![\"surrey-arena\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/surrey-arena.png;w=960.png\"\/)
\nRendering of the City Centre Arena and Cultural Event Centre. | City of Surrey <\/p>\n
Surrey is planning a $232M land swap to acquire land for a new downtown arena anchored by the junior hockey club Vancouver Giants<\/p>\n
The City of Surrey announced Tuesday it has reached an \u201cagreement in principle\u201d with the Vancouver Giants to anchor a proposed $360 million, 10,000-seat arena in the downtown core known as City Centre.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are thrilled to be part of this amazing venue that will change the face of Surrey like never before,\u201d Ron Toigo, majority owner and president of the Vancouver Giants of the Western Hockey League, said in a joint statement with the city.<\/p>\n
\nRendering of the City Centre Arena and Cultural Event Centre. | City of Surrey
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Surrey Mayor Brenda Locke touted the arena, slated for completion in 2030, as an economic windfall.<\/p>\n
\u201cBringing this arena to Surrey means jobs, investment, conference capacity, and major sports, arts and entertainment like never before. We\u2019re already the economic powerhouse of the region, and this is another step in Surrey\u2019s rise as a world-class city,\u201d said Locke, who intends to run for re-election in October, facing rival councillor Linda Annis and former Mayor Doug McCallum, among others.<\/p>\n
The city\u2019s planning the arena via the Surrey City Development Corp., an entity Locke rebooted in 2023 after McCallum sought to disband it during the prior four-year term.<\/p>\n
The project will also include a luxury hotel, conference space and housing. The arena will double as a \u201ccultural event centre\u201d and host major events as well, the city said.<\/p>\n
Artist renderings show the arena will be divided into two bowls of seating with one level of box seats in the middle. A large screen at an outdoor plaza is also envisioned.<\/p>\n
![\"downtown-surrey-arena\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/downtown-surrey-arena.png;w=960.png\"\/)
\nThe arena is planned in the downtown core known as City Centre. | City of Surrey
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The City Centre Arena and Cultural Event Centre,\u00a0as it\u2019s named now, will be built on land to be acquired by the city, directly across from city hall and Surrey Central SkyTrain Station, the statement indicated.<\/p>\n
More specifically, the property will be secured through a \u201cstrategic land swap\u201d agreement under which the city will acquire the five-acre parcel at 10355 King George Blvd. in exchange for three city-owned parcels at: 2750 194A St., 19165 39 Ave.\u00a0and 12820-12842 96 Ave. The swap is an exchange of $116 million on each side, according to a report from EY-Parthenon.<\/p>\n
If the plan follows through the Giants would relocate from the Langley Events Centre.<\/p>\n
Annis said in a statement Tuesday that she questions if the partnership will work given the Giants only pull in about 4,000 people per game.<\/p>\n
More so Annis said she questions how no private sector investment is part of the project.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe mayor\u2019s deal is completely one-sided with our city\u2019s taxpayers providing the land and paying for the proposed arena,\u201d said Annis, who also questioned the final price tag.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe actual cost of the Newton community centre is going to be more than that, and when you look at the number of publicly funded projects that are over budget and behind schedule, is it any wonder no one will take that $360 million price seriously,\u201d said Annis.<\/p>\n
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