Carabins
Carabins is the non-profit sports excellence program of Université de Montréal, fielding 23 teams and 510 student-athletes in RSEQ and U Sports competitions. It generates revenue through ticketing, corporate sponsorships, philanthropy, an annual golf tournament, and premium loge rentals.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2002
- HeadquartersMontréal, Canada
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What Carabins does
Carabins de l'Université de Montréal is the sports excellence program of Université de Montréal, operating as a non-profit university athletic department. The program fields 23 teams across football, flag football, soccer, rugby, volleyball, hockey, basketball, golf, swimming, athletics, tennis, badminton, cross-country, cheerleading, and other sports, serving 510 student-athletes drawn from Université de Montréal, HEC Montréal, and Polytechnique Montréal. It competes in the RSEQ (Quebec) and U Sports (national) conferences, and has won three Vanier Cup national football championships (2014, 2023, 2025), with 13 former players on CFL rosters in 2026 — the second-highest total among U Sports programs. The program operates from the CEPSUM complex (inaugurated in 1976 for the Montreal Olympic Games), which includes a 5,100-seat outdoor stadium, an indoor arena, Olympic swimming pool, and dedicated strength and conditioning facilities.
Revenue is generated through four primary streams: ticketing across all sports (mobile-first platform with student discounts), corporate sponsorships (71+ named partners including Pomerleau, Bombardier, Bell Textron, National Bank, and Molson Coors), philanthropy and planned giving (life insurance donations, major financing campaign), and an annual golf tournament that has cumulatively raised CAD $1,523,400 since 2021 (CAD $264,550 in the 2026 edition alone). Premium loge rentals — season rentals at CAD $10,500–$12,000 — provide a fourth commercial layer. Customer segments split roughly between student-athletes (the primary user base), corporate partners seeking brand association and hospitality, alumni/donors contributing via planned giving, and game-day consumers purchasing tickets or loges. The product surface includes the core sport program plus ancillary offerings: the Clinique de physiothérapie et de médecine du sport du CEPSUM, the private Salle d'entraînement Robert Panet-Raymond, mobile ticketing, and the Parcours Leadership Carabins leadership track. There is no proprietary technology stack; operations are administrative and event-driven rather than platform-driven.
Carabins firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Carabins
- Legal name
- Carabins de l'Université de Montréal
- Website
- https://carabins.umontreal.ca
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2002
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Carabins is the non-profit sports excellence program of Université de Montréal, fielding 23 teams and 510 student-athletes in RSEQ and U Sports competitions. It generates revenue through ticketing, corporate sponsorships, philanthropy, an annual golf tournament, and premium loge rentals.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Carabins industry classification
Industry- Product category
- University Sports Program
- NAICS
- Sports Teams and Clubs (711211), Spectator Sports (71121), Sports and Recreation Instruction (61162)
- SIC
- Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Athletics Fundraising, Sponsorships & NIL Support (EDALAIAN)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Sports Fundraising & Development Services (Foundations, NIL Collectives Support) (MPAKAKAK), Sponsorship Sales, Valuation & Analytics Services (Rights Sales, Measurement, Consulting) (MPAKALAK), Local Amateur Clubs & Community Sports Organizations (MPAKACAE)
Keywords
Where Carabins is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Montréal
- HQ country
- Canada
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Carabins business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Ticket Sales: Revenue from sale of tickets for home games across all sports (football, soccer, rugby, volleyball, hockey, flag football, and others). Mobile ticketing platform with customer portal.
- Corporate Sponsorships: Corporate partnerships with companies including Pomerleau, Bombardier, Bell Textron, National Bank, Molson Coors, and 71+ other partners. Includes tournament sponsors, loge naming rights, and marketing partnerships.
- Philanthropy and Donations: Planned giving program including life insurance donations (e.g., $75,000 planned gift from Stéphanie Barker). Annual fundraising campaigns and major financing campaign.
- Golf Tournament: Annual golf tournament fundraiser. 2026 edition raised $264,550. Since 2021, cumulative total of $1,523,400 raised through annual golf tournaments.
- Loge Rentals: Premium loge rentals for home games. Season rentals ($10,500-$12,000), per-match rentals ($1,800-$2,200), and premium match rentals ($2,000-$2,200). Includes food and beverage service.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Annual | Loge 1 - Season rental for 18 people (12 seated) |
| One time/ perpetual license | Annual | Loge 2 - Season rental for 20 people (12 seated) |
| One time/ perpetual license | Annual | Loge 3 - Season rental for 20 people (12 seated) |
| Unit Pricing | Multi-year contract | Premium matches include Rouge et Or game, provincial semi-final, Coupe Jacques-Dussault, and Coupe Uteck |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels8 records
Carabins product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Carabins de l'Université de Montréal is a multi-sport university excellence program operating 22 official teams (plus sports clubs) across football, flag football, soccer, rugby, volleyball, hockey, golf, swimming, and more, serving 510 student-athletes from UdeM, HEC Montréal, and Polytechnique Montréal. Complementary offerings include premium private loge rentals at home games, a sports medicine and physiotherapy clinic, a high-performance training facility, a structured leadership development track, and a mobile ticketing platform. The program is funded through ticket sales, corporate sponsorships, philanthropic donations, and an annual golf tournament.
