Kelowna will turn into a hockey hub from May 22 to 31, 2020 when it91裸聊视频檚 the host city for the Canadian Hockey League91裸聊视频檚 national championship tournament 91裸聊视频� something it hasn91裸聊视频檛 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.
91裸聊视频淲hat an incredible honour it is to be standing here today to know that the Kelowna Rockets will host the 2020 Memorial Cup,91裸聊视频� Dyas said, from the podium where the announcement was made.
91裸聊视频淲e cannot wait to welcome hockey fans to a unique event.91裸聊视频�
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, it91裸聊视频檚 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.
91裸聊视频淲e want to sell it as an entire downtown event,91裸聊视频� said Hamilton. 91裸聊视频淲e91裸聊视频檝e included Tourism Kelowna and the City of Kelowna91裸聊视频檚 parks department (in the bid)91裸聊视频�. 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.91裸聊视频�
The idea, explained Hamilton, is that the tournament will become an event for the entire city to revel in.
91裸聊视频淭here will only be so many tickets for sale, so we have a whole group of people who won91裸聊视频檛 be in the building and we want to build an atmosphere outside so they will feel like they are a part of it,91裸聊视频� he said.
Mayor Basran said that the next budget will include $225,000 for Memorial Cup events.
91裸聊视频淚t will be used for community events and to make sure it is welcoming to all residents,91裸聊视频� he said.
91裸聊视频淚 think it91裸聊视频檚 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.91裸聊视频�
And, at the heart of it all is the Memorial Cup, a trophy that is steeped in Canadian tradition and history.
91裸聊视频淭he trophy is 101 years old this year,91裸聊视频� Hamilton said. 91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 in remembrance of soldiers in the early wars. It has a military component to it.91裸聊视频�
And as the tournament has matured over the years, it91裸聊视频檚 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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