The scene has been set for the next best-on-best tournament: Calgary, Edmonton and Prague will host the 2028 World Cup of Hockey.
This will mark just the second time the tournament has been hosted by the National Hockey League (NHL).
Its previous edition took place more than a decade ago in 2016, when Canada claimed the championship trophy in Toronto.
The tournament was originally intended to be held every four years, but the idea was mired in NHL politics and bargaining.
Following this, plans were adjusted to accommodate the inaugural 4 Nations Face-Off, a mid-season tournament in 2025 in which NHL players competed for their home countries.
The World Cup of Hockey is now scheduled to take place during the off-years of the Winter Olympics, creating a consistent rotation of international best-on-best competitions.
The last tournament of this nature to be hosted in Calgary was the 1984 Canada Cup.
For the city of Calgary, the 2028 World Cup of Hockey will be the first major sports tournament to be hosted at the highly anticipated Scotia Place, which is currently under construction and set to replace the existing Saddledome once complete.
Seven games are scheduled to be played in both Calgary and Prague, Czechia, while the semi-finals and championships will be held at Rogers Arena in Edmonton.
Ottawa pledges $8 M to help pay for World Cup
The Government of Canada has arranged to put aside up to $8 million for an initiative tied to the World Cup of Hockey 2028.
Edmonton Centre MP Eleanor Olszewski, who is the minister responsible for Prairies Economic Development Canada, said the event is expected to bring “lasting economic benefits” to the community.
“Alberta has so much to offer, and I’m proud that this event will help share more of it with Canada and the world,” she said in a news release yesterday.
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith announced the province will contribute up to $15 million toward the tournament, including support for destination marketing initiatives.
“It will bring Canadians together and leave an impact on communities for years to come,” Smith said at a press conference on Monday at Rogers Place in Edmonton.
Edmonton and Calgary, through their respective tourism organizations, have each committed up to $2.5 million to support the event.
The province estimates the World Cup will generate $375 million in economic activity across Alberta and fill approximately 172,000 hotel room nights.
Officials also noted that the tournament will be the largest international sporting event held in the province since the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary.