What The Edmonton Eskimos does

The Edmonton Elks (formerly Edmonton Eskimos) are a professional Canadian football franchise founded in 1949 and based in Edmonton, Alberta. The team competes in the Canadian Football League (CFL) as one of nine member clubs and plays home games at Commonwealth Stadium, branded as Play Alberta Field. The franchise is privately held and family-controlled, with Larry and Deb Thompson as owners, Chris Morris as President and CEO, Ed Hervey as VP of Football Operations and General Manager, Mark Kilam as Head Coach, and Dwayne Mandrusiak as Community Ambassador and Team Historian. The team rebranded from the Edmonton Eskimos to the Edmonton Elks in 2021 and operates with an estimated 251-500 employees, drawing on 18 Grey Cup appearances and 11 historical championships as one of the CFL's most established franchises.

The Elks generate revenue across four primary streams: ticket sales (single game, season seats, group, flex packs, and premium experiences), merchandise (online and in-stadium retail at shop.goelks.com), corporate sponsorship (game themes, naming rights, and stadium advertising), and premium experiences (suites, field-level lounges, rooftop patios, and loge seating). Single-game adult tickets start at $20 and youth tickets at $15, season-seat memberships start at $198, and the team distributes tickets through Ticketmaster, Federated Co-operatives Limited (Co-op) gas bars across north and central Alberta, a direct sales team, and the stadium box office. The marketing mix spans social media (Twitter/X, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube), the EE Insider email newsletter, a 32-year exclusive radio partnership with 880 CHED (Corus Entertainment), and community programs (Kids Club, EE Camps, school programs, EE Hometown Tour, mascot appearances), supported by themed game-day events such as Salute to Service, Labour Day Rematch, and Indigenous Celebration.

The product portfolio is structured as a single ticketing and game-day entertainment platform rather than a modular software architecture. Core ticketing (season seats, single-game, group, flex packs) is paired with named-branded premium products (National Bank Balcony and Championship Suites, Konica Minolta Field Level Lounge, Canadian Club Rooftop Patio, Coventry Homes Upper Bowl Loge, Green & Gold Room, Endzone Party). Supporting offerings include the Elks Rewards mobile app, the Elks 50/50 charitable raffle presented by James H. Brown & Associates, Birthday Packages, The Brick Kids Zone, the Elks Tailgate presented by CLRA, the College Corner student discount, and the Experience Cheer youth program. The team has no disclosed AI/ML capabilities, runs no public funding or institutional ownership, and reports no public revenue figures.

Name

The Edmonton Eskimos

Legal name

Edmonton Elks

Website

https://goelks.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1949

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

The Edmonton Elks (founded 1949) are a privately held CFL professional football franchise based in Edmonton, Alberta, serving fans across Western Canada through ticketing, premium hospitality, merchandise, and corporate sponsorships at Commonwealth Stadium.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Sports Franchise (Canadian Football)

NAICS

Sports Teams and Clubs (711211), Other Spectator Sports (711219), Sporting Goods Retailers (45911)

SIC

Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997), Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)

akta.pro primary industry

Arena & Stadium Operations (Large-Capacity Venues) (MPAGALAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Sports Collectibles, Fan Gear & Licensed Merchandise Retail (CRAMABAO), Concession & Stadium / Arena Catering (THAFAIAG)

Keywords

• Professional football franchise
• CFL game tickets
• Sports merchandise retail
• Premium suite hospitality
• Fan experience programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Edmonton

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Ticket Sales: Revenue from single game tickets, season seat memberships, group tickets, ticket packs, and premium ticket options including suites and lounge access.
2. Merchandise Sales: Online and stadium team store selling apparel, jerseys, headwear, and accessories.
3. Corporate Sponsorship: Partnership deals with corporate sponsors including naming rights, game themes, and advertising at stadium.
4. Premium Experiences: Revenue from luxury suites, field level lounges, rooftop patios, and exclusive premium seating options.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Edmonton Elks operate a professional Canadian Football League franchise, selling game-day tickets (season seats, single game, group, flex packs), premium suite and lounge experiences, official team merchandise, and community-based programs at Commonwealth Stadium (Play Alberta Field). Core revenue is generated through ticketing, premium hospitality, merchandise, and corporate sponsorship, supported by fan engagement experiences (Kids Zone, Tailgate, Birthday Packages) and youth/community programs.

