New 10,000-seat arena to be built in Surrey City Centre, mayor confirms | Daily Hive

Inside the Canada Life Place arena in London, Ontario, which was built in 2002 and has a capacity for over 9,000 spectators in ice hockey mode. (Tourism London)

While plans continue to take shape for a potential new outdoor soccer-specific stadium for Vancouver Whitecaps FC at the PNE fairgrounds in Hastings Park, there are now more concrete plans to provide Metro Vancouver with a new additional mid-capacity indoor stadium — located in Surrey City Centre.

Surrey Mayor Brenda Locke has confirmed the new arena will have a seating capacity of 10,000 and will be situated near the core of the city’s emerging downtown.

This marks the first significant update since Locke initially announced the project in February 2024, when she revealed that a feasibility study would be conducted to explore the possibility of a 12,000-seat venue. At that time, the location had not yet been determined.

In her annual State of the City address last week, the Mayor provided new details about the project — a slightly smaller spectator capacity and confirmation that the arena will be built just north of Surrey City Hall in Surrey City Centre.

Moreover, she says, the arena will anchor a new complex of office, retail, dining, entertainment, and hospitality offerings, including hotel and conference centre uses. Initial construction work could begin approximately two years from now.

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“While it’s clear we’re a big city, we currently lack the venues we need to host major sporting events and entertainment events and community gatherings. And that is why we’re investing in infrastructure to create and upgrade our entertainment and recreational facilities,” said Locke in her address.

“We are moving forward with the new 10,000-seat arena in the City Centre just north of City Hall. We’re in the very early stages of procurement and we are working to partner with an operator. This isn’t just about building an arena. It’s about creating a destination through mixed-use development, including a hotel, conference facilities, and retail and restaurants. This will become a place for families to enjoy the best sporting and entertainment venues right here in the city of Surrey.”

Mayor Brenda Locke during the annual State of the City address on May 14, 2025. (City of Surrey)

Long-term future skyline of Surrey City Centre. (Invest Surrey/Downtown Surrey BIA)

Upon inquiry, City of Surrey spokesperson Amy Jugpal told Daily Hive Urbanized today the municipal government will announce the specific location of the arena after the project reaches the next procurement milestone.

Although Jugpal could not comment on the precise location at this time, the sites that are directly north of City Hall are bisected by the SkyTrain guideway — parcels framed by 104 Avenue and City Hall to the south, City Parkway to the east, 105A Avenue to the north, and University Drive to the east are largely vacant, with a multi-tower condominium tower project cancelled after Thind Properties entered receivership last year. There are larger vacant lots unencumbered on the southeast and northeast quadrants of this overall area, with the northeast quadrant set to become Concord Pacific’s Piano residential development.

Just beyond 105A Avenue, the BC Lions’ training field and Whalley Athletic Park occupy the next sections of land to the north.

The City of Surrey has a vested interest in this area. Surrey City Development Corporation (SCDC) — the for-profit real estate development company wholly owned by the City — recently submitted a development application for a long-planned, high-density, mixed-use residential project. The proposal covers a City-owned land assembly at 13310–13350 108th Avenue, 10722–10772 133rd Street, and 10725–10757 University Drive. The project envisions four residential towers comprising approximately 1,800 homes.

As well, immediately north of the BC Lions’ training field, the City has set aside $66 million for a major expansion of Chuck Bailey Recreation Centre.

Aerial of Surrey City Centre, showing vacant lands bisected by SkyTrain, BC Lions’ practice field, and Whalley Athletic Park just north of Surrey City Hall. (Google Maps)

Vacant parcels directly north of Surrey City Hall. (Google Maps)

BC Lions’ practice field in Surrey City Centre. (Google Maps)

Whalley Athletic Park in Surrey City Centre. (Google Maps)

Such an arena in this vicinity would be in close proximity to SkyTrain’s Surrey Central Station and Gateway Station, providing the venue with an enhanced ability to attract event goers from across Metro Vancouver.

Jugpal also told Daily Hive Urbanized that within the next few weeks, the City will issue a Request For Proposal (RFP) for a development advisor to refine the project’s business case, advise on “risk allocation,” and shape the multi-faceted procurement strategy.

Arena with a 150-room hotel, conference centre, and retail and office space

With the advisor’s guidance, the City will launch a larger competitive bidding process later in 2025 to select an operating partner to run the arena and a development partner to achieve the mixed-use development of not only the arena, but also approximately 100,000 sq. ft. of retail and office space, and a hotel with 150 guest rooms and 60,000 sq. ft. of ballroom and conference facilities.

The City intends to move relatively quickly with this project, with site preparation works targeted to begin in 2027, says Jugpal.

At this stage of planning, the municipal government has yet to establish a precise capital budget for the project, as it will be finalized with the yet-to-be-selected private-sector partners.

So far, according to the City’s five-year capital plan through 2029, approved by Surrey City Council in March 2025, the municipal government has set aside $4 million to cover the project’s design and planning costs, with $2 million budgeted for 2025 and another $2 million for 2026. Preliminary design work is expected to begin in 2026.

“We anticipate a blended financing model that leverages private investment, naming-rights revenue, and targeted City contributions—all of which will be subject to Council approval before any financial commitments are locked in,” Jugpal told Daily Hive Urbanized.

“The City Centre arena is poised to anchor a vibrant sports and entertainment district that brings year-round jobs, new hospitality options, and a signature gathering place for Surrey residents. The City will publicly announce more milestones as they emerge.”

New seats being installed at Rogers Arena, May 2025. (Rogers Arena)

The 2007-installed Olympic-era scoreboard at Pacific Coliseum being removed in April 2023. (PNE)

UBC’s Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Sports Centre during the 2010 Winter Paralympics. (UBC)

This 10,000-seat arena in Surrey City Centre would be the third largest venue of its kind in the Lower Mainland — behind the 19,000-seat Rogers Arena and 16,000-seat Pacific Coliseum in Vancouver, but ahead of the 7,500-seat Thunderbird Sports Centre at the University of British Columbia, 7,000-seat Abbotsford Centre, 5,300-seat Langley Events Centre in Langley Township, and the 5,000-seat Chilliwack Coliseum.

Since 2021, the City of Abbotsford has contracted the operations and maintenance of the Abottsford Centre to Aquilini Investment Group, the owners of the NHL’s Vancouver Canucks. This is the same year Abbotsford Centre became the new home of the Abbotsford Canucks, the AHL affiliate of the Vancouver Canucks. Aquilini has a five-year contract, with renewal options enabling the partnership to last up to 20 years.

Some renovations were performed at Abbotsford Centre in 2023, including new and improved video boards and seating.

As well, since 2016, Langley City Centre has been the home of the WHL Vancouver Giants, replacing their previous use of the Pacific Coliseum, which will be the home of Vancouver’s new Professional Women’s Hockey League starting later in 2025.

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