Grey Cup Festival draws mixed reviews from Regina restaurant industry | 24CA News
After the mud settled, organizers of the 109th Grey Cup in Regina referred to as the occasion an amazing success.
However, that sentiment will not be shared by some within the restaurant trade.
“I don’t even want to do a Grey Cup again. I just felt like we were left out,” says Kelly Monette, common supervisor of Bushwakker Brewpub.
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Grey Cup leaves its mark on Regina
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The Grey Cup pageant left a bitter style for the brewpub positioned in Regina’s warehouse district.
With expectations for a affluent week, Monette says further employees had been introduced in, however most nights she despatched them dwelling early.
In comparability, Monette says the 2013 Grey Cup in Regina introduced in an additional 75,000 {dollars} for the brewpub. This time round it was lower than 40,000.
She feels an enormous a part of the downturn is as a result of a lot of the main pageant occasions, together with six of the seven team-party rooms had been held on the city-owned REAL District.
“I feel the CFL and the organizers did not include the whole city, they just wanted things on the (REAL) grounds,” stated Monette.
Festival organizers didn’t reply to inquiries for this story, nonetheless, REAL CEO Tim Reid was beforehand quoted saying the spotlight of Grey Cup was when all of the buildings on the REAL grounds had been at capability on the Saturday evening.
Leasa Gibbons, with the Warehouse Business Improvement District, says a centralized method for main occasions doesn’t at all times lend itself to the inclusion of small companies.
“Its not great for local businesses and restaurants that aren’t located on-site, and if you’re coming from out of town you might not know they exist and you’re only here for a very short time,” stated Gibbons.
Gibbons says she heard fairly a number of institutions throughout the town felt let down, however on the similar time she understands the pageant must be financially self-sufficient.
She additionally admits that it’s tough to carry the 2013 Grey Cup because the watermark as a result of it was a greater scenario with the Riders within the sport.
It wasn’t all doom and gloom outdoors the REAL grounds. Rebellion Brewing Company additionally positioned within the warehouse district says Grey Cup was their busiest week since Christmas of 2018.
They attribute that to some artistic advertising and marketing methods that had them greeting and handing out coupons to Grey Cup company as they arrived on the airport in Regina.
“A lot of people showed up with their little coupon and we ended up having a great week,” stated Rebellion president Mark Heise.
Though, Heise stated he heard from some native companies who had been disillusioned with the turnout.
“Going forward, yes we would love to see a lot more opportunities for us to participate,” stated Heise.
Gibbons shares that mindset and hopes for extra cohesion between main occasions and the cities small business neighborhood.
“As a city and community we need to stand our ground that local business is important and find a way that we can play in that larger piece.”
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