Memorial Cup festivities could cost city $225,000
City of Kelowna officials say investing in large-scale events like the 2020 Canadian junior hockey championship is ‘the new normal for municipalities’
Kelowna taxpayers could contribute $225,000 toward the hosting of the 2020 Memorial Cup hockey tournament.
City council will decide in December whether to approve the unprecedented expense.
“My understanding is the money would be used to support a festival and the kind of events that help connect the community to the tournament,” Mayor Colin Basran said Thursday.
It’s increasingly common for municipalities to provide direct financial support to events that draw significant numbers of visitors and which yield a considerable economic impact, city officials say.
“It’s a significant amount for sure, but it’s kind of the new normal for municipalities, this expectation to invest in largescale events,” said Doug Nicholas of the city’s active living and culture department.
Kelowna was awarded the 2020 Memorial Cup on Wednesday by the Western Hockey League’s board of governors. The tournament, featuring the country’s three top major junior teams plus the club from the host city, is expected to yield a profit that is divided among the WHL’s 22 franchises.
However, Kelowna’s proposed financial contribution would not be directed at the league. Instead, it would be used to support fanand family-friendly events in and around Prospera Place.
“It could be used for things like an outdoor viewing centre,” where fans who can’t get tickets can still gather together to watch the game, Nicholas said.
The money might also be used to pay musicians and other entertainers to perform on a stage outside Prospera Place, subsidize transportation or reduce the security costs.
There’s also an idea among city staff to create a legacy project that would provide a community benefit after the conclusion of the Memorial Cup.
Using some public funds to support the Memorial Cup is thought by city officials to be reasonable given the event’s projected economic impact of between $10 million and $15 million in terms of spending at Kelowna hotels, restaurants and other attractions.
The proposed grant amount of $225,000 was settled upon with the Memorial Cup bid committee after consideration of what Canadian cities elsewhere had provided in financial support to events such as the Memorial Cup or the Tim Hortons Brier.
It would be the largest grant ever provided by the City of Kelowna toward a festival or sports event. Council will make the decision Dec. 13 as part of deliberations on the overall city budget for 2019.