EVENT CENTRE FAQS

GENERAL DETAILS

Where will this project be located?
The event centre will be located in the Rivers District and serve as a complementary anchor to the BMO Centre Expansion. Together, these two modernized facilities will work with the other improvements in the area, such as 17 Avenue S., Victoria Park Station, Central Library and Studio Bell, as well as the Arts Commons Transformation, to support and contribute to Calgary's downtown recovery. A map of the proposed location can be found on the
Event Centre web page
.
What is the cost of this project?
This project and the associated costs are for more than just an event centre. This agreement will help The City realize the goal of creating a vibrant culture and entertainment district that will include the event centre, indoor and outdoor public gathering places and a community rink for public use. This plan also includes a major investment in the surrounding infrastructure to serve the district and improve transportation options.
The City has agreed to invest $537.3 million in this project, which represents 44% of the total cost. CSEC and the province are contributing a combined $686.0 million representing 56% of the total cost. For every $1.00 invested by the City of Calgary, our partners will be investing $1.28.
What is the timeline of the project?
A detailed timeline of the negotiations has been posted to the Event Centre web page. The next stage of the project will be the completion of the definitive agreements which should happen throughout the spring/summer of 2023.
What are definitive agreements?
The City has completed the initial negotiation process which has resulted in the signing of non-binding memorandums of understanding (MOUs) with the project parties including CSEC, the Calgary Stampede and the Province of Alberta. Now that those initial agreements are in place, The City is now working on completing binding agreements with the parties. These definitive agreements should be completed throughout the spring/summer.
What is the community benefit of this project?
This agreement represents a generational investment in our city that will create a place where both Calgarians and visitors can make lifelong memories. The improvements in the area will include:
Why will some of the documents remain confidential?
One of the key pillars of this project has been transparency and The City continues to strive to provide as much information on the project as possible. However, like any business deal, there are some documents that must remain confidential as they contain sensitive business information about The City and our partners.
As the development of this project progresses, we will continue to provide as much information as possible.
What types of events and programs will take place at the new Event Centre?
In addition to sporting events, such as professional and amateur hockey and lacrosse, and art events, such as concerts and shows, there will now be new opportunities to host "A-class" concerts and events from around the world that are unable to be accommodated in the aging Saddledome. The outdoor and indoor public plazas also offer new venues to host events, artists and shows. A modern event centre ultimately becomes a more attractive destination for more events that can be experienced by more people - those who live here now and those visiting in the future.
Can the Saddledome be repaired?
We understand Calgarian's connection with the Saddledome as it has been an iconic piece of our skyline for over 40 years. However, the Saddledome is no longer capable of hosting the "A-class" events that our city would like to attract and that Calgarians are looking for. Unfortunately, the changes required to update the Saddledome are not possible, so it is time to replace the facility.
What was our consultation process?
All parties involved in the Culture and Entertainment District and contemplated Event Centre deal structure acknowledge that public engagement has previously occurred with respect to an event centre over the last number of years, and this work will be applied as the Project proceeds.
How will Indigenous communities be engaged in the design and development of the Event Centre?
The City is committed to fulfilling the calls to action as referenced by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. Once the Event Centre progresses to the next stages of design and development, all parties are committed to working closely with local Indigenous communities on a plan forward.

DEAL FINANCING

What is the cost of this project?
This project and the associated costs are for more than just an event centre. This agreement will help The City realize the goal of creating a vibrant culture and entertainment district that will include the event centre, indoor and outdoor public gathering places and a community rink for public use. This plan also includes a major investment in the surrounding infrastructure to serve the district and improve transportation options.
The City has agreed to invest $537.3 million in this project, which represents 44% of the total cost. CSEC and the province are contributing a combined $686.0 million representing 56% of the total cost. For every $1.00 invested by the City of Calgary, our partners will be investing $1.28.
Will property taxes increase as a result of this new deal?
Good stewardship of public tax dollars has remained a key priority for The City throughout our negotiations. We are pleased to say that that none of the sources of funding identified for the Event Centre Project and district-wide infrastructure improvements will result in an increase in municipal taxes or new debt.
How will The City fund this project?
The event centre was identified as a priority for The City in 2018 and money was set aside for the previous iteration of the project. The balance of funding required will be transferred from the Major Capital Projects Reserve, the Fiscal Stability Reserve and the Budget Savings Account Merged Reserve. No increase in municipal taxes will be required and The City will not be taking on any additional debt.
How will cost overruns be dealt with?
Cost overruns will be split 50-50 between The City of Calgary and CSEC. The City has built a contingency for overruns into our portion of the budget to ensure costing is transparent.
Why is the Province involved in funding this project this time around?
The City is excited to have the province at the table to support the surrounding infrastructure for this important agreement. This project is more than just an event centre. With this agreement, the province is contributing to the revitalization of downtown and the creation of a vibrant culture and entertainment district that will include the event centre, indoor and outdoor public gathering places and a community rink for public use. This plan also includes a major investment in the surrounding infrastructure to serve the district and improve transportation options.
How many jobs will be created by this deal in terms of construction, etc.?
We understand that Calgarians are interested and excited about this project; however, we are still in the early stages and finalized decisions on design and development have not been made. Once those decisions have been made, we will have a better idea of these metrics.