Event Centre
Priority Capital Projects Calgary's Event Centre and Culture + Entertainment District improvements
More than an event centre, this project continues the momentum underway to develop Calgary’s emerging Event Centre and Culture + Entertainment District and one of our newest downtown communities. It is the next step in Calgary’s renewal as a global city and international destination, as part of a total package that supports the downtown’s revitalization and recovery.
The Project
Together with downtown’s only community rink, the 6 Street S.E. underpass, street improvements and new public gathering places, a modern event centre positions Calgary to be a host city that attracts new concerts, performances, festivals and events that all Calgarians can enjoy.
These investments, along with ongoing development, will directly contribute to the quality of life of the 8,000 Calgarians, who will call this developing community home, and people visiting from all corners of the city.
They contribute to Calgary’s growing public spaces and amenities downtown for more people to explore and experience. They will join the newly designed Century Gardens and Eau Claire promenade, as well as St. George’s Island and Calgary’s Riverwalk to name a few. Our growing downtown is offering more places to visit and gather that will be accessible and well used by Calgarians and those visiting from out of town.
Ensuring Calgary continues to be an affordable and attractive city where people want to live, and visit, requires thoughtful and intentional effort. This project is one of many investments that we’re making to support Calgarians, Calgary’s communities and Calgary’s downtown.
Project update – March 1, 2024
The design and planning phases are progressing in a coordinated approach to ensure a timely delivery of the Event Centre Block. We are committed to delivering this project as quickly as possible so Calgarians and visitors can begin using the new event centre, community ice rink, and neighboring amenities. It is a multi-year construction project, and every effort is being made to expedite the timeframe.
In February, the design team submitted two of three development permit applications to facilitate construction of the event centre block: a stripping and grading permit and a shoring and excavating permit. A separate development permit for the building is scheduled to be submitted in the coming months. By sequencing the permit applications in this way, we can schedule the work and trades required to begin the excavation process as soon as the design of the Event Centre Block is complete. This process creates efficiency and saves time and cost in the overall project schedule. For more information, visit the FAQ page here.
Site preparation will continue over the next several months including reconfiguration of 5 Street S.E., utility relocations, and various site clean-up activities. While the overall schedule is still being finalized, we expect to share the design and break ground in 2024.
More information on the project and district improvements can be found on the FAQ page.
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Targeted project timeline
The project team is working to finalize a construction schedule in the coming months that will highlight when major milestones might occur, such as development permit applications, design reveal, and ground-breaking. While the construction schedule is still being finalized and subject to change, we expect to share the design and break ground in 2024.
The project timeline is tentative and subject to change as the construction schedule is finalized later in 2024.
Improvements
Benefits to Calgarians
Downtown recovery
A modern event centre is part of a total package that supports Calgary’s downtown recovery
It complements and supports other projects and programs that are underway, completed, and upcoming, which together, grow and build a successful and vibrant downtown for the next 40 years and beyond:
| UNDERWAY | UPCOMING | COMPLETED |
|---|---|---|
|
Event Centre |
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|
Community Rink |
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Project background
This agreement is the culmination of more than 15 months of work, as well as the lessons learned from the first round of event centre negotiations.
Committee and third party
Event Centre Committee
On Oct. 25, 2022, as part of Council’s Organizational Meeting a new Event Centre Committee (ECC) membership was approved by Council. This Committee will continue the work already underway by the previous Committee’s members. The Event Centre Committee is comprised of five voting members:
Three Members of Council:
- Sonya Sharp; Councillor
- Andre Chabot; Councillor
- Terry Wong; Councillor
Two public members:
- Deborah Yedlin; President & CEO, Calgary Chamber of Commerce
- Brad Parry; President & CEO, Calgary Economic Development
The first ECC was held on April 4, 2022, at which time Councillor Sharp was confirmed as Chair and Deborah Yedlin as Vice Chair.
Third Party
The City and the Calgary Sports and Entertainment Corporation have agreed to begin formal discussions with a fresh start towards a new event centre. We are pleased to move forward with CSEC with a collaborative approach to identify mutual interests and beneficial opportunities.
This milestone could not have happened without the efforts of the third party, whose team included Guy Huntingford, John Fisher, and Phil Swift, along with The City’s Event Centre Team and CSEC.
We are grateful for the third-party’s efforts, which has fulfilled Council’s original direction and their mandate to determine if there is a path forward to a new Event Centre with CSEC.
Project Partners
