Gay Games VI budget comparison

by Joe Clark

Sydney

Income (AU$ first, US$ second; figures in thousands) Analysis

Registration fees 1745 1309

Ticket sales 3915 2937

Marketing 1350 1013

COMPRISING:
Advertising 250 188

TV rights 500 375 Posits interest from Australian and U.S. networks.

Merchandising, licenses 600 450

Fundraising, sponsorship 3300 2476

COMPRISING:
Government 1500 1125

Cultural subsidies 300 225 Mostly grants from the Australia Council and the like.

Corporate 750 563 Names only "Qantas Airways, who are a major sponsor of this bid."

Events fundraising 500 375 AU$100,000 a year from "community-based fundraising events."

"Community" 250 188 Nebulous. Gather this much money over five years "from local and community businesses, as well as a professionally-managed individual donor program."

TOTAL INCOME

10,310

7733

Expenditures

Sports events 1578 1184 Outspends parties and ceremonies by 3.8%.

Cultural events 1160 871 Includes AU$95,000 for parties and entertainment.

Ceremonies & festivities 1520 1140

COMPRISING:
Opening ceremonies 500 375

Closing ceremonies 600 450 "Both venue and entertainment expenses for the Closing Ceremony will be greater than those of the Opening Ceremony."

Festivities & parties 420 315

Administration 3080 2312 Also includes AU$140,000 for pre-Games conferences. Strongly hints these will be all expenses-paid, including one junket for the FOGG board before 2002.

COMPRISING,
inter alia:
Consultants 180 113

Office costs 300 225

Insurance 230 173

Personnel 1730 1298

Marketing 1400 1051

COMPRISING,
inter alia:
Outreach program 500 375

Advertising & promotion 200 150

Other 635 476 Includes FOGG fee calculated on TV rights, merchandising, and corporate sponsorship-- not on every source of income.

5% contingency 500 375

TOTAL EXPENDITURES

9873

7409

Difference 437 326

Dallas

Income (all figures thousands of US$) Analysis

Registration fees 1800

Ticket sales 2025

Program 225

Merchandise 800

Advertising & sponsorship 3000 Offers a heavily detailed multi-tier plan for corporate sponsorship that even the March of Dimes, the United Way, or the American Cancer Society would consider ambitious. Tempers this optimism by noting an expectation of few sponsors paying a lot each. Also hopes for $250 each from 250 small businesses.

TOTAL INCOME
7850

Expenditures

Space rental 1618

Equipment rental 350

Advertising & promotion 2500

Mail 250

Other, comprising mail, sports officials, insurance, medals, inter alia 1010

Staff salaries 2172 Range: $65,000 (executive director) to $20,000 (receptionist). Somewhat ambiguously claims that staff costs will be $543,000 per year for four years and six months.

Entertainment 150

FOGG license 125 Quoted as a flat fee. (Later amended in an E-mail to me as a percentage of income.)

Miscellaneous 75

TOTAL EXPENDITURES

7650.7

Difference 199.3

Montreal

Income (all years from present to 2002, in thousands of US$) Analysis

Registration fees 1526.35 15,235 participants in sports alone predicted, but 13,000 budgeted for.

Tickets 2988 Includes a total 20,300 US$10 tickets.

Advertising 225

"Derivatives" 265

Rentals, concessions 50

Grants 1900

COMPRISING:
Federal 750

Provincial 750

City of Montreal 400

Other 0 [sic]

Sponsors, fundraising 1900

Donations 175.75

TOTAL INCOME

9029.83

Expenses

Administration 2615

COMPRISING,
inter alia:
Salaries and fringe benefits 2070 Has written assurance of federal financial assistance by 1998 in hiring (and training?).

Sports 765

Culture 440

Medals 120

User fees (transportation and medical services) 375

Various communications 1205

Opening ceremonies 410

Closing ceremonies 590

Other parties 180

Other 875.5

14% contingency 1100.33

TOTAL EXPENSES

9029.83

Difference 0

Long Beach

Income (in thousands of US$)
Analysis

Registration fees 1900 21,000 expected athletes. 20,000 will pay $95, which includes, inter alia, a "background check fee."

Event fees 500

Ticket sales 11,225

Advertising 1350

COMPRISING,
inter alia:
Billboards 500

"Licensing/production" 7375 Lots of vague musing about how "gays and lesbians have made tremendous strides in acceptance over the last several years," meaning "we will be substantially more mainstreamed."

COMPRISING:
Post-Games videos & books 375

Cable TV 2000

Network TV 4000

Merchandise 1000

Merchandise sales & Expo 7525

Games Park 2600 "Using the Centennial Park from the Atlanta Games as a guide...."

