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 – February 1, 2024
The City of Calgary and its partners have released the final agreements for the new modern event centre and community improvements in Calgary’s Culture + Entertainment District. For more information, visit the agreements page.
The design phase of the event centre, community rink, and surrounding public plazas is well underway. The project team continues to work on finalizing a construction schedule that will highlight when major milestones might occur, such as development permit, design reveal, and ground-breaking. While the schedule is still being finalized and subject to change, we expect to share the design and break ground in 2024.
January marked the start of enabling works and various preparation activities to ensure the site is ready for construction later this year. This includes relocating 5 Street S.E. (between 14 Avenue S.E. and 12 Avenue S.E.) approximately half a block to the east, to become 5A Street S.E. This move is necessary to make the space and room necessary for the full 10-acre event centre block.
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 |
|---|---|---|
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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.
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
Other capital projects
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Executed in two phases, ACT is the development of a new facility (the Road House), and the revitalization of the Resident House which is currently home to six resident companies. This will ensure Arts Commons remains a key contributor to our city’s social, economic, cultural and intellectual life and well-being.
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The expansion of the venue, projected to be completed in 2024, will provide Calgary with a world class event and convention venue that will attract large national and international conventions and conferences.
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A multi-sport fieldhouse at Foothills Athletic Park addresses the need for indoor practice and play space and offers opportunities to attract major sporting competitions.
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The Green Line is Calgary's next light rail transit (LRT) line.
It is also the largest infrastructure investment in our city’s history. It comes with $5.5 billion in commitments from the Government of Canada, Government of Alberta and City of Calgary.