Just two weeks after an annual report revealed the Brumbies almost went broke, new figures show the club generated $4.27 million for Canberra businesses this year, almost three times the amount it receives in ACT government funding.

This is in stark contrast with the government's loss on its GWS Giants investment this season, after the AFL club generated almost $1 million less for Canberra's economy than its ACT funding. The Giants and the ACT government have a 10-year deal and taxpayers forked out $2.35 million this year, but GWS returned only about $1.3 million from four games in the capital. The Brumbies this year received $1.8 million from the government but paid $600,000 to rent Canberra Stadium.

Brumbies chairman Sean Hammond said the $4 million injection into the economy from Super Rugby home games was not enough and insisted the club's new chief executive would be required to make the Brumbies No.1.

''We want the Brumbies to be Canberra's team,'' he said. ''Our players live here, their children go to school here and people see them every day … We're going to try to do things differently next year to improve everything.''

The Repucom report - jointly commissioned by the Brumbies and the government - was based on a survey of 1000 people and found:

■ The Brumbies' eight home games generated $4.27 million in direct expenditure in Canberra;

■ There were 128,323 spectators at the matches, of which 13 per cent were from interstate or overseas;

■ 14,586 people visited Canberra just to watch a Brumbies match, and 8672 stayed overnight, and;

■ On average, the 8672 overnight visitors spent $390 in Canberra and stayed 1.72 nights.

The Brumbies will appoint a new chief executive next year, after applications close on January 10.

''Our shop is open eight times next year and we need to make every experience a winner financially,'' Hammond said. ''The crowds were OK this year but we need them to improve and we need to reinvigorate everything.''

The Brumbies reported an operating loss of $141,085 this year. Had it not been for the $11,375,000 sale of their Griffith headquarters, the club could have been broke. The financial losses this year were mainly because of a drop in crowd numbers and corporate hospitality on match days. The Brumbies have changed match-day operations companies for the first time in more than a decade as they try to attract new members and create a new experience.

It is also hoped the Brumbies' relationship with the University of Canberra will create a support base and the Super Rugby franchise is trying to get 2500 members of the university's supporter group - rUCkus - at the season opener against the Queensland Reds on February 22. ''We have a broad footprint through the community and economy … hopefully our relationship with the university attracts more people to the games and more students to Canberra,'' Hammond said.

The report on Brumbies' home games shows each match generated $533,000 for Canberra businesses. The figures do not include the economic impact of the blockbuster clash against the British and Irish Lions, which attracted 21,000 fans in June, or the home semi-final.

The GWS Giants released a similar report this year, showing the AFL club's visits to the capital inject almost $330,000 a game.

Reports earlier this year on Canberra's centenary events said the Anzac rugby league Test generated $1.8 million in direct spending in the ACT economy after more than 4000 visitors attended the Australia-New Zealand clash.

The Women's Australian Open at Royal Canberra in February was watched in up to 97 million houses in 22 countries, generating up to $11.7 million in publicity.