Fundraising 7000 Includes "faux athletic events" ("Celebrity events with popular Named entertainment can be a source of income," we are told unhelpfully) and international megastar concerts raking in $2 mil profit each.

Contributions 6025 "Additionally Games 2002 will generate contributions from private and government sources by using proven methods," which apparently do not include securing a letter of interest in advance.

COMPRISING,
inter alia:
Government grants 175

Corporate sponsors 4500

TOTAL INCOME

45,500

Expenditures

Service fees 3180 Includes legal, accounting, "$5,000" for "pre-bid registration fee," permits, and royalties. Flat $125,000 fee to FOGG.

Facility rentals 3515

Printing, production 5409.75 Meticulously itemized-- $66,000 for jewelry, for example.

Equipment purchase and rental 1430

COMPRISING,
inter alia:
Theatrical equipment 250

Athletic equipment 50

Computers 500

Promotion 6385

COMPRISING,
inter alia:
Entertainment 300

Uniforms 100

Proposal preparation 85

Logistics 4255.073 $3,110,073 (73%) for security. 150 $4,200 buses, but $89,600 to transport VIPs.

Administration 8580

COMPRISING,
inter alia:
Staff salaries 5950 "We will be recruiting highly skilled individuals to be officers and employees of the corporation. In this manner we will be different from any previously held Games."

Staff expenses 150

"Telephones/Web site support" 250

Other 2875

COMPRISING,
inter alia:
Fundraising 1500 Remember, this is an expense.

Contingency 200 Flat figure, not percentage.

Media centre 500 May not need that much if the Long Beach Grand Prix media centre can be used.

TOTAL EXPENSES

36,129.823

Difference 9370.177

The Long Beach bid committee then deducts the following from its profit figure:

FOGG fee (5%) 2275

Gay Games Park, City of Long Beach 1000

Foundation endowment 6095.177

Toronto

Income (C$ first, US$ second, in thousands) Analysis

Registration fees 1500 1102.5 15,000 athletes expected.

Ticket sales 1992 1464.12

Official program 270 198.45

Merchandise 272 199.92

Sponsorship & fundraising 5866 4311.51

COMPRISING:
Corporate 4000 2940 Government grants are pointedly listed as nil.

"Private donors and small business" 800 588

"Special fundraising events"

Sydney
Income (AU$ first, US$ second; figures in thousands)			Analysis
Registration fees	1745	1309
Ticket sales	3915	2937
Marketing	1350	1013
COMPRISING: Advertising	250	188
TV rights	500	375	Posits interest from Australian and U.S. networks.
Merchandising, licenses	600	450
Fundraising, sponsorship	3300	2476
COMPRISING: Government	1500	1125
Cultural subsidies	300	225	Mostly grants from the Australia Council and the like.
Corporate	750	563	Names only "Qantas Airways, who are a major sponsor of this bid."
Events fundraising	500	375	AU$100,000 a year from "community-based fundraising events."
"Community"	250	188	Nebulous. Gather this much money over five years "from local and community businesses, as well as a professionally-managed individual donor program."
TOTAL INCOME	10,310	7733

Expenditures
Sports events	1578	1184	Outspends parties and ceremonies by 3.8%.
Cultural events	1160	871	Includes AU$95,000 for parties and entertainment.
Ceremonies & festivities	1520	1140
COMPRISING: Opening ceremonies	500	375
Closing ceremonies	600	450	"Both venue and entertainment expenses for the Closing Ceremony will be greater than those of the Opening Ceremony."
Festivities & parties	420	315
Administration	3080	2312	Also includes AU$140,000 for pre-Games conferences. Strongly hints these will be all expenses-paid, including one junket for the FOGG board before 2002.
COMPRISING, inter alia: Consultants	180	113
Office costs	300	225
Insurance	230	173
Personnel	1730	1298
Marketing	1400	1051
COMPRISING, inter alia: Outreach program	500	375
Advertising & promotion	200	150
Other	635	476	Includes FOGG fee calculated on TV rights, merchandising, and corporate sponsorship-- not on every source of income.
5% contingency	500	375
TOTAL EXPENDITURES	9873	7409
Difference	437	326

Dallas
Income (all figures thousands of US$)		Analysis
Registration fees	1800
Ticket sales	2025
Program	225
Merchandise	800
Advertising & sponsorship	3000	Offers a heavily detailed multi-tier plan for corporate sponsorship that even the March of Dimes, the United Way, or the American Cancer Society would consider ambitious. Tempers this optimism by noting an expectation of few sponsors paying a lot each. Also hopes for $250 each from 250 small businesses.
TOTAL INCOME	7850

