Calgary Olympic Oval May Receive Federal Funding for Renovations
Calgary – A potential influx of federal funding offers a glimmer of hope for the Calgary Olympic Oval, a facility facing pressing renewal needs. Following the release of the federal budget, discussions are underway to secure infrastructure money for the oval, according to sources familiar with the process.
For two years, talks have been ongoing regarding potential funding, with the primary hurdle being identifying a pathway for disbursement. “We have people in Ottawa that are working on it, they’re supposed to be meeting this week to see, now that the money is there, how do we get it,” said a source. “We’ve had talks for two years, it’s been back and forth that yes, we can do it, we just have to find a way to do it. Now we have the way to it.”
Canada’s Secretary of Sport, Adam van koeverden, affirmed the possibility of sport-related projects receiving funding. “The answer is yes,” van Koeverden said Saturday in Toronto. “We certainly no that sport, physical activity, recreation and play, the entire spectrum of physical activity has a really strong role to play in the cultural fabric…in the safety, in the health, in mental health, in the vibrancy of our communities, sport plays a strong role.”
The Oval, owned by the University of Calgary, is in need of significant renovations, slated to begin in the spring of 2027 to minimize disruption to the approximately 15-20-25 organizations that utilize the facility. Officials emphasize the need for a swift commitment to allow for adequate planning. “If we’re going to shut down for nine months, we need give them some advance notice,” said a representative. “we need have some sort of a commitment and we need to have it as fast as we can so we can start this ball rolling.”
Alberta’s government has already contributed funding, allocating $1 million in its February budget to replace the Oval’s 1987 lighting system with LED lights. Budget 2025 included over $22.45 million in capital maintenance and renewal funding for the University of Calgary’s infrastructure, including its sports facilities.
The provincial Minister of Tourism and Sport’s office issued a statement encouraging federal and municipal governments to recognize the Oval’s contributions and urging the University of Calgary to “explore all revenue options, including through the federal budget.”
calgary’s Oval, opened in 1988 for the Winter olympics, is the oldest of three covered Ovals in Canada. Quebec City’s Center de Glaces Intact Insurance opened in 2021 at a cost of $68.7 million, and the Pomeroy sport Centre in Fort St. john, B.C., opened in 2010 at a cost of $44 million. The $178-million Richmond Olympic Oval, built for the 2010 Winter Games, was later reconfigured for multi-purpose use.