Product overview
Carabins de l'Université de Montréal is a multi-sport excellence program comprising 23 university-level athletic teams competing across football, flag football, soccer, volleyball, rugby, hockey, basketball, swimming, athletics, golf, tennis, badminton, cross-country, cheerleading, rowing, and more. The program integrates elite competitive sports with academic support and personal development for students at Université de Montréal, HEC Montréal, and Polytechnique Montréal. Its portfolio includes core competitive team programs, premium hospitality offerings (Loges Carabins private suites), a sports medicine and physiotherapy clinic (Clinique du CEPSUM), a dedicated high-performance training facility (Salle Robert Panet-Raymond), the full CEPSUM sports complex, and a structured leadership development track (Parcours Leadership Carabins). Ticketing for all events is managed through a mobile-first online platform.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Carabins Sport d'Excellence Program A multi-sport university excellence program at Université de Montréal encompassing 22 official teams (plus sports clubs) across football, flag football, soccer, rugby, volleyball, hockey, basketball, swimming, track and field, golf, tennis, badminton, cross-country, cheerleading, and rowing. The program integrates competitive athletics with academic support and leadership development for approximately 510 student-athletes from UdeM, HEC Montréal, and Polytechnique Montréal.
- Loges Carabins (Private Suites) Premium private suite rentals for home games at CEPSUM, offering exclusive viewing experiences with included food, beverages, and priority access. Three tiered loges available as season-long leases, per-match bookings, or for naming-rights sponsorships.
- Clinique de physiothérapie et de médecine du sport du CEPSUM Sports medicine and physiotherapy clinic located within CEPSUM, serving both Carabins student-athletes and the broader metropolitan community. Services include sports physiotherapy, sports medicine, massage therapy, orthopedics, pediatric sports medicine, physiatry, and osteopathy.
- Carabins Ticket Sales (Billetterie) Online ticketing platform for all Carabins home games across all sports, featuring mobile ticket delivery, account management via the client portal, and ticket transfer capabilities.
- Salle d'entraînement Robert Panet-Raymond State-of-the-art strength and conditioning facility reserved exclusively for Carabins student-athletes, featuring Olympic platforms, cable machines, cardio equipment, and aerobic training zones designed for elite athletic performance.
- Parcours Leadership Carabins Structured leadership development track offered within the Carabins sport excellence program, designed to cultivate leadership skills among student-athletes beyond their athletic and academic pursuits.
- Tournoi de golf annuel des Carabins Annual flagship fundraising golf tournament for Carabins, attracting 150+ golfers and 50+ student-athlete volunteers, with Gold, Silver, and Bronze sponsorship tiers and corporate partner participation. The 2026 edition raised $264,550.
Quantifiable outcome
- 13 former Carabins in CFL for 2026 season (2nd highest in U Sports)
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Carabins
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Carabins technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Carabins partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- PomerleaucoreGold partner of the 2026 Golf Tournament. Martin Jacques, Chief Building Operations Officer, served as co-president of the tournament. Pomerleau is a major Quebec construction company and represents exceptional corporate leadership and community engagement.
- Université de MontréalcoreMain institutional partner. Daniel Jutras, Rector of Université de Montréal, served as co-president of 2026 golf tournament. Program operates on UdeM campus at CEPSUM.
- HEC MontréalcoreAffiliated institution within the campus. Part of the three-institution campus (UdeM, HEC Montréal, Polytechnique Montréal) that Carabins represent.
- Polytechnique MontréalcoreAffiliated engineering school within the campus. Part of the three-institution campus that Carabins represent. Maud Cohen, Director General of Polytechnique, participated in 2026 golf tournament.
- BombardierminorCorporate partner of golf tournament. Represented by Julien Boudreault, VP Program Management and President of Carabins Alumni Circle.
- Bell Textron Canada LtéeminorCorporate partner of 2026 golf tournament.
- Molson Coors CanadaminorCorporate partner and beverage supplier for events.
- RosdevminorCorporate partner. Sal Frantino, EVP and CFO, participated in 2026 golf tournament.
- St-HubertminorFood partner offering 15% discount to game attendees at Côte-des-Neiges location.
- Poulet RougeminorFood partner offering 10% discount at multiple locations (Côte-des-Neiges, Mont-Royal, Décarie, Royalmount) to game attendees.
