Economic Development Winnipeg announced Monday the nine Whiteout Street Parties hosted in Winnipeg during the Jets’ playoff runs cost more than $2.1 million.
True North Sports and Entertainment paid more than half of the bill, but received almost 50 per cent of their expenditures back in vendor revenue.
The rest of the tab was picked up by the City of Winnipeg and Economic Development Winnipeg: paying $962,000 and $120,000 respectively.
READ MORE: Whiteout Street Parties cost Winnipeg Police close to $800K in OT
It’s a blow to the city, which is already projecting a deficit of more than $12 million.
“We may need to come back requesting approval for over-expenditures,” the City of Winnipeg’s Michael Jack said.
“[City branches] are each being asked to look within their own departmental budgets to see how they may be able to best handle this.”
Last week, the Winnipeg Police Service announced the party’s police presence cost $788,000 in overtime. Chief Danny Smyth said the costs were high largely because there was minimal advanced planning on how to schedule staff.
On Monday, it was revealed that the city is also responsible for $150,000 in extra transit costs during the nine events.
True North said its contribution included more than $900,000 of production costs and a $153,000 check to the city for policing and transit costs.
The company collected roughly $500,000 in Whiteout Party revenue.
“We decided to draw the line in the sand in that we would cover the production costs and keep the sponsorship and food and beverage revenue,” senior vice president Kevin Donnelly said. “The other cost, city police and traffic road closures, would fall to the city and economic development.”
The costs for the nine events were broken down by Economic Development in a statement.
It said True North “contributed funding to cover event planning and production costs including fencing, licensing, stages, televisions, and electrical servicing. Economic Development Winnipeg’s contribution included payment for street closures, barricades, and other required permits. The City of Winnipeg’s contribution includes incremental costs for policing and transit services, as well as other required cross-departmental logistics.”
READ MORE: Extra Winnipeg officers plus increased overtime for Whiteout Street Parties push police over budget
By playoff time next year, True North Square should be ready to host the party. But Donnelly said doesn’t mean the financial model used in 2018 is going to change.
“If someone said it is True North’s expense and responsibility to pay for all the costs, I think you’d see all of this go away.”
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