Calgary's skyline and sports future are being reshaped as the massive construction project for the new Scotia Place event centre approaches its halfway mark. With the foundational work largely finished, the site is a hive of activity as the steel skeleton of the future arena begins to climb skyward, making the long-anticipated vision tangible for Calgarians.
Steel Structure Defines Rapid Progress
Bob Hunter, a key member of the Scotia Place project committee, notes that the pace of construction is visibly accelerating with each visit. "Every time I go, there's something you see in the way of progress," Hunter said. "It's moving quickly." The most dramatic change is the erection of the steel framework, a phase that Hunter believes will capture the public's imagination.
"The steel structure going up as quickly as it is, I think, is something that really defines the building. I think that's what people will get excited about," he explained. "All those people currently going to hockey games, they'll watch it piece by piece."
Currently, the focus for the nearly 350 workers on site is assembling that steel superstructure and pouring concrete for the building's two concourse levels. Hunter reports "tremendous progress" and confirms the project has stayed on schedule and within budget since breaking ground in July 2024.
On Schedule for a Fall 2027 Finish
The project timeline remains firmly on track for a fall 2027 completion. "Knock on wood — we've been very fortunate," Hunter stated, acknowledging minor schedule adjustments are routine but noting significant time hasn't been lost.
The next major phase will see the building enclosed over the course of 2026, which will allow interior work to commence. That stage will involve a complex scramble to finish the inside details. Hunter anticipates the workforce will swell to approximately 1,200 people by the end of next year to install seating, concession stands, restaurants, and washrooms.
A Long-Held Vision Becoming Reality
For Robert Hayes, President and CEO of the Calgary Sports and Entertainment Corp. (CSEC), watching the steel rise is an emotional experience that validates years of planning. "Everybody kind of gets goosebumps," Hayes shared. "When people drive by it and see that the steel is now going up to the second level — it's really becoming real."
Hayes described the thrill of getting a peek beneath the construction tarps to see the emerging form of the arena bowl. "Once in a while I get to go under those tarps, and that's when you see, gosh, you can look down and see where the bowl is and everything. It's amazing."
The excitement permeating the project team is palpable. Hunter summed up the sentiment, declaring, "We're stepping into a whole new era." As the steel rises from the ground in Calgary's downtown core, that new era for sports, entertainment, and the city's urban fabric is steadily transitioning from blueprint to breathtaking reality.
