the UFC, MLB’s All-Star Game, Forbes’ annual list of most valuable sports franchises & Twitter’s … More Sport$trategies: The Business of Sport Podcast

Mattamy National Cycling Centre: A Legacy Venue for Performance and Recreation

October 8, 2016

A legacy of the Toronto 2015 Pan American Games, the Mattamy National Cycling Centre in Milton, ON, combines an internationally-renowned, state-of-the-art indoor velodrome with a recreational facility available for use to the local community at large. While it is the official new home of Canadian track cycling, the venue can also host a number of other … More Mattamy National Cycling Centre: A Legacy Venue for Performance and Recreation

Expanding Horizons: The Multi-part Makeover of Toronto’s BMO Field

October 8, 2016

Following the 2014 MLS soccer season, BMO Field underwent the first stage of a two-year, two-phase redevelopment that would transform the stadium from a simplistic 21-thousand seat venue to a 30-thousand seat multi-sport facility. The refurbishment would cost $150-million, well above expectations but the projected return on investment from the increased seating capacity and the additional … More Expanding Horizons: The Multi-part Makeover of Toronto’s BMO Field