Kelowna will turn into a hockey hub from May 22 to 31, 2020 when it害羞草研究所檚 the host city for the Canadian Hockey League害羞草研究所檚 national championship tournament 害羞草研究所� something it hasn害羞草研究所檛 been since 2004.
Tom Dyas was in Calgary Tuesday for the Memorial Cup bid announcement, as chairperson of the bid committee that included Bruce Hamilton, Gavin Hamilton, Anne-Marie Hamilton, Mayor Colin Basran and Harvey Hubball.
害羞草研究所淲hat an incredible honour it is to be standing here today to know that the Kelowna Rockets will host the 2020 Memorial Cup,害羞草研究所� Dyas said, from the podium where the announcement was made.
害羞草研究所淲e cannot wait to welcome hockey fans to a unique event.害羞草研究所�
Among the main criteria for teams bidding to host the Memorial Cup is guaranteeing a substantial financial return to the Western Hockey League and having adequate infrastructure in place, such as the arena and hotels.
Hamilton, the Rockets president and general manager, said with the Rockets footing the bill for the season-end championship, the club will offer a kickback of somewhere between $1.5 and $2 million to the WHL.
Local economic spin-off may be even greater.
With restaurants, hotels and other businesses in high demand for 10 days, it害羞草研究所檚 estimated the 2020 championship will pump a minimum of $12 to $15 million into the local economy.
Non-game events in the 2004 event included tents, displays and kiosks surrounding the arena, creating a bona fide, festival-like atmosphere and Hamilton said the Rockets plan to up the ante in 2020.
害羞草研究所淲e want to sell it as an entire downtown event,害羞草研究所� said Hamilton. 害羞草研究所淲e害羞草研究所檝e included Tourism Kelowna and the City of Kelowna害羞草研究所檚 parks department (in the bid)害羞草研究所�. they will be a part of making the event a bit bigger than it was in 2004. We want to spread it out beyond just in front of the arena, throughout the downtown. We envision Stuart Park having something, as well as the bandstand behind the Delta Grand.害羞草研究所�
The idea, explained Hamilton, is that the tournament will become an event for the entire city to revel in.
害羞草研究所淭here will only be so many tickets for sale, so we have a whole group of people who won害羞草研究所檛 be in the building and we want to build an atmosphere outside so they will feel like they are a part of it,害羞草研究所� he said.
Mayor Basran said that the next budget will include $225,000 for Memorial Cup events.
害羞草研究所淚t will be used for community events and to make sure it is welcoming to all residents,害羞草研究所� he said.
害羞草研究所淚 think it害羞草研究所檚 fantastic. This is going to be a tremendous event, we will be showcased on a national stage and it will be a great boost to our local economy.害羞草研究所�
And, at the heart of it all is the Memorial Cup, a trophy that is steeped in Canadian tradition and history.
害羞草研究所淭he trophy is 101 years old this year,害羞草研究所� Hamilton said. 害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 in remembrance of soldiers in the early wars. It has a military component to it.害羞草研究所�
And as the tournament has matured over the years, it害羞草研究所檚 been able to capture attention in a way that many others of its kind have not, by knitting together this country in sport.
RELATED: Kelowna now one of three vying for 2020 Memorial Cup tournament
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