New hotel at Calgary Stampede will hopefully accompany new arena: developer
Construction on a new hotel in Calgary's culture and entertainment district will break ground in 2024, and the developer is hopeful a new Calgary arena will be under construction by then too.
The Calgary Municipal Land Corporation (CMLC) and Calgary Stampede announced on Tuesday that Matthews Southwest Hospitality will be the development partner for the hotel, which will sit on a 31,000 square-foot parcel of land at the southwest intersection of Stampede Trail and 12 Ave. S.E., next to the Cowboys Casino.
"Well, there's no kidding about it. We hope that (a new event centre) happens, but we're building anyway," said Mike Garcia, president of Matthews Southwest Hospitality.
"We feel like there's enough in this market for sustainability of this hotel, but hands down, we hope (a new arena) happens," he said.
The hotel, which is expected to have more than 220 rooms, will be the first on the Stampede grounds and will connect directly to the BMO Centre – which is currently under expansion.
"We have over 20 conventions booked post-opening at this point and that extends through 2028. We have other that have indicated they want a hotel before they book here," said Joel Cowley, Calgary Stampede CEO.
When its finished, the BMO Centre will be over a million square-feet, making it the largest convention centre in western Canada.
The Calgary Municipal Land Corporation (CMLC) and the Calgary Stampede have announced the development of a new convention centre hotel which will complement the dramatic expansion of Calgary’s BMO Centre. (CMLC) "It needs hotel rooms to support it, so that when people come to the city, people have a place to stay. It's a really critical part of the overall BMO Centre expansion project," said Kate Thompson, CMLC president.
The hotel development will be approximately $80 million, according to the CMLC, but the final cost will be determined as the design process continues.
Matthews Southwest Hospitality has completed projects around the world as a developer, including The Bow building in Calgary.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
U.S. downs Chinese balloon, a flashpoint in U.S.-China tensions
The U.S. military on Saturday shot down a suspected Chinese spy balloon off the Carolina coast on orders from President Joe Biden, after it traversed sensitive military sites across North America, becoming the latest flashpoint in tensions between Washington and Beijing.

How to stay safe in extreme cold: Recognizing the signs and symptoms of frostbite, hypothermia
Canadians will continue to bundle up in the country's east this weekend as a recent bout of extreme cold persists in much of Quebec and the Atlantic provinces. CTVNews.ca looks at the signs and symptoms for frostbite and hypothermia to watch for if exposed to extreme cold.
Poor oral health could affect the brain later in life: early study
An early study has shown keeping your gums and teeth healthy may have added benefits for your brain health.
Toronto named as host city for 2024 NHL all-star game
NHL commissioner Gary Bettman announced Saturday the league's 2024 showcase will be played in Toronto for the ninth time.
Extremely cold temperatures prolong cold weather alerts for much of Eastern Canada
A cold snap that triggered Environment Canada alerts involving eight provinces and territories extended into a second day on Saturday, shattering several past temperature records and leaving thousands of customers in Atlantic Canada without power.
China balloon: Many questions about suspected spy in the sky
The massive white orb drifting across U.S. airspace has triggered a diplomatic maelstrom and is blowing up on social media. A look at what's known about the balloon crossing the U.S. and what isn't.
Marit Stiles officially confirmed as Ontario NDP leader by majority vote
Marit Stiles officially became the new leader of the Ontario NDP on Saturday after a majority of party members voted in favour of the lone candidate.
Eyes on the sky as Chinese balloon shot down over Atlantic
Eyes were locked on the skies Saturday as a suspected Chinese spy balloon passed over the U.S. Eastern Seaboard -- where local authorities warned civilians against taking potshots with rifles -- before it was shot down when it drifted over the Atlantic Ocean.
Dozens of soldiers freed in Russia-Ukraine prisoner swap
Dozens of Russian and Ukrainian prisoners of war have returned home following a prisoner swap, officials on both sides said Saturday.