Spruce Meadows more than an equestrian venue
Spruce Meadows has built an international reputation as a first- class equestrian facility.
Over the years it has also grown into a community meeting place that hosts numerous events throughout the year — from corporate meetings to birthday parties to weddings.
“Everybody believes in the offseason we just close the door and we don’t do anything, but we operate 365 days a year,” Kurby Court, vice- president of special features and capital contract management, said Tuesday as the venue — celebrating its 40th anniversary — hosted reporters ahead of The National tournament this week.
“Every type of event you could possibly think of can be done here.
“We’re very unique in the way we have both outdoor venues and indoor venues that we can accommodate two people to 10,000 for a private event.”
The facility now hosts more than 400 events a year outside of equestrian competitions.
Five years of preparation preceded five hours for the World Petroleum Congress a few years ago.
The site has hosted heads of states and was used for an ultrasecret planning session before the G20 event.
About 50 weddings and 50 Christmas parties are held there each year.
“We’re really unique in the way that we can do anything at anytime for anyone but we try to do it to the highest standards and keeping in mind the Spruce Meadows way of doing things,” said Court, adding about 20 years ago the facility was hosting about 40 events a year.
He said the private aspect of being able to host events has been a major draw.
“Our specialty is doing those seclusive meetings where if a corporation is doing some org changes or they’re having those difficult conversations where they don’t want just anybody walking into a room in the office and seeing it.
“We’re very good at those meetings on the confidentiality side,” said Court.
Stavroula Kangles, manager of hosting venues for Spruce Meadows, said the facility can host two Christmas parties a day and three weddings a day. Some weekends it has done up to six weddings simultaneously.
One unique wedding, she said, was last August when the entire facility was taken over for more than a week to prepare for the event with an exclusive invitation list.
“The property was shut down just for them,” said Kangles.
“About a week and a half of just logistics.”