BURSTThe 2026 Memorial Cup generated a record amount of money for Kelowna, according to the Canadian Hockey League (CHL).
In a Friday, Oct. 16 press release, the CHL stated that the tournament, which was held in Kelowna in May, brought in $50.9 million, the largest recorded economic impact for a Memorial Cup host community.
“We’re thrilled at the results of the economic impact study. We saw the excitement throughout the tournament, and it’s incredibly rewarding to see that reflected in such a significant benefit for our local economy,” said Steve Thomson, Co-Chair, 2026 Memorial Cup Host Organizing Committee. “This result is a credit to our community partners, local businesses, volunteers and everyone who helped welcome fans to Kelowna.”
Hosted by the Kelowna Rockets from May 21–31, the championship tournament drew sellout crowds throughout the 11 days at Prospera Place, seeing a total of 47,780 tickets sold. In the end, the Kitchener Rangers were crowned as Memorial Cup champions.
“The Memorial Cup showcases the best of the best from across the CHL, and Kelowna demonstrated the immense value this event can bring to a community,” said CHL president Dan MacKenzie. “From sellout crowds and visitor spending to support for local charities, students and community facilities, the impact reached well beyond the rink. That is the legacy we want our championship to leave in the communities that welcome us.”
To find the economic impacts results, the CHL and Kelowna 2026 Memorial Cup Host Organizing Committee hired T1 Agency to conduct a study. Reviewing more than 500 survey responses, the study examined spending attributable to the tournament in Greater Kelowna area. The findings found that many visiting fans stayed for a week or longer, combining their time at the rink with local experiences such as wine tours, golf, boating and hiking, which extended the event’s benefits to businesses throughout the region.
“Kelowna was an excellent destination for an event like this,” said T1 Agency partner Norm O’Reilly. “Visitors travelled from far and wide, spent across a range of local businesses and tourism experiences, and were highly satisfied with their stay. That combination generated considerable benefits for businesses and the broader community.”
In addition, the tournament’s community contributions totalled $137,000 in charitable support and scholarship funding, including $50,000 for Kelowna Minor Hockey to help families cover registration and equipment costs, and $37,000 for the Child & Youth Advocacy Centre of Kelowna.
The Memorial Cup Legacy Scholarship Program will also provide $50,000 of that total in funding to students at UBC Okanagan and Okanagan College over the next five years. Launched in 2022, the program already supports students in Saint John, Kamloops, Saginaw and Rimouski, and will expand to Guelph following the 2027 Memorial Cup.
“As an organizing committee, we couldn’t be prouder of what our community accomplished together,” added Thomson.