Millions of Dollars in Funding to Bring International Sporting Events to Alberta

The Budget 2024 promises a bright future for sport in Alberta. This past month, major funds for a plethora of international games, camps, and grassroots schemes were revealed. In addition to benefitting the local communities in the Lakeland, there are high hopes that some world-class games will also come to the region.

A major pledge in Alberta’s upcoming budget has been set aside to fund international hockey events, bringing world-class players and events to our doorstep.

Here we’ll take a peek at the upcoming events planned for the next few years, and how to make the most out of them. 

Key Facts

In a major win for sports in Alberta, a pledge of $11 million has been announced to fund international games throughout the province. 

This year’s World Para Hockey Championships, which will run from May 4th to 12th in Calgary, are already scheduled as part of the program. 

In August this year, the fund will also support the Hlinka Gretzky Cup, taking place at Rogers Place in Edmonton from the 5th to the 10th. The cup will bring eight of the best teams in the world to the province, with many players set to be NHL stars of tomorrow.

Other events on the horizon include the IIHL Junior Championships, coming to Alberta once again in 2027. Venues for these are yet to be decided, and there are high hopes organisers will look to the northeast to house the tournament. 

Taking Part

Until 2027, Lakeland residents can travel to Edmonton and Calgary to catch these international players in person, a trip well worth making. Keeping up with the events will be just as enjoyable from home, by following the wide range of sports betting news Canada has to offer.

Popularity in sports betting has increased hugely in recent years. Single-game bets for leagues like the NHL are now a great pastime for many Canadians, and it’s forecasted that 24 million people will play online sports bets by 2027. Having Alberta host the Canada team on home ice for these upcoming internationals will mean residents can be sure to enjoy some wildly exciting tournament matches, whether from the rink or at home.

The Bigger Picture

The fund will benefit those in the province and contribute to the wider growth of the sport. 

President of Hockey Canada, Katherine Henderson, responded to the announcement stating, “We are grateful that the Province of Alberta has made this significant investment to enable these events to be played on home ice, which will significantly benefit each of our programs, including our national teams that are preparing for the 2026 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games”.

Similarly, the impact of watching top-level players from the sidelines should not be underestimated. Research shows that the uptake of associated sports is hugely boosted in regions where international tournaments are held. 

The fund will maximise the chance for locals to witness hockey played at its best, inspiring and motivating the upcoming cohort of Albertan players to reach a world-class level.

Economic Benefits

While the $11 million figure is going into bringing these events to life, the economic reward from them is set to be $55 million, according to the government of Alberta.

This dividend will filter out into local communities through tourism and businesses over the next three years. For example, more than 400,000 visitors are predicted to travel into the province for the 2027 IIHF World Junior Championships and their pre-tournament matches. 

 

 

Source: Unsplash

Bringing international sports to our local communities brings economic development, tourism, and inspiration for up-and-coming players. Alberta’s recently released budget accepts just that: pledging significant sums of money to foster international matches and longer-term opportunities for the sport.