CFL Eskimos Report Record Revenue Thanks To Gate, Sponsorships, Merchandise Sales

The '15 season saw the CFL Edmonton Eskimos "report a record revenue" of $24.8M (all figures C), "thanks to realizing their best-ever totals" in season seat sales, sponsorship ($4.5M) and merchandizing ($1.7M, up 31.4%), according to Gerry Moddejonge of the EDMONTON JOURNAL. Revenue was "so good" that even a bottom line of $2M less than '14 "didn’t raise any concerns." That is because the Eskimos "ended up putting that much and more back into Commonwealth Stadium in the form of capital projects that included a new jumbotron and overhauling the facility’s wi-fi network." Eskimos President & CEO Len Rhodes "reported a net profit" of $1.57M in '15, compared to $3.59M in '14. The Eskimos "led the league in attendance for the second year in a row, averaging 31,517 at home games, although that number was down" 5.9% from '14. Blame for the reduction "was placed on inclement weather and the fact that there were only two games against opponents who traditionally draw the biggest crowds" (EDMONTON JOURNAL, 5/4).