Land swap led to 10,000-seat Surrey arena plans on 104 Avenue
Published 1:44 pm Tuesday, June 30, 2026
A “strategic land swap” is part of Surrey’s plan to build a new 10,000-seat arena at the corner of King George Boulevard and 104 Avenue.
The former Safeway grocery store site, just east of Surrey City Hall, is a five-acre parcel of land owned by Wesgroup Properties, which will receive three city-owned parcels — at 2750 194A Street, 19165 39 Avenue and 12820-12842 96 Avenue — as part of a deal to construct City Centre Arena and Cultural Event Centre.
The City of Surrey, city-owned Surrey City Development Corporation real estate office (SCDC) and Vancouver Giants hockey team are among partners in the projected $360-million development, which could be built by 2030. Giants owners plan to move their team to Surrey from Langley Events Centre.
Surrey had previously targeted Tom Binnie Park and the BC Lions training facility site for a new arena, but has pivoted to the 104 Avenue/King George location, across from Surrey Central SkyTrain Station.
“This site, it’s centre ice for the city and the whole region, really, and so when this opportunity came up it just was too good to be true, to be honest, and so that’s why the move,” Mayor Brenda Locke told the Now-Leader. “The BC Lions are still where they are, and they’re happy.”
Aerial view of @BCLions practice facility in Whalley, which @CityofSurrey had ID’d as potential site of new 10,000-seat arena, walking toward the new proposed site at 104/KGB, next to city hall. Video I shot from top of PKWY rental tower today.
STORY: https://t.co/CuMG1jZTEj pic.twitter.com/iGXi4ESyPA
— Tom Zillich (@TomZillich) June 30, 2026
Arena details were announced Tuesday (June 30) at Surrey City Hall.
Locke said the land-swap was completed with “not one but two independent appraisals to ensure a fair deal for both parties in the negotiations. We checked and double-checked.”
At a public hearing May 25, Wesgroup’s rezoning application for their proposed Civic District project passed a third reading for approval.
Later, a council in-camera meeting was held to maintain confidentiality and “negotiating position” with arena project partner(s), according to Bill Aujla, SCDC president and CEO, who said agreements in principle have been reached with “a number of partners.… The target is to have definitive agreements completed over the next two to three months. We’re moving as fast as we can.”
Aujla said a published report will detail assessment of the appraisal and negotiations.
“This is the ideal site, and in addition to everything to do a land transaction to make it work, where you didn’t have to pay cash, which would have hit budgets, it is strategically important,” Aujla said. “On the flip side, they’re going to actually put those lands that were not developed into development and create jobs in Surrey. So there’s a win on that side too, when they develop those properties, because the city doesn’t normally build industrial lands.”
Funding for the arena project was included in the city’s 2026 budget.
“This is a major vote of confidence in Surrey and our vision for an arena and broader sports, culture and entertainment district,” Locke said. “When we say big things are happening in Surrey, we absolutely mean it.”
The arena project would also include a high-end hotel, conference space and housing, “creating a true sports and entertainment district to attract investment and economic growth in our city,” the mayor added.
Giants president Ron Toigo said “Vancouver” would remain as the team name, although Locke said she’d push for Surrey Giants instead.
Councillor Linda Annis, running for mayor this fall, says Surrey taxpayers could be on the hook for 100 per cent of arena costs, “with no sign of any serious private sector dollars.
“If the private sector genuinely believes this project is a good idea and financially viable, why are they not prepared to step up and be an investor and financial partner?” Annis questioned.
She also questions the Giants move from Langley where the team typically attracts around 4,000 fans, not enough to fill a 10,000-seat arena in Surrey.
“I’m not surprised that the Giants are solidly behind this deal,” Annis said. “It’s a great deal for them and it is only possible because the mayor is putting Surrey taxpayers on the hook. If this project could produce a viable financial model the private sector would be rushing to build it and operate it.”
Last January, Surrey’s plans to build an arena in City Centre moved forward with a call for “expressions of interest” to develop the facility and for sports team(s) to play there.