- Pizza Hut Van HorneminorFood partner offering 15% discount with code 015 for game ticket holders.
- CEPSUMcoreCentre d'éducation physique et des sports de l'Université de Montréal. Home venue and administrative partner. Inaugurated 1976 for Olympic Games. One of Canada's largest sports complexes.
- Baron (Jewelry)minorCompany that produces championship rings for football team. Produced 3rd Vanier Cup ring with 208 stones, designed using 3D printing technology.
- 71+ Golf Tournament PartnersminorAdditional tournament partners including Aon, Novacap Management, Mercer, Robinson Sheppard Shapiro, Rogers Sports & Media, Telus Santé, and many others listed as participants.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Carabins competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Gaiters de Bishop's: Bishop's University's RSEQ/U Sports program. Smaller-scale but directly comparable in operating model (university-run multi-sport program with sponsorship and ticket revenue), competing in the same Quebec conference.
- Thunderbirds de UBC: University of British Columbia's multi-sport program, one of the largest in U Sports. Comparable multi-sport excellence scope, sponsorship scale, and competition footprint, regularly facing Carabins in U Sports national championships.
- Stingers de Concordia: Concordia University's multi-sport program competing in RSEQ and U Sports. Direct Montreal-market rival overlapping with Carabins in recruiting, sponsor relationships, and fan base, including direct competition in women's flag football (2026 national final).
- Huskies de Saint Mary's: Saint Mary's University's multi-sport Atlantic Canada program. Comparable in operating model (university-run multi-sport program, corporate partnerships, ticket revenue) and competes in the same U Sports national structure.
- Ravens de Carleton: Carleton University's multi-sport program and one of the strongest U Sports football programs nationally. Comparable multi-sport excellence model, with overlapping competition in national championships and shared CFL draft pipeline.
- Dinos de Calgary: University of Calgary's multi-sport program competing in Canada West and U Sports. Comparable multi-sport excellence program model with corporate sponsorship, ticketing, and philanthropy revenue streams, and a regular U Sports football and Vanier Cup competitor.
- Mustangs de Western: Western University's multi-sport program and historic U Sports football power. Comparable scale, multi-sport portfolio, and revenue mix (corporate sponsors, tickets, donations), and a direct competitor in national football championships.
- Citadins de l'UQAM: UQAM's university sports program competing in RSEQ and U Sports. Montreal-based peer with similar multi-sport scope and student-athlete population, competing for the same provincial talent pool and provincial sponsor attention.
- Redbirds de McGill: McGill University's multi-sport program and another RSEQ/U Sports competitor in Montreal. Comparable in scale and operating model, competing with Carabins for student-athletes, fans, and corporate sponsors in the same metropolitan market.
- Rouge et Or de l'Université Laval: University of Laval's multi-sport excellence program and Carabins' primary RSEQ/U Sports rival. Comparable in scale, sport offering, and revenue model (corporate partnerships, tickets, philanthropy), and the dominant benchmark Carabins is measured against in Quebec university sports.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Carabins social profiles
Digital presenceCarabins financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Carabins leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles16 records
Carabins funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Carabins M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Carabins
What does Carabins do?
Carabins de l'Université de Montréal is a multi-sport university excellence program operating 22 official teams (plus sports clubs) across football, flag football, soccer, rugby, volleyball, hockey, golf, swimming, and more, serving 510 student-athletes from UdeM, HEC Montréal, and Polytechnique Montréal. Complementary offerings include premium private loge rentals at home games, a sports medicine and physiotherapy clinic, a high-performance training facility, a structured leadership development track, and a mobile ticketing platform. The program is funded through ticket sales, corporate sponsorships, philanthropic donations, and an annual golf tournament.
Is Carabins a public or private company?
Carabins is a private company. It is classified as state government owned and is currently operating.
When was Carabins founded?
Carabins was founded in 2002. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Carabins based?
Carabins is headquartered in Montréal, Canada, in the North America region.
How does Carabins make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Ticket Sales are the primary driver. The others are corporate Sponsorships, philanthropy and Donations, golf Tournament and loge Rentals.
Who are Carabins's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Gaiters de Bishop's, Thunderbirds de UBC, Stingers de Concordia, Huskies de Saint Mary's, Ravens de Carleton, Dinos de Calgary, Mustangs de Western, Citadins de l'UQAM, Redbirds de McGill and Rouge et Or de l'Université Laval.
Does Carabins have an API?
No public API is recorded for Carabins.
What industry is Carabins in?
Carabins's product category is University Sports Program. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDALAIAN, Athletics Fundraising, Sponsorships & NIL Support, with a secondary code of MPAKAKAK, Sports Fundraising & Development Services (Foundations, NIL Collectives Support). Its NAICS code is 711211 and its SIC code is 7900.