REGINA — Hockey fans from across the world could be descending on the prairies next year if an approved collaborative bid from Regina and Saskatoon successfully secures hosting rights to the 2023 IIHF World Junior Hockey Championships.
Tourism groups from both cities announced intentions to throw their hats in the ring earlier this week, after the International Ice Hockey Federation rescinded hosting rights from Russia, in reaction to the ongoing invasion of Ukraine.
Chelsea Galloway, chief tourism and growth officer from Economic Development Regina, said the hosting bid proposal came together in less than a week — an unprecedented timeline, she noted.
Set to be delivered to the IIHF on Monday, the bid postures Saskatchewan’s two largest cities as ideal candidates to welcome the international hockey tournament.
“I think all too often our province and our cities get overlooked, so now we’ve got this opportunity to be in front of 120 million television screens all over the world,” said Galloway.
Tourism Regina and Tourism Saskatoon, in collaboration with several other organizations, brought the proposal to both city councils with a request for $350,000 in funding from each to support the bid.
Delegates made a presentation to Regina city council during a special meeting on April 1 to seek approval, including Galloway and CEO Tim Reid from Regina Exhibition Association Limited. A simultaneous presentation was also made to Saskatoon city council during a concurrent meeting, with the same request.
In Regina, the funding would be provided through the reserves of the Events, Conventions and Tradeshows attraction budget.
Regina councillors approved the request with a unanimous vote in favour, following their Saskatoon counterparts by only a handful of minutes.
The two cities have agreed to pledge a total of $700,000 in municipal funding, if the bid is selected, bringing Saskatchewan one step closer to securing to playing host on an international stage.
The World Juniors are set to take place over three weeks in December 2023, with 31 tournament games and a number of additional events on the schedule.
An estimated 31,000 spectators — 20,000 from out-of-town — would accompany the tournament, said Galloway, generating around $50 million in economic impact for the province.
“Any opportunity that we have to take on an event like this and bring it to our community, it just goes a huge way for our tourism industry,” said Galloway.
Reid said that if successful, Regina and Saskatoon would co-host the World Juniors and all affiliated events, similar to the previous 2010 championship held in Saskatchewan.
Saskatoon would host the round robin games for the Group A pool, which includes Team Canada, as well as the medal games, due SaskTel Centre being a larger venue.
Group B pool and all pre-tournament games for Team Canada would take place in Regina.
Following the meeting, Mayor Sandra Masters said hosting the international tournament would be an incredible opportunity for Regina and the still-recovering tourism sector.
“I think the way that we host events, which over and over again are recognized as world-class, [shows] that we can pull it off,” said Masters. “Our ability to host, and get better and better at it, will be the key to long-term success in terms of visitor economy.”
Masters acknowledged that as a “destination city,” a lot of the onus to play good host will fall on businesses and venues across Reinga, but she said she feels the city is up to the task.
“I think this is something that the city of Regina will completely wrap its arms around and really welcome international visitors and hockey fans,” said Masters. “We work hard, we are incredible hosts, we welcome people [and] I think that shows in all the feedback we get from other events we’ve hosted.”
If successful, Regina will host the CFL Grey Cup Championship, Canadian Western Agribition and the World Juniors during a course of six weeks at the end of 2023.
Galloway said she has “no doubt” that Regina has the venue and accommodation capacity to handle this level of event. She said she feels the city is well prepared to take advantage of the international spotlight.
“Regina has always opened it's doors to major events,” said Galloway. “There’s no doubt we can absolutely handle three major events in a row and we’re excited to do so.”
A handful of other cities are anticipated to also submit a hosting bid, said Reid, including Ottawa, Quebec City, Winnipeg and Halifax.
He said he hopes to see Team Canada in Saskatchewan next year, as the province so clearly has a love for hockey that would really highlight the tournament’s return to regular live attendance.
“The World Juniors are such a foundation of that time of year, for so many Canadians, when we don our Team Canada jerseys and have our families over for Christmas,” said Reid.
He said he sees bringing the World Juniors to Saskatchewan as a great tourism opportunity, but also a chance for local fans and aspiring hockey players to rub elbows with the professional athletes they admire.
“The reality is, our kids wake up every day desperately wanting to be [Regina Pats centre] Connor Bedard, because that’s who they get to see,” said Reid. “And I think anytime you can host an event at this level, it offers the ability for young athletes to hope and dream to wear a Team Canada jersey someday.”