Product overview

The Edmonton Elks operate a fan-focused ticket and entertainment platform for CFL football games at Commonwealth Stadium in Edmonton, Alberta. The product portfolio centers on ticketing (season seats, single game tickets, group tickets, flex packs) and premium game-day experiences (suites, lounges, rooftop patios, loge seating). Supporting offerings include The Brick Kids Zone, the Elks Tailgate pre-game party, Experience Cheer youth program, merchandise retail, the Elks 50/50 charitable raffle, and the Elks Rewards mobile app. The portfolio is structured as a single unified ticketing and entertainment platform rather than modular software product architecture.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Season Seat Memberships Season ticket packages providing access to all home games at Commonwealth Stadium with exclusive perks, events, and priority seating. Starts at $198.
• Single Game Tickets Individual game tickets for CFL regular season and preseason games at Play Alberta Field at Commonwealth Stadium, with adult tickets starting at $20 and youth tickets at $15.
• Group Tickets Discounted bulk ticket purchases for groups of 10 or more, with adult tickets starting at $20 and youth tickets starting at $15.
• Ticket Flex Packs Flexible 4-Ticket and 8-Ticket Flex Pack options redeemable in any combination at any 2026 regular season home game, with pricing tiers from P1 to P5 sections.
• Konica Minolta Field Level Lounge Premium seating experience with tables of four offering proximity to the field as the team runs out of the tunnel.
• National Bank Balcony Suites Private suite options for hosting staff, friends, and family at Elks games.
• National Bank Championship Suite Top-tier private suite experience for corporate and personal event hosting.
• Endzone Party Edmonton's largest football party experience held every game just beyond the North endzone with food and entertainment.
• Canadian Club Rooftop Patio Elevated viewing experience with semi-private tables above the endzone offering panoramic game views.
• Coventry Homes Upper Bowl Loge Private upper bowl loge seating on the West side of Commonwealth Stadium offering premium views.
• Green & Gold Room Indoor premium space for fans to enjoy great food and company regardless of weather during football season.
• Elks Team Merchandise Official team apparel including jerseys, men's, women's, and kids apparel, headwear, and collectibles available online at shop.goelks.com and at the team store.
• Birthday Packages Celebration packages for birthdays offering action-packed game experiences for groups.
• The Brick Kids Zone Free family entertainment area inside Commonwealth Fieldhouse featuring inflatables, carnival rides, face painters, and football mini-games, opening 2 hours before kickoff.
• Elks Tailgate Pre-game tailgate party experience in Lot B outside Gate 2 featuring live music, EE Beer Garden, family picnic areas, and partner activations.
• Experience Cheer Program Youth cheer program allowing participants ages 4+ to perform alongside the Elks Cheer Team during halftime shows; $190 + GST registration includes rehearsals, halftime performance, shirt, poms, 10% off at Team Store, 2 game tickets, and digital recording.
• Elks 50/50 Raffle Charitable raffle program presented by James H. Brown & Associates offering cash prizes with proceeds supporting local causes.
• Elks Rewards App Mobile application for fans to access rewards, game information, and exclusive member benefits.

