Michael Bublé in Surrey for demolition of Safeway building on arena site
Published 3:00 pm Thursday, September 10, 2026
Demolition of an old Safeway store in Surrey began Thursday, Sept. 10, on the proposed future site of an arena, conference centre, hotel, entertainment district and housing.
Surrey Mayor Brenda Locke operated an excavator that ripped into the brick building at King George Boulevard and 104 Avenue, where plans are to build a 10,000-seat arena and event plaza with the Western Hockey League’s Vancouver Giants as anchor tenant, in a move from Langley Events Centre.
Michael Bublé, Giants co-owner, was a celebrity guest at the festival-like ceremony, attended by city hall employees and a few fans of the pop crooner and junior hockey team.
“This is going to be a huge addition to the community,” Bublé said of the arena, where he promises to sing at a grand-opening concert a few years from now.
VIDEO: @MichaelBuble on Surrey plans to build City Centre Arena at King George Blvd and 104 Ave.
Ron Toigo says Buble will sing at arena-opening concert, maybe 2030.
STORY: https://t.co/ctyG3KCcoZ pic.twitter.com/yzszxQ1bPU
— Tom Zillich (@TomZillich) September 10, 2026
The projected $360-million development, which could be built by 2030, amounts to a campaign promise by Locke ahead of the Oct. 17 civic election, with opposition mayor and council candidates not sold on plans to build a big new arena in Surrey.
VIDEO: Mayor Brenda Locke operates an excavator that rips into the former Safeway store building on a site where Surrey wants to build a 10,000-seat arena and convention centre/hotel by 2030.
STORY: https://t.co/ctyG3KCcoZ pic.twitter.com/BjTZ1FhWMh
— Tom Zillich (@TomZillich) September 10, 2026
Locke believes the project could generate $2.4 billion in economic benefits over the next decade and more than 2,700 jobs.
“This is an exciting step forward for one of the most significant city-building projects in Surrey’s history,” Locke said.
Surrey is now looking to hire a project manager for the job to plan, design and construct City Centre Arena, a project to address “an identified gap in the regional market for a mid-sized venue capable of hosting spectator sports, concerts, cultural performances, conventions, community gatherings and other major events,” says a Surrey website post.
Last June, Surrey and its SCDC real estate office announced plans for the arena involving a “strategic land swap” with Wesgroup Properties, owners of the former Safeway site.
May 29, 2021 was the final day of business at the Sobeys-owned grocery store, just east of Surrey City Hall and Civic Hotel.