Lethbridge gives Memorial Cup bid its support

Posted on August 22, 2024 by Taber Times

By Al Beeber
Southern Alberta Newspapers

Lethbridge city council has officially thrown its support behind a bid to host the 2026 Memorial Cup in Lethbridge.

Council recently approved the matter which was one of 11 items contained in the consent agenda.

The Economic and Finance Standing Policy Committee – which consists of all council members – recommended at its July 11 meeting council approve one-time funding of $1.25 million to support the Sport Tourism Advisory Committee in submitting a bid to host the Canadian major junior hockey championship which includes teams from the three major junior leagues as well as a host team.

The funding is contingent upon the bid being successful and will be provided subject to the execution of a third-party contribution agreement in a form satisfactory to the city manager.

The winning bid will be announced in the middle of December. The money for the bid will come out of the Municipal Revenue Stabilization Reserve if it is successful.

Both Terry Huisman, general manager of business operations for the Lethbridge Hurricanes and mayor Blaine Hyggen spoke enthusiastically about the opportunity to bid on a prestigious national hockey event.

A strong contingent of bid supporters, including members of the Hurricanes, the Lethbridge Chamber of Commerce and the Lethbridge Sport Council were on hand for the council to give the bid its blessing.

“It’s very exciting for us. Obviously, we felt like we were very close last time,” said Huisman.

He said council’s support is the first hurdle of the four-stage process the organizing committee has made it over.

“We feel very thankful to city council for supporting us.”

The Memorial Cup, said Huisman, could have a tremendous financial impact on the city and surrounding communities.

Huisman said “I’m as confident as I ever have been. Obviously there’s many things we have to get through. The process on how the Memorial Cup is decided has changed immensely from the last time we did the bid” with the host team being now voted on by a committee of the Canadian Hockey League.

“We really feel good about it because we feel that it’s going to be the best bid going forward that’s actually going to win this. So we’re going to do our due diligence and work real hard to make sure we are the best bid.”

Hyggen said the community has an incredible opportunity, “especially with there not being a cost right now, a pay-to-play as you will,” unlike the Canada Winter Games that had a cost to put in a bid.

“To me, if you’re awarded the Memorial Cup that’s when the cost will come in” but the city has the opportunity “to have an incredible event within our community,” one that will be an economic driver, said the mayor.

Where ever Memorial Cups have been staged, the championship has been extremely successful with the exception of the COVID era when it was a bit of a struggle, he added.

“We do great when we host large events,” said the mayor, referring to the success of various curling championships staged here.

He said if the funds aren’t spent on the cup, they would be reallocated back to the MRSR for future projects.

Council thought it was a great project moving forward, he said.

If the cup bid isn’t successful, that $1.25 million would go back into the MRSR, he said. Money allocated to the Scotties women’s curling championship will also go back to the MRSR if that bid isn’t successful either.

Hyggen said the event would have a financial impact on restaurants, hotels, tourism sites and elsewhere.

“It’s positive,” the mayor added, noting it will get the city seen across Canada.

“We’ve got the best community in Canada and I might be a little biased but it’s absolutely great so this gives us the opportunity to really showcase what Lethbridge has to offer,” the mayor added.