No matter who hoists the Grey Cup at Investors Group Field the Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce will celebrate a victory that will pay dividends beyond Sunday.

Economic Development Winnipeg estimates the Canadian Football League championship will bring 28,000 guests to our city, many of whom will visit at least a few days leading up to Sunday’s game.

The projected economic impact locally is $85.5 million, said the chamber’s executive vice president, Loren Remillard.

The biggest winners will be restaurants and hotels, but attractions can also expect a spinoff, Remillard said.

“This is going to be an opportunity for a lot of people to check out the Canadian Museum for Human Rights and the (Assiniboine Park) Zoo’s Journey to Churchill,” he said.

“We know that based on Grey Cups we’ve hosted as well as other cities, there is a big boost to the retail community. Another big one is transportation. People have to get to and from the game as well as their hotel and restaurants.”

Winnipeg’s track record in hosting large events, including FIFA Women’s World Cup soccer games last summer, is proof it can handle the influx of visitors, Remillard said.

“That’s the one great thing about Winnipeg and why when we go after these events we get them, because we do have that reputation based on experience of being able to deliver them at a high level of quality,” he said.

FIFA had a larger impact on the hotel industry than the Grey Cup in terms of the duration of visits, said Jim Baker, president and CEO of the Manitoba Hotel Association, but the event compares to when Winnipeg hosted the Junos last year.

“Hotels are going to be full in the downtown area and there are actually more hotel rooms in the west Winnipeg area than there are downtown,” Baker said. “People tend to like brand names because then they get loyalty points.

“Research shows that 24% of what a visitor spends is on accommodations. There’s a big chunk of cash that gets spread around taxis, restaurants and Manitoba Liquor and Lotteries.”

It’s actually been easier to get a room since playoffs started and teams were eliminated, he said. All teams have a hospitality rooms and fans generally book rooms where their teams are based.

Hosting the Grey Cup gives the city a chance to attract new business, Remillard said.

“When a company sets up shop in a new city, studies show their first experience with a city came as a tourist,” he said. “This is an opportunity for a lot of them to come to Winnipeg and get passed the stereotype and get to experience the reality that is Winnipeg.”

Then there is there is the impact of having millions watching the game on TV. Part of the game-day package, as well as coverage leading up to the game will put Winnipeg in the spotlight.

“It’s the end of November and they’re going to be see people out there having a great time, because that is the Winnipeg experience – we have embraced our winter culture and we celebrate it for all that it affords us,” Remillard said.

A bonus of hosting the event is how it builds the city’s volunteer capacity as Winnipeg prepares to host the Canada Summer Games in 2017, he said, adding Winnipeg has the infrastructure and capacity to chase down any major sporting event.

Remillard figures it’s “only a matter of time” until the Winnipeg Jets host the NHL draft, which would be another major score for the economy.

“But I hope we get the Stanley Cup before we get the draft,” he said.