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3h ago

Canada and Alberta Commit $52 Million to Modernize Calgary Olympic Oval

The matched investment will replace the refrigerated concrete slab plus the ice plant, preserving elite training, community skating, university sport research.

Speed skaters train as federal and provincial officials announce a funding agreement to refurbish the Olympic Oval in Calgary, Monday, July 27, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh
Adam van Koeverden, federal Secretary of State for Sport, speaks during that the announcement that Canada and Alberta are investing $52 million to modernize the Olympic Oval in Calgary. The announcement was made at the oval on Monday, July 27, 2026.
Long track speed skaters train at the Olympic Oval in Calgary on Monday, July 27, 2026.
Its known as "the fastest ice in the world" and now Calgary's Olympic Oval, which was built for the 1988 Winter Olympics, is getting $52 million in upgrades.

Overview

  • Federal and provincial governments announced matching $26-million contributions for a $52-million renewal of the Olympic Oval in Calgary.
  • The funded work covers replacement of the original refrigerated concrete slab, installation of a new ice plant, and upgrades to mechanical, electrical, structural and life-safety systems.
  • The Oval’s cooling slab has growing brine leaks in its floor connections and is nearing the end of its usable life, which prompted the move to fund full replacements rather than piecemeal repairs.
  • The upgrade is intended to keep the facility functioning as an ISU Centre of Excellence that has trained 26 Olympic medallists, while supporting University of Calgary sport-science research in physiology, injury prevention and equipment design.
  • The Oval also serves tens of thousands of community skaters each year and generated more than $33 million for Calgary from events in 2022–2024, and the announcement did not provide construction start or completion dates.