Behind the MLS Ambition Rankings: Montreal Impact
How much money has your team spent in the past five years on youth development? How much in the past year?
The club has spent approximately $1.5 million per year over the past three years on player development.
How many homegrown players have you signed? How many have played in MLS league games for your first team?
Since the club entered MLS in 2012, we have signed a total of 10 homegrown players with the first team. We currently have six on our roster. All six are also part of the national team program, whether it be the U-20 team or senior team.
How many season-ticket holders do you have? How many did you have in 2016?
In 2016, the club had 9,500 season ticket holders (members). This year, with a renewal rate of 85% and new sales, we are currently at 9,200.
Where does your first team train? Did you build the training facility yourself? If so, how much did it cost?
The first team and all other nine Impact teams train at our new facility, Centre Nutrilait. The center was an old historic building near downtown Montreal that was completely refurbished at the cost of $11.9 million. The new facility has not only proven to be instrumental in having all the teams under the same roof, but it has been vital in attracting marquee players to the first team and also hosting prestigious international teams like Chelsea, Real Madrid and AS Roma for their preseason. The center also has a fully operational kitchen, and breakfast and meals are served to all players on a daily basis.
Did your team build its own stadium? If yes, how much money did the team spend on the stadium?
Saputo Stadium was built in Montreal’s Olympic Park, one of the biggest tourist attractions in the city. The total cost for the stadium was $41 million.
Do you have a USL affiliate? How big is your budget this year for your USL team?
We no longer have a USL team. However, we are currently affiliated to Ottawa Fury FC and have three players from our Academy under contract with them. Our U-16 and U-18 teams both play in the USSDA.
How much money have you spent in the three previous years on Designated Players (transfer fees and salary)? How much are you spending on Designated Players this year?
This information is confidential. However, over the years, we have signed established international players such as Marco Di Vaio, Ignacio Piatti, Didier Drogba, Laurent Ciman, Alessandro Nesta and, more recently, Blerim Dzemaili (July).
How much TAM have you spent since its inception in the middle of 2015 (including this year)?
This information is confidential.
How would you describe your investment in and use of data analytics? How many full-time analytics employees do you have?
Since 2014, we have had a full-time person for data analytics. We have one performance analyst full time.
Who is your jersey sponsor? What’s your total income on sponsorships this season?
Our jersey sponsor is BMO (Banque de Montréal). The amount is confidential.
Local TV deal: How many of your games this season are shown on local television? How much is your local TV deal worth per season? How big is your budget for presenting local TV broadcasts? Do your broadcasters travel on the road for local TV broadcasts?
All 34 Montreal Impact games are on TVA Sports this year, which is also the official French broadcaster of MLS. Furthermore, some Impact games are also broadcast locally, in English, on TSN and CTV.
The club’s partnership with TVA Sports is part of a larger agreement that includes an important telecommunications component, with notably sister company Vidéotron as the official telecom provider.
Every televised home game on TVA Sports has a full crew. As for away matches, one sideline reporter travels to all road games (English and French).
All 34 games are also broadcast live on the radio, in French and English, on Montreal’s leading radio stations.
How many front-office employees does your team have? How many have you added or subtracted in the past year?
The club currently has a total of 130 full-time employees: half are with the technical department and half are administrative employees.
What other sorts of details should we know about your club that are a good barometer of the club’s ambition?
The club always strives to place the team in the best possible environment for success.
On top of the usual coaching staff and athletic therapists, we also have a technical staff that includes a nutritionist, a mental strength coach and a chef. All regularly travel with the team.
Last year, our groundskeeper was with the team throughout the team’s training camp to make sure the pitch was in the best conditions.
We have a medical staff composed of 10 professionals, including a Head of therapy and rehabilitation hired this year to supervise, standardize and coordinate the approach with all our teams.
A videographer also travels to every road game.
