NHL commissioner Gary Bettman was hesitant to lay out details about potential bids to host the World Cup of Hockey in\u00a0Alberta, but suggested Tuesday that there was interest.<\/p>\n
The NHL and NHL Players\u2019 Association announced last year that the World Cup of Hockey would return for a fourth time in February 2028.<\/p>\n
Not unlike the Olympics or the 4 Nations Face-Off last winter, the World Cup will assemble the world\u2019s top hockey players under their national banners for a best-on-best tournament.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The NHL has said it will happen in locations in North America and Europe, but the host cities are undetermined.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Commissioner tight-lipped about Calgary hosting World Cup <\/p>\n
When asked whether Calgary and Edmonton were putting in a joint bid for the World Cup, Bettman said he was \u201caware of the bid\u201d but would not provide details, including whether it was a joint or independent effort and from whom.<\/p>\n
\u201cNothing has been finalized, but it was a good bid,\u201d he said during a media availability at the Scotiabank Saddledome.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m not prepared to tell you today that it was or was not the winning bid, but certainly it\u2019s a bid that people could be very proud of.\u201d<\/p>\n
Tourism organizations in Edmonton and Calgary did not immediately respond to requests for comment.<\/p>\n
Calgary mayor \u2018very much in support\u2019 of bid<\/p>\n
Speaking to reporters on Monday at an unrelated news conference, Calgary Mayor Jeromy Farkas said the \u201cprospect of hosting events like this are very exciting,\u201d and that he was \u201cvery much in support of a potential bid.\u201d<\/p>\n
His support, he clarified, would also hinge on whether it\u2019s a good business decision.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf you can show me the value for money, I\u2019ll be the first cheerleader,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Farkas said he would be speaking with Bettman on Tuesday night.<\/p>\n
The\u00a0Alberta\u00a0government had said it would pitch in up to $15 million to help host the tournament if one of its cities is awarded the bid.<\/p>\n
New arena for international event <\/p>\n
A successful bid would mean breaking in Calgary\u2019s new arena with an international tournament.<\/p>\n
The $800-million facility, Scotia Place, is a part of a larger entertainment district expected to be completed in fall 2027. It\u2019s expected to seat about 18,400 people.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t think there\u2019ll be a nicer building anywhere than that,\u201d Bettman said, having visited the construction site earlier Tuesday.<\/p>\n
He said while nobody should denigrate the Flames\u2019 current arena, it\u2019s \u201cpast its time.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe best indication of that will be when you go to the new building, and you see the difference in what is state of the art these days compared to what it was in the early 1980s.\u201d<\/p>\n
Bettman did not reveal details about any cities that might be bidding to host the tournament.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m not looking to encourage speculation. When the process is complete, and we\u2019re ready to make an announcement, we will.\u201d<\/p>\n
The tournament\u2019s revival would be a dozen years after Team Canada won in 2016, having defended its title from 2004.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The NHL previously said the 2028 rendition would include at least eight teams, though Bettman said Russia\u2019s participation would depend on aspects that the league doesn\u2019t control, including the International Ice Hockey Federation\u2019s input and \u201cthe state of the world.\u201d<\/p>\n
This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 3, 2026.<\/p>\n
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