Roughriders post $3.9 million profit from CFL’s return to play last season

REGINA – The CFL’s return to play in 2021 was a profitable one for the Saskatchewan Roughriders.

The Roughriders posted a $3.9-million profit last season, the community-owned franchise announced at its annual general meeting Tuesday night. Saskatchewan finished second in the West Division in 2021 with a 9-5 record.

The Riders defeated Calgary 33-30 in overtime in the conference semifinal at Mosaic Stadium before dropping a 21-17 road decision to eventual Grey Cup-champion Winnipeg in the West final.

The CFL didn’t play in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic before staging a 14-game season in 2021. So while the Riders were profitable last year, not playing in 2020 resulted in a loss of $8.4 million for the franchise.

That leaves the Roughriders with a net loss of about $4.5 million over the past two years.Saskatchewan hopes to recoup some of that when it hosts the 2022 Grey Cup game in November.

Total gross revenues in 2021-22 were $33.8 million compared to $10.3 million in 2020-21. And the franchise’s operating expenses increased to $29.9 million from $18.7 million the year prior.

Merchandise sales increased 103 per cent from the year before, primarily because retail stores re-opened with an actual 2021 season.

Sponsorship revenues also increased to $7.2 million from $3.5 million the year before.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 24, 2022.