Photo: Kelowna Rockets
Prospera Place, as it is now, is no longer a building capable of hosting the Canadian Hockey League National Championship.
Following the CHL’s announcement on Friday evening of the 2023 Memorial Cup award in Kamloops, the Kelowna Rockets released a statement sharing their disappointment at not being able to bid for the event they lost after the cancellation. of the 2020 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
In a message to ticket holders, sponsors and fans, the Rockets said, in part, “When we submitted our intent to bid, there was an audit conducted at Prospera Place on behalf of the Rockets, Kelowna City and the GSL group, owner, operate and manage the arena.
“This audit found that there were significant deficiencies that needed to be upgraded for the facilities to meet CHL standards to host the Memorial Cup.
“Ultimately, no agreement could be reached with the Rockets, City of Kelowna and GSL Group to make the necessary capital improvements to the building.”
Without the necessary improvements, the Rockets said they could not continue their bid to host the 2023 Memorial Cup.
The Rockets have hosted Prospera Place at home for the past 22 years, hosting more than 900 games, including the 2004 Memorial Cup. NHL.
“Our hope, as we look to the future, is that the GSL Group will work to complete the necessary improvements identified by the audit so that we can bring a Memorial Cup back to Kelowna.”
The building was completed in 1999 as a collaboration between the city and the GSL group. Under this agreement, GSL Group will own and operate the building for 30 years before handing it over to the city.
When the Rockets received the unfortunate Memorial Cup 2020, the bidding process was conducted by the WHL and not the CHL. Event construction requirements have now changed with CHL taking over the selection.