A closer look at possible Calgary 2026 Olympic venues
Director of capital infrastructure talks possibilities and rough costs for existing and new facilities
Officials with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) are visiting Calgary just a few weeks before the plebiscite.
On Nov. 13, Calgarians will vote on whether the city should or shouldn't host the 2026 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. We're taking a closer look at the draft bid plan here on The Homestretch to help you weigh the pros and cons.
Here's a discussion of the venues and facilities planned for the various sporting events with Fergal Duff, director of capital infrastructure for Calgary 2026 bid corporation.
This interview has been edited for clarity and length. You can listen to the complete interview here.
Q: Let's take a closer look at the proposed venues and some of the upgrades. What facilities would be used within the city?
A: We are looking at three main clusters. We try to cluster venues for a number of reasons: operational efficiencies, but it's also good for spectator experience and it helps us cut down on security costs.
The Stampede cluster includes the Saddledome for hockey but we are also using BMO Centre and Big Four Building for some of our non-competition venues. Media will be located there.
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We are using the Grandstand for our medal ceremonies, and the main park area will be used as a large entertainment site where people can experience the Games.
Q: There are two new facilities being proposed. What are they and what would they be used for?
A: In addition to the Olympic Oval and McMahon Stadium, we've got two new venues that will be located in the Foothills cluster: the fieldhouse, which is a multiple sport complex, and a mid-sized arena.
The fieldhouse has been a long-term goal for the city. Edmonton has three and Calgary has none. And the mid-sized arena will be a 5,000 to 6,000-seater with two ice sheets. We have a shortage of those, too.
Those will be located adjacent to McMahon Stadium around the athletic track there, where the old baseball park is.
Q: What will the cost be for those new facilities?
A: About $400 million combined for those two facilities.
Q: The older venues would be revamped. What kind of renovations would we see for McMahon Stadium, which would host the opening and closing ceremonies?
A: We are focusing on accessibility and people movement, improving the concourse and seating areas.
Q: What is the budget to renovate McMahon Stadium?
A: I don't want to get into the individual projects because we are still negotiating with all the venues but overall we have about a $500-million capital fund for all of our existing venues.
Q: What about the Saddledome renovations?
A: Part of the renovation would be increasing the size of the ice sheet for the Games.
We have a small budget for the Saddledome mostly related to ongoing maintenance. We have to take out about four rows of seating, part of that for flexibility in our hosting plan.
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Right now it's contemplated we will use it for the main hockey events but we can put in figure skating and short track if needed.
Q: What happens to the Saddledome if we get a new arena?
A: We would definitely still use the Saddledome, we would incorporate a new arena into our hosting plan, for sure. We can move things around if we need to.
Q: Where would the athletes village be?
A: Right now, we are looking at the site of the transit centre in Victoria Park. That has huge proximity advantages to the Stampede cluster. There will also be a Canmore athletes village.
Q: Where do you put the media for all of this?
A: That's not settled yet.
We have lots of options with existing accommodations and student housing at the universities around town, but we are also investing in a huge housing component in our capital plan and part of that will be converted into affordable housing after the Games.
Q: What is the goal for affordable housing units?
A: In Calgary, about 2,600 units across town. That includes a portion of the athletes village. We are also looking at other sites for non-market housing, from attainable homes to deep social housing to subsidized seniors housing, student housing and urban Indigenous housing.
Q: What about venues outside of Calgary. How will Nakiska and Canmore be used?
A: Nakiska will be our main alpine site for skiing and a lot of events. Canmore Nordic Centre will be used for biathlon and cross-country. They have hosted so many World Cups there, hosting is part of their DNA.
In general, we are looking at improving accessibility in Canmore, and in Nakiska we are looking at making the hill more competitive.
Q: Where would curling be? What are the options?
A: We have a few options but haven't settled on a final location.
Q: What about Edmonton, Red Deer, Lethbridge or Medicine Hat for curling? Are those in the mix?
A: All of those have existing facilities that would be suitable.
Q: What about Whistler, is that still in the picture for ski jumping and nordic combined?
A: Whistler is still part of the bid. They have facilities there build for 2010 so they are younger facilities.
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Our focus with this bid has been on long-term legacy, an economically responsible bid, and with the cost difference between Calgary and Whistler, it just makes financial sense to put them there.
Q: What about WinSport and the bobsleigh, luge and skeleton track? Some people say it's not up to Olympic standards now.
A: Quite the contrary. We got some really positive feedback from some athletes and officials at a recent event. It stands up against venues that are the best in the world.
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With files from Ellis Choe and The Homestretch.