City of Surrey to build 10,000-seat City Centre Arena by 2030

The City of Surrey plans to build an arena, and create a new home for the Vancouver Giants.

The City Centre Arena and Cultural Event Centre is an agreement between the city and the Surrey City Development Corporation, set to complete by 2030. The City of Surrey estimates it will generate $2.4 billion in economic benefits across the next 10 years.

“When we say big things are happening in Surrey, we mean it, and a new arena of this scale is as big as it gets,” Mayor Brenda Locke said in a press release.

“Bringing this arena to Surrey means jobs, investment, conference capacity, and major sports, arts and entertainment like never before. We’re already the economic powerhouse of the region, and this is another step in Surrey’s rise as a world-class city.” 

The arena will be located at the former Safeway site at the corner of King George Boulevard and 104 Avenue, near city hall and the Surrey Central SkyTrain station. It’s part of a “strategic land swap” between the city and the owner of the site, Wesgroup Properties.

Wesgroup Properties received three city-owned parcels — two industrial sites in Campbell Heights and a shopping centre in Cedar Hills — and the City of Surrey received a five-acre parcel to build the arena.

In an email statement to The Runner, the Surrey City Development Corporation wrote that the project will support many jobs across Surrey and the province.

“In addition to the arena, plans include a luxury hotel, conference centre, residential development, retail opportunities, and public gathering spaces,” the Surrey City Development Corporation wrote.

The corporation added that the next phase of the project will involve finalizing agreements with the city, design, and construction permitting.

“These investments are anticipated to attract visitors, support local businesses, encourage new investment, and further establish Surrey as a regional destination for entertainment, culture, and economic activity,” the Surrey City Development Corporation wrote.

Mike Starchuk, mayoral candidate with Imagine Surrey, filed a petition to the BC Supreme Court for a judicial review of the land-swap agreement.

“Taxpayers are paying way too much in publicly-held assets for that former Safeway property at 104 Ave and King George,” Starchuk said in a press release. “This is highly concerning. We are selling off future assets and future revenue on the biggest gamble this city has ever made.”

Coun. Linda Annis, who is also running for mayor in the October municipal election, voted against the deal.

“The mayor brushed off questions and said it was a simple land swap, but when you look at the assessed value of the city property and the value of the Wesgroup Properties site, taxpayers got the short end of the stick and ended up paying $28 million more than the assessed value of the arena site,” Annis said in a press release.

Bill Aujla, CEO of the Surrey City Development Corporation, told the Vancouver Sun land swaps aren’t based on assessed value.

“Land transactions are typically done on appraisals.… I think we did make sure we had a fair deal for both sides,” Aujla said.