The City of Moose Jaw has netted almost $100,000 in revenue this year from its advertising and sponsorship agreements, with naming rights agreements at three recreation venues contributing the most cash.
Since January, the city has sold $101,020 in advertising and sponsorship contracts. After paying out commission fees of $8,759 to EMJ Marketing, that number slips to $92,261, according to a city council report.
In comparison, during the same period last year, those numbers were $71,285, $5,475 and $65,810, respectively.
Funding is gained through three main actors: EMJ Marketing, the Moose Jaw Warriors and the City of Moose Jaw.
EMJ Marketing pursues sponsorships and advertising for the Yara Centre, Kinsmen Sportsplex Pool, dog parks, Phyllis Dewar Outdoor Pool, the playground program, and electronic ads at multiple venues.
Year-to-date, it has pulled in $14,170, taking $2,834 as commission, leaving the city with revenue of $11,336.
In comparison, during the same period last year, those numbers were $17,225, $3,445 and $13,780, respectively.
The city has an agreement with the marketing company to assist with sourcing ads and sponsors for city-operated rec venues, parks and programs, the council report explained. City council renewed the agreement last year, while the contract expires in 2024.
EMJ Marketing receives a commission of 20 per cent on all sales.
The Warriors pursue advertising and sponsorships for the two municipal arenas.
Year-to-date, the team has acquired $11,850, while its commission has been $5,925, leaving the city with revenue of $5,925.
City hall has an agreement with the Warriors for ad sales at the Pla-Mor Palace and Kinsmen Arena for rink board, wall and ice resurfacer ads throughout these buildings, based on a 50/50 revenue share, the report continued.
The agreement was renewed in 2019 and expires in 2024.
The city looks after the naming rights for the Yara Centre, Kinsmen West Park and Kinsmen Regal Heights Park.
Year-to-date, the city has netted $75,000 from all three sources.
The naming rights agreement for Yara Centre is with Yara Belle Plaine Inc., which pays $50,000 annually on a contract that expires Dec. 31, said the council report. The city manager is concluding negotiations with the company’s representative — in consultation with the parks and recreation department — and expects to bring a new contract to council in the fall.
The naming rights agreement for Kinsmen West Park is with the Moose Jaw Kinsmen Club, which will pay out $100,000 between 2020 and 2029 on a contract that expires in 2045.
Meanwhile, the naming rights agreement for Kinsmen Regal Heights Park is also with the Kinsmen Club, which will pay out $100,000 during the next three years. The 25-year agreement expires in 2047.
City administration presented an update about the advertising and sponsorship program during the July 25 executive committee meeting.
Coun. Jamey Logan inquired about why the rep from EMJ Marketing wasn’t on the committee looking for a new naming rights partner for the Moose Jaw Multiplex — also known as Mosaic Place and the Moose Jaw Events Centre. He wondered if that was an oversight on the city’s part.
“I hadn’t thought of this until it came across my desk and I thought, ‘Geez, he’d be a good guy to ask,’” Logan added.
The exclusion of the EMJ Marketing rep from that committee is an oversight on city hall’s part, said city manager Jim Puffalt, who noted that the rep has many contacts in the community.
Council then approved a recommendation to accept the report.
The next regular council meeting is Monday, Aug. 8.
