Event Centre
Priority Capital Projects Event Centre
More than an event centre, this project is a significant phase of the Culture + Entertainment District, located in the Rivers District, downtown Calgary. 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 recovery.
A new and modern event centre positions Calgary to be a host city that attracts bigger and more events in the future. It contributes to building culture and vibrancy for more people to experience, supporting more of our local economy.
The Project
A modern event centre and improvements to the Rivers District is part of a total package that supports Calgary’s downtown recovery. It gives downtown momentum to be a place for great experiences and programs for all Calgarians and ages.
City Administration will begin formal discussions on definitive agreements with all parties, which is expected to be underway through spring and summer 2023. The project team is preparing to begin the design and development of the Event Centre, as well as the supporting infrastructure in the area.
The agreements include a number of improvements to the area that support Calgary’s Downtown Plan, The River’s District vision, and the future Culture and Entertainment District.
Project update – May 18, 2023
Since the agreement in principle was announced on April 25, we’ve received a number of questions on the agreement and The City’s role. It’s exciting to see how much Calgarians are interested in this important step in city building for Calgary’s Culture + Entertainment District and Calgary’s successful future.
First and foremost, there are two separate projects that make up this important step, each with a number of elements:
- Calgary Event Centre Block
- Culture + Entertainment District improvements (C+E District)
We’ve created a separate web page – Calgary.ca/ecagreement – that provides more details on each of these projects. Once the agreements are finalized, we will provide further details on the work and schedule moving forward.
It’s a significant investment and the next step in Calgary’s renewal as a global city and international destination. It’s also one piece of a total package that supports Calgary’s downtown recovery.
The C+E District will feature a suite of public amenities and public infrastructure, including a new community rink, improvements to public spaces and connections to The Rivers District, and commercial opportunities, all of which will be anchored by a new publicly-owned modern Event Centre and entertainment facility.
This generational investment will play a significant role in unlocking the potential of Calgary’s downtown and completing the Rivers District Master Plan. The results will be a vibrant area and entertainment destination for everyone who call Calgary home now, the next generation of Calgarians and those who visit Calgary in the future.
- Read the detailed Council cover report
- Read the formerly restricted recommendations
- Read the previous Council direction
We are committed to transparency, while respecting the four parties who are still negotiating the final agreements. We will always provide information publicly as soon as it’s avaialble throughout work on the agreements and after they are finalized later this summer.
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 |
|---|---|---|
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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.
Timeline
Click on the red icons to learn more:
Committee and third party
Event Centre Committee
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
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
