Surrey taxpayers ‘on the hook’ for $360M arena, but Locke defends plan

Surrey Mayor Brenda Locke is standing firm about the $360-million pricetag for a proposed 10,000-seat arena, hotel, and cultural event centre, but questions are being raised about the mysterious partners the city is still negotiating with, a complicated land swap, and the fact that taxpayers are “on the hook” for the full bill.

Locke made the announcement Tuesday along with Ron Toigo, majority owner of the Vancouver Giants, the team that will be the anchor tenant if and when the project is completed.

The project will also include a luxury hotel, conference space and housing, helping create a new sports and entertainment district. The project will be built on land “to be acquired by the City,” directly across from City Hall and Surrey Central SkyTrain Station.

The project is anticipated to be completed by 2030, the city said, with a “net estimated” cost of $360 million. Funding for the project was provided for in the city’s 2026 budget. 

Surrey First Councillor and candidate for mayor Linda Annis, however, said Tuesday that Locke has “put Surrey taxpayers on the hook for 100 per cent of her 10,000-seat arena’s costs, with no sign of any serious private sector dollars.”

“The mayor’s deal is completely one-sided with our city’s taxpayers providing the land and paying for the proposed arena,” said Annis. “If the private sector genuinely believes this project is a good idea and financially viable, why are they not prepared to step up and be an investor and financial partner? Instead, the mayor is throwing in city land and putting our taxpayers on the hook for 100 per cent of the project, whatever the cost ends up being.”

Bill Aujla, president and CEO of the Surrey City