Expenditures
Space rental	1618
Equipment rental	350
Advertising & promotion	2500
Mail	250
Other, comprising mail, sports officials, insurance, medals, inter alia	1010
Staff salaries	2172	Range: $65,000 (executive director) to $20,000 (receptionist). Somewhat ambiguously claims that staff costs will be $543,000 per year for four years and six months.
Entertainment	150
FOGG license	125	Quoted as a flat fee. (Later amended in an E-mail to me as a percentage of income.)
Miscellaneous	75
TOTAL EXPENDITURES	7650.7
Difference	199.3

Montreal
Income (all years from present to 2002, in thousands of US$)		Analysis
Registration fees	1526.35	15,235 participants in sports alone predicted, but 13,000 budgeted for.
Tickets	2988	Includes a total 20,300 US$10 tickets.
Advertising	225
"Derivatives"	265
Rentals, concessions	50
Grants	1900
COMPRISING: Federal	750
Provincial	750
City of Montreal	400
Other	0 [sic]
Sponsors, fundraising	1900
Donations	175.75
TOTAL INCOME	9029.83

Expenses
Administration	2615
COMPRISING, inter alia: Salaries and fringe benefits	2070	Has written assurance of federal financial assistance by 1998 in hiring (and training?).
Sports	765
Culture	440
Medals	120
User fees (transportation and medical services)	375
Various communications	1205
Opening ceremonies	410
Closing ceremonies	590
Other parties	180
Other	875.5
14% contingency	1100.33
TOTAL EXPENSES	9029.83
Difference	0

Long Beach
Income (in thousands of US$)		Analysis
Registration fees	1900	21,000 expected athletes. 20,000 will pay $95, which includes, inter alia, a "background check fee."
Event fees	500
Ticket sales	11,225
Advertising	1350
COMPRISING, inter alia: Billboards	500
"Licensing/production"	7375	Lots of vague musing about how "gays and lesbians have made tremendous strides in acceptance over the last several years," meaning "we will be substantially more mainstreamed."
COMPRISING: Post-Games videos & books	375
Cable TV	2000
Network TV	4000
Merchandise	1000
Merchandise sales & Expo	7525
Games Park	2600	"Using the Centennial Park from the Atlanta Games as a guide...."
Fundraising	7000	Includes "faux athletic events" ("Celebrity events with popular Named entertainment can be a source of income," we are told unhelpfully) and international megastar concerts raking in $2 mil profit each.
Contributions	6025	"Additionally Games 2002 will generate contributions from private and government sources by using proven methods," which apparently do not include securing a letter of interest in advance.
COMPRISING, inter alia: Government grants	175
Corporate sponsors	4500
TOTAL INCOME	45,500

Expenditures
Service fees	3180	Includes legal, accounting, "$5,000" for "pre-bid registration fee," permits, and royalties. Flat $125,000 fee to FOGG.
Facility rentals	3515
Printing, production	5409.75	Meticulously itemized-- $66,000 for jewelry, for example.
Equipment purchase and rental	1430
COMPRISING, inter alia: Theatrical equipment	250
Athletic equipment	50
Computers	500
Promotion	6385
COMPRISING, inter alia: Entertainment	300
Uniforms	100
Proposal preparation	85
Logistics	4255.073	$3,110,073 (73%) for security. 150 $4,200 buses, but $89,600 to transport VIPs.
Administration	8580
COMPRISING, inter alia: Staff salaries	5950	"We will be recruiting highly skilled individuals to be officers and employees of the corporation. In this manner we will be different from any previously held Games."
Staff expenses	150
"Telephones/Web site support"	250
Other	2875
COMPRISING, inter alia: Fundraising	1500	Remember, this is an expense.
Contingency	200	Flat figure, not percentage.
Media centre	500	May not need that much if the Long Beach Grand Prix media centre can be used.
TOTAL EXPENSES	36,129.823
Difference	9370.177
The Long Beach bid committee then deducts the following from its profit figure:
FOGG fee (5%)	2275
Gay Games Park, City of Long Beach	1000
Foundation endowment	6095.177

Toronto
Income (C$ first, US$ second, in thousands)			Analysis
Registration fees	1500	1102.5	15,000 athletes expected.
Ticket sales	1992	1464.12
Official program	270	198.45
Merchandise	272	199.92
Sponsorship & fundraising	5866	4311.51
COMPRISING: Corporate	4000	2940	Government grants are pointedly listed as nil.
"Private donors and small business"	800	588
"Special fundraising events"