Published October 27 2026. Facts checked October 26 2026 on the sources listed at the end of this page.
Today’s and this week’s events in the district are listed in What’s On at Victoria Park.
Victoria Park development centres on Scotia Place, the new event centre the City of Calgary lists as opening in fall 2027. Saddledome demolition by the City follows once Scotia Place opens; the Calgary Flames call 2026-27 the Saddledome’s Farewell Season. Near the arena, 9 Avenue SE runs on new lanes until October 2027, the 6 Street SE underpass is expected in 2028, a hotel on Stampede Park is expected in 2028 and the Green Line LRT is listed for 2031.
What is changing, by date
| Date | Project and milestone | Status as the source states it | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| October 15 1983 | Saddledome opens | Done | Scotiabank Saddledome; City of Calgary |
| July 2021 to October 2024 | 17 Avenue SE extension and Victoria Park/Stampede station rebuild: groundbreaking July 2021, permanent platforms December 2023, grand opening October 2024 | Done | CMLC |
| April 2023 | Stampede Trail Phase 1 (14 Avenue to Agriculture Trail) breaks ground; completed in 2023 | Done | CMLC |
| October 5 2023 | Scotia Place agreements signed | Done | City of Calgary |
| June 5 2024 | BMO Centre expansion grand opening | Done | City of Calgary |
| July 22 2024 | Scotia Place construction begins | Done | Government of Alberta |
| January 9 2026 | Groundbreaking announced for an Autograph Collection hotel on Stampede Park | Under construction | CMLC; Calgary Stampede |
| September 2026 | Final structural steel installed in the Scotia Place main arena | Done | City of Calgary |
| October 22 2026 to October 2027 | 9 Avenue SE traffic on the reconstructed north lanes | In effect | City of Calgary |
| 2026-27 season | Farewell Season at the Saddledome | Under way | Calgary Flames |
| Fall 2027 | Scotia Place opens; keys to CSEC | Targeted | City of Calgary |
| After Scotia Place opens | Saddledome demolition | Planned; no date published | City of Calgary |
| 2028 | 6 Street SE underpass opens | Expected | City of Calgary |
| 2028 | Autograph Collection hotel opens | Expected | CMLC; Calgary Stampede |
| 2031 | Green Line LRT opens | Listed by the City | City of Calgary |
| Not set | Stampede Trail Phase 2 (12 Avenue to 14 Avenue SE) | Timing “will be assessed” | CMLC |
Saddledome demolition and the Farewell Season
When was the Saddledome built? It opened on October 15 1983, according to the Saddledome and the City of Calgary, and was unveiled as the Scotiabank Saddledome in 1995 after renovations that began in fall 1994.
Is it closing? The Calgary Flames announced on March 21 2026 that “2026-2027 will mark the Farewell Season for CSEC clubs & operations inside the Scotiabank Saddledome,” and said more details would follow on the farewell celebrations. The City’s Scotia Place questions page states that the City will demolish the Saddledome when Scotia Place opens, that the Government of Alberta funds the demolition, and that the land stays owned, maintained and operated by the Calgary Stampede. The City says no commemoration plan is finalized. Neither source gives a final game or a demolition date. Seats, doors and parking for the last season: Saddledome seating and parking.
Scotia Place, the new event centre
The City owns Scotia Place, is building it on the former 5 Street SE near 12 Avenue SE, and lists seating for 18,400 at sports events and up to 20,000 for concerts. The City puts the arena components at $926.4 million and the full project, with district improvements, at $1.22 billion; CBC News reported the $926.4 million figure on July 22 2024, and Global News the $1.2 billion figure on June 2 2026. Opening, cost split and what changes for visitors: Scotia Place: what to know.
The district plan: Rivers District and the Culture + Entertainment District
The Rivers District Master Plan is a 20-year vision to redevelop Stampede Park and east Victoria Park as the Culture + Entertainment District, according to Calgary Municipal Land Corporation (CMLC). The plan covers 286 acres and 4 million square feet of mixed-use space; CMLC projects more than 8,000 new residents and more than 3 million visitors a year at build-out. CMLC says the plan is now being updated through the Calgary Stampede Master Plan.
Sources differ on the approval date: CMLC’s plan page says “Approved January 2018”, while a CMLC article from September 10 2019 says the City gave the plan the green light in December 2018.
Street work: 17 Avenue SE, Stampede Trail, 9 Avenue SE and 6 Street SE
17 Avenue SE extension and the station rebuild
CMLC led and funded the 17 Avenue SE extension and the Victoria Park/Stampede station rebuild as Development Manager for the City and the Calgary Stampede, and announced completion on October 10 2024. CMLC and LiveWire Calgary (October 10 2024) both give the cost as $128 million. The extension, named Flores LaDue Parade, has three lanes, is managed by the Calgary Stampede, is open all year and can close for key events. CMLC says the rebuild shortened the pedestrian crossing at Macleod Trail from 400 metres to 60 metres. How the station works now: Victoria Park/Stampede CTrain station guide.
