The Vancouver Giants hockey club is set to relocate to Surrey, B.C., beginning with the 2030-31 Western Hockey League season. The team will make the new City Centre Arena its home, a facility anticipated to be completed by 2030. This move marks a significant development for both the team and the city of Surrey.
The announcement was made on Tuesday, confirming that the Giants will become the anchor tenant of the new sports and entertainment venue. Ron Toigo, majority owner and president of the Vancouver Giants, expressed enthusiasm for the decision, calling it a “transformational decision” that positions the organization for long-term success. He highlighted the opportunity to bid on major events such as the IIHF World Junior Championship and the Memorial Cup, and noted the enhanced experience for players, fans, and partners in a modern facility.
City Centre Arena Development
The City Centre Arena, also known as the City Centre Arena and Cultural Event Centre, will be situated in the heart of Surrey City Centre. This state-of-the-art facility is designed to be the centerpiece of Surrey‘s new entertainment district. It will feature an approximate seating capacity of 10,000 for hockey games, concerts, and various community events. The development is envisioned to include more than just the arena, with plans for a luxury hotel, conference facilities, retail, office, and commercial spaces, all connected by an enclosed galleria.
Surrey Mayor Brenda Locke welcomed the Vancouver Giants as the future anchor tenant, stating that the announcement reflects confidence in Surrey‘s future. She emphasized that the project aims to create a world-class venue that will serve residents, attract major events, support local businesses, and contribute to a vibrant entertainment district in the downtown core. The mayor also noted that the arena is slated to be an economic driver, bringing jobs, investment, and increased capacity for conferences, sports, arts, and entertainment.
The city’s planning for the arena is being managed through the Surrey City Development Corp., an entity that Mayor Locke reactivated in 2023. The project is estimated to cost $360 million, with funding reportedly provided in Surrey‘s 2026 budget. According to Mayor Locke, the project is expected to generate approximately $2.4 billion in economic activity over the next decade and support 1,200 jobs in Surrey, with more than double that across the province.
Location and Land Acquisition
The chosen location for the City Centre Arena is directly across from Surrey City Hall and the Surrey Central SkyTrain Station. The property for the development will be acquired through a strategic land swap agreement. Under this arrangement, the city will obtain a five-acre parcel at 10355 King George Blvd. in exchange for three city-owned parcels. These parcels are located at 2750 194A St., 19165 39 Ave., and 12820-12842 96 Ave. According to a report from EY-Parthenon, this exchange represents a value of $116 million on each side.
The Giants are currently based at the Langley Events Centre and are expected to spend at least three more seasons there before their relocation. The move to Surrey is a key part of Surrey‘s City Centre Plan, which was initially approved in 2017 and has undergone several updates since then. The new arena is designed with two bowls of seating and a level of box seats in the middle, and artist renderings also show a large screen at an outdoor plaza.
While the agreement has been announced, some questions have been raised regarding the partnership. Councillor Linda Annis questioned the partnership’s viability given the Giants‘ average attendance of approximately 4,000 people per game. She also raised concerns about the lack of private sector investment in the project, stating that the deal appears to be one-sided, with taxpayers providing the land and funding for the arena. Additionally, Annis questioned the final price tag of $360 million, citing potential cost overruns based on other publicly funded projects. The Vancouver Giants announced their relocation to Surrey on Tuesday.
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Source: chl.ca