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• 880 CHED (Corus Entertainment)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 June 2026Exclusive radio broadcast partner for 32 years, extended for another three years. Station airs all game-time excitement, pre-and post-game highlights, expert commentary. Broadcast team includes Morley Scott, Dave Campbell, Grey Cup Champion Blake Dermott, and sideline reporter Gord Hinse. Also features The Official Mark Kilam Show and Antler Up podcast.
• Federated Co-operatives Limited (FCL)coreGTM or Marketing Partner · 3 June 2026Community and ticketing partnership where Co-op is recognized as the Official Fuel Partner. Co-op offers the lowest-priced tickets in the stadium ($40 for two tickets) exclusively at participating gas bars. FCL also owns naming rights to the EE Hometown Tour Community Program (now EE Hometown Tour Fuelled by Co-op). Includes nine local Co-ops across north and central Alberta.
• TicketmastercoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPrimary ticketing platform for Edmonton Elks tickets, handling single game tickets, season seats, and ticket pack purchases.
• James H. Brown & AssociatesmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerPresenting sponsor of Home Opener (June 20 vs Montreal Alouettes) and Game Changers Women's Training Camp.
• YEG Edmonton International AirportmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerPresenting sponsor of Salute to Service game theme (July 9 vs Ottawa REDBLACKS).
• National BankmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerPresenting sponsor of Labour Day Rematch game theme (September 12 vs Calgary Stampeders).
• CFL (Canadian Football League)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLeague membership as one of nine CFL teams, participating in league-wide scheduling, broadcasts, and playoff structure.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Winnipeg Blue Bombers: CFL West Division direct peer and most recent Grey Cup dynasty, with comparable ticketing, sponsorship, and merchandise setup at IG Field. Provides direct comparable on fan-engagement intensity and championship-cycle economics.
• Hamilton Tiger-Cats: CFL East Division peer running the same franchise business model (ticketing, premium hospitality, merchandise, sponsorship) out of Hamilton. Comparable on suite/loose product mix and community programming structure.
• BC Lions: CFL West Division peer operating out of BC Place with a similar ticketing, sponsorship, premium hospitality, and merchandise structure. Comparable on league economics, premium product mix, and broadcast/revenue scale.
• Saskatchewan Roughriders: CFL West Division peer and one of the league's strongest community-supported franchises with comparable ticketing, sponsorship, and merchandise mechanics. Notable as the CFL's marquee community-owned franchise, providing a benchmark operating model for grassroots-driven revenue.
• Calgary Stampeders: CFL West Division rival and fellow Alberta-based franchise with comparable market dynamics, stadium scale, and rivalry-driven attendance. Operates the same business model (ticketing, premium experiences, merchandise, sponsorship) within McMahon Stadium and is the Elks' closest direct comparison.
• Montreal Alouettes: CFL East Division peer operating out of Percival Molson Memorial Stadium with comparable ticketing, premium, and merchandise models. Relevant for QB trade comparables (Cody Fajardo was acquired from Montreal) and East-market economics.
• Ottawa REDBLACKS: CFL East Division peer; mid-tier Canadian market franchise with comparable ticketing, sponsorship, and merchandise stack at TD Place. Provides relevant benchmarks for sponsorship renewal dynamics and suite economics in CFL East.
• Toronto Argonauts: CFL East Division peer and the league's largest-market franchise, owned by Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment. Relevant as a benchmark for premium-hospitality monetization and corporate partnership scale in the CFL's biggest market.

Broad incumbents

• Green Bay Packers: NFL's only community-owned major professional sports franchise. Relevant as a broader incumbent benchmark for fan-equity-driven economics and community ownership models — directly relevant to the Saskatchewan Roughriders-style model that the CFL's most storied franchises mirror.
• Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment (MLSE): Multi-sport franchise and venue owner (Maple Leafs, Raptors, Toronto FC, Toronto Argonauts) and operator of Scotiabank Arena. Relevant as a portfolio-level benchmark for cross-sport sponsorship packaging, premium product mix, and venue economics at scale within the same national footprint.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/edmontonesks
• YouTubeyoutube.com/EdmontonElksGoElks
• Facebookfacebook.com/GoElks
• Instagraminstagram.com/goelks

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Edmonton Eskimos