Stampede Trail
Stampede Trail, formerly Olympic Way, is a four-block redevelopment led by CMLC with the Calgary Stampede. Phase 1, from 14 Avenue to Agriculture Trail, added brick pavers, catenary lighting and rolled curbs that let the street switch to a pedestrian-only festival space, according to CMLC. Sources differ on Phase 2, from 12 Avenue to 14 Avenue SE: LiveWire Calgary reported in April 2023 that it would be completed in 2024; CMLC’s page now says its timing “will be assessed” as Scotia Place work progresses.
9 Avenue SE
From October 22 2026 to October 2027, traffic on 9 Avenue SE runs on the reconstructed north lanes, according to the City’s October 2026 Scotia Place newsletter. The same shift opened a multi-use pathway on the north side of 9 Avenue SE, reopened 6 Street SE north of 9 Avenue SE and restored the west driveway to The Confluence.
6 Street SE underpass
The City of Calgary is building a second road crossing under the CPKC rail line, connecting 9 Avenue SE with 11 and 12 Avenues SE. The Government of Alberta funds it; it is built in phases and expected to open in 2028.
BMO Centre expansion
The BMO Centre expansion opened on June 5 2024 at a cost of $500 million, shared equally by the federal, Alberta and City governments, according to the City of Calgary; CTV News also reported the $500 million cost and more than one million square feet of floor space. The City says the expansion added 565,000 square feet, replaced Hall A and the Stampede Corral, and was delivered on budget, with CMLC as Development Manager.
New hotels
An Autograph Collection hotel by Truman on Stampede Park will have 13 storeys and 320 keys (guest rooms) and is expected to open in 2028, according to CMLC and the Calgary Stampede. As of January 9 2026, CMLC listed a W Calgary and a JW Marriott Calgary proposed at 15 Avenue and Macleod Trail as in the regulatory approvals process.
Green Line LRT
The City of Calgary’s Green Line page lists the southeast segment as under construction, running from Shepard near 130 Avenue SE to Event Centre/Grand Central station on the east side of downtown, and gives the opening as 2031. The Culture + Entertainment District site says the line will include a station in the heart of the district.
What changes for visitors
- This season: games and events stay at the Saddledome; the Flames call 2026-27 the Farewell Season.
- Driving and walking now: 9 Avenue SE uses its north lanes until October 2027, and the City warns of periodic lane restrictions and road closures in the district without listing dates. The C+E Access Map at map.cedistrict.com shows current closures and detours.
- CTrain: the rebuilt Victoria Park/Stampede station on the Red Line serves the district today; the Green Line is listed for 2031.
- From fall 2027 (targeted): teams and events move to Scotia Place, with a community rink, plazas and an attached parkade.
- After Scotia Place opens: the Saddledome is demolished; no date is published.
- 2028: the 6 Street SE underpass and the Stampede Park hotel are expected to open.
Every venue in the district: Venues at Victoria Park.
Sources: City of Calgary, Scotia Place landing page, frequently asked questions, financial contributions and October 2026 newsletter (Scotia Place, demolition, 9 Avenue SE), read October 26 2026; City of Calgary, 6 Street SE underpass, read October 26 2026; City of Calgary, BMO Centre Expansion, read October 26 2026; City of Calgary, Green Line, read October 26 2026; Government of Alberta, Major Projects, Scotia Place Calgary Events Centre (construction start, demolition funding), read October 26 2026; Calgary Flames, “The ‘Dome Farewell Season Logo Unveiled”, March 21 2026, read October 26 2026; Scotiabank Saddledome, Building History (opening, 1995), read October 26 2026; CMLC, Rivers District Master Plan, 17th Avenue SE Extension and Station Rebuild, station completion article (October 10 2024), Stampede Trail, and Autograph Collection hotel groundbreaking article, read October 26 2026; Calgary Stampede news, Autograph Collection hotel (January 30 2026), read October 26 2026; Culture + Entertainment District, projects pages, read October 26 2026; CBC News, “Design revealed for new Calgary event centre”, July 22 2024, read October 26 2026; Global News, Scotia Place project update, June 2 2026, read October 26 2026; CTV News, “Newly expanded BMO Centre officially opens”, June 2024, read October 26 2026; LiveWire Calgary, “$128 million Victoria Park LRT and 17 Avenue SE extension complete”, October 10 2024, and Stampede Trail report, April 6 2023, read October 26 2026.