sport
Downtown Sports Venues Expand, Adding 5+ New Fitness Options
Expansions at established community centres and arena sites are adding capacity for fitness activities in multiple downtown cores.
How we reported this
Construction has begun on an $87.5 million expansion to Calgary's MNP Community & Sport Centre in the downtown core, adding leisure water facilities scheduled to wrap up in late 2026.
These projects arrive as cities continue to invest in physical infrastructure that directly supports running groups, training sessions and fitness programming. Downtown cores have long hosted such activities, and the new or upgraded venues provide additional space and amenities that organizers can use year-round.
Named projects advancing in multiple cores
Jacobs Entertainment has secured permits and started construction on the first four youth sports fields of a 12-field master plan in Reno's downtown core. The Ottawa Senators finalized a land deal to purchase 4.5 hectares at LeBreton Flats for a new arena in Ottawa's downtown, enabling zoning and site decontamination to proceed. Surrey is planning a $200 million investment to build a new 10,000-seat sports and entertainment arena in its downtown core. Port Coquitlam's $132 million community centre in the downtown core is substantially completed and set for a grand opening on October 2, with skating and fitness amenities already open.
The facilities range from water-based leisure additions to multi-field complexes and large arenas. Each project targets downtown locations where existing demand for organized runs, group fitness classes and recreational leagues already exists. The Port Coquitlam centre, for example, opened its fitness areas ahead of the formal October 2 date, allowing immediate use by local programs.
Scale of current investments
The Calgary expansion carries an $87.5 million price tag and focuses on leisure water features that complement existing sport infrastructure. Port Coquitlam's $132 million centre and Surrey's proposed $200 million arena represent comparable commitments in their respective downtown areas. Ottawa's 4.5-hectare purchase at LeBreton Flats clears the way for further site work on the arena project. These figures come from project announcements tied to the individual cities and illustrate the level of spending directed at downtown sport venues.
Organizers of running and fitness events can track completion timelines through municipal planning departments. Port Coquitlam residents already have access to the opened fitness amenities, while Calgary users can monitor the late-2026 target for the expanded MNP centre. Similar updates on the Reno fields, Ottawa arena and Surrey proposal are available from the respective city permitting offices.