103 GREY CUP FESTIVAL

The Event

A four-day celebration of Canada’s favourite football game held in Winnipeg

Over the course of the weekend, the 103 Grey Cup Festival was a series of events in celebration of the final game including the arrival of the Cup, a fan fest and street festival including a family fun zone, a partnership with the Santa Claus parade, a gala dinner and a number of other activities including the musical entertainment, halftime show featuring Fallout Boy and post-celebration parties.

Photo Credits :

Bill Acheson

OUR ROLE

President, The 103rd Grey Cup Festival (2015)

As President of the 103rd Grey Cup Festival (2015), Jason Smith of Smith Events envisioned, managed and implemented all endeavors of the 103rd Grey Cup Festival in Winnipeg, collaborating with the Winnipeg Host Committee, the Province of Manitoba, the City of Winnipeg and the Winnipeg Football Club’s CEO and Board of Directors to facilitate over 20 major events at multiple venues during the four days leading up to the Grey Cup Championship game as well as the sales and marketing of the sold-out Grey Cup game.

In consultation with community and government stakeholders, Smith spearheaded highly successful province-wide youth and community engagement initiatives, including the first Northern Canadian train tour of the Grey Cup Trophy, an educational supplement adopted by the Winnipeg School Division, a youth summer camp with the Winnipeg Aboriginal Sport Achievement Center, an inner-city school flag football program, and a free program for 800+ Grades 3-8 high-risk students to attend the Nissan Family Zone and Grey Cup HQ. He also worked with the Santa Claus Parade board to align and create the “Grey Cup Santa Claus Parade”.

He managed $2.5+ million in major sponsorship commitments, all staff and volunteer committees (Youth & Community Engagement, Host City Operations, Marketing and Pageantry, Sponsorship and Gala Dinner), training and coordination of over 600 volunteers.