Surrey City Centre Arena faces uncertain future as McCallum takes office today
Mayor-elect Doug McCallum has promised to pull the City's $200-million funding commitment from the 10,000-seat arena project and order a forensic audit of the land deal behind it.
Reported. A news outlet found this. voche.me names the outlet and links its report. Read the original report on dailyhive.com.
The City of Surrey's plan to build a 10,000-seat arena at its downtown core faces an uncertain path as Mayor-elect Doug McCallum and his Safe Surrey Coalition take office tonight with a promise to end public funding for the project.
Daily Hive Urbanized reported November 1 that McCallum has pledged to withdraw the up to $200 million in municipal funding that outgoing Mayor Brenda Locke committed to the arena over the City's 2026-2030 capital plan. His Safe Surrey Coalition's election commitments include ordering a forensic audit of the land deal behind the project, which McCallum told the Surrey Now-Leader in September 2026 would be one of his first acts as mayor.
The project and where it stands
The arena, called the Surrey City Centre Arena and Cultural Event Centre, would sit at 10355 King George Boulevard on a former Safeway site across from Surrey Central SkyTrain station. The arena component is estimated to cost up to $360 million, according to Daily Hive Urbanized. Demolition and site preparation started September 10, 2026. Major construction is scheduled for 2027, with a planned opening in 2030.
The Vancouver Giants, who currently play at the 5,300-seat Langley Events Centre with a lease expiring in 2030, signed an agreement in principle with the City under Locke to make the new arena their home. Giants majority owner and president Ron Toigo told Daily Hive Urbanized the location's access to SkyTrain and the building's larger capacity were the main reasons for the team's interest.
The land deal McCallum wants to audit
To acquire the site, the City arranged a land swap with Langley-area developer Wesgroup Properties, exchanging three City-owned properties for the former Safeway land. Each side of the exchange was valued at $116.6 million, according to Daily Hive Urbanized. McCallum and other critics argued during the campaign that the properties Surrey traded were worth more than the site it received.
In an October 6, 2026 campaign announcement, McCallum said: "Twelve questionable land deals. One hundred and fifty million dollars overpaid. And a mayor who will not explain a single one of them." His Safe Surrey Coalition platform commits to making the audit findings public.
McCallum's promise to keep public money out of any new arena, and to audit the land deals, are tracked on his page at /bc/surrey-2026/candidates/doug-mccallum.
Tonight's swearing-in
McCallum and the incoming council, where his Safe Surrey Coalition holds a majority, are scheduled to be sworn in at Surrey City Hall on the evening of November 2, 2026. The new council's first steps on the arena will give a clearer picture of whether the project can continue as planned.
Locke previously said the project had passed a point where it could not easily be stopped, pointing to contracts already signed. Wesgroup's redevelopment plan had stalled on the same site for years before the City agreed to the arena project.
Residents can follow the council's decisions on the arena and McCallum's other promises at the Surrey promise tracker.
Questions this story answers
What is the Surrey City Centre Arena project?
The City of Surrey planned a 10,000-seat arena and mixed-use development at 10355 King George Boulevard, the former Safeway site directly across from Surrey Central SkyTrain station. The Vancouver Giants signed an agreement in principle with the City to make it their new home. The arena component alone is estimated to cost up to $360 million. Site demolition and preparation began September 10, 2026. Major construction is scheduled to begin in 2027, with the arena planned to open in 2030.
How much public money did Surrey commit to the arena?
Under outgoing Mayor Brenda Locke, the City committed up to $200 million in municipal funding spread over the 2026-2030 capital plan toward the arena portion of the development, according to Daily Hive Urbanized.
What did Doug McCallum promise about the arena during the election?
McCallum said the project would have to be entirely privately funded under his administration. He told the Surrey Now-Leader in September 2026: 'If we were to ever build a big arena, a bigger arena, we will not use a penny of public money.' His Safe Surrey Coalition's election commitments include withdrawing the municipal funding set aside by Locke. This promise is tracked at /bc/surrey-2026/tracker.
What is the forensic audit McCallum promised?
In an October 6, 2026 campaign announcement, McCallum said a forensic audit of City Hall and its land deals would be his first order of business as mayor. He said the review would examine all land deals that the arena project is based on. He argued that the properties Surrey traded for the arena site were worth more than the former Safeway property the City received. His Safe Surrey Coalition holds a majority on the new council.
What was the land deal for the arena site?
The City arranged a land swap with developer Wesgroup Properties, exchanging three City-owned properties for the former Safeway site at 10355 King George Boulevard. Each side of the exchange was valued at $116.6 million, according to Daily Hive Urbanized. McCallum and other critics argued during the campaign that the properties the City traded were worth more than what it received.
Why did the Vancouver Giants want to move to Surrey City Centre?
Giants majority owner and president Ron Toigo told Daily Hive Urbanized the Surrey City Centre location offered better transit access, a larger building of 10,000 seats compared to the current 5,300-seat Langley Events Centre, and the ability to host major events including the CHL Memorial Cup and IIHF World Junior Championship. The team's current lease at Langley Events Centre expires in 2030.
When is the new Surrey council sworn in?
Mayor-elect Doug McCallum and the incoming Surrey City Council led by his Safe Surrey Coalition are scheduled to be sworn in at Surrey City Hall on the evening of Monday, November 2, 2026, according to Daily Hive Urbanized.
What can Surrey residents do about the arena decision?
The incoming council takes office tonight at Surrey City Hall. McCallum has said his first act as mayor will be to order a forensic audit. Residents can follow the new council's decisions on the arena at the Surrey City Council tracker at /bc/surrey-2026/tracker, and read Doug McCallum's promise on public arena funding at /bc/surrey-2026/candidates/doug-mccallum.
Sources
The pages this story draws on. Open one to check a claim yourself.
Found an error? Tell the editors with the corrections form. A correction is noted on the story it changes. Read our standards.
