Take a look inside the now complete BMO Centre expansion

CBC
·2 min read

At long last, Calgary's BMO Centre expansion at Stampede Park is officially complete — just in time for the 2024 Calgary Stampede. The $500-million project makes it the largest convention centre in Western Canada.

After six years of planning and work, the finished centre is now one complete piece of the future Culture + Entertainment District.

"We had a common goal for what we wanted to create here and we were true to that and conscious of budget and supply chain issues all the way along," said Kate Thomson, president & CEO of the Calgary Municipal Land Corporation (CMLC).

"We made hard choices and smart decisions about where to spend the money and how to spend it."

The CMLC says the expanded BMO Centre was funded in equal parts by the Government of Canada, the Government of Alberta and The City of Calgary. June 6, 2024.
The CMLC says the expanded BMO Centre was funded in equal parts by the Government of Canada, the Government of Alberta and The City of Calgary. (Helen Pike/CBC)
The BMO Centre's first convention post-opening is the Global Energy Show running from June 11-13, 2024. Over 500 conventions and events have already been booked in the new space. June 6, 2024.
The BMO Centre's first convention post-opening is the Global Energy Show running from June 11-13. Over 500 conventions and events have already been booked in the new space. (Helen Pike/CBC)

The Stampede and CMLC officials expect the 565,000-square-foot expansion to put Calgary on the map in the convention business. According to the CMLC, over 500 conventions and events have already been booked in the space, with the very first being the Global Energy Show from June 11-13.

"This place is incredible," said Jyoti Gondek.

"From an economic perspective, anybody that comes here and takes part in what's happening in this space is going to go back and tell others and that's going to drive more tourism, and that is absolutely one of the pillars of our economic success. This place is going to do marvels for us."

Calgarians can tour the new space on Saturday, June 8 from 9-1 p.m. during the Calgary Stampede’s ENMAX Community Round Up event. June 6, 2024.
Calgarians can tour the new space on Saturday, June 8 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. during the Calgary Stampede’s ENMAX Community Round Up event. (Helen Pike/CBC)
The expanded BMO Centre is expected to increase Calgary's economic impact, and be able to host events with a greater scale. The CMLC says the "economic impact to Calgary will equate to approximately upwards of $100 million a year". June 6, 2024.
The expanded BMO Centre is expected to increase Calgary's economic impact, and be able to host events with a greater scale. The CMLC says the "economic impact to Calgary will equate to approximately upwards of $100 million a year." (Helen Pike/CBC)
This 70 ft. tall indoor fireplace is placed at a gathering area called "the Exchange". It's one of the highlights for the CMLC in the expanded BMO Centre. June 6, 2024.
This 70-foot tall indoor fireplace is placed at a gathering area called "the Exchange." It's one of the highlights for the CMLC in the expanded BMO Centre. (Helen Pike/CBC)

Calgarians can tour the expanded BMO Centre this Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. during the Calgary Stampede's ENMAX Community Round Up event.

The Calgary Stampede runs from July 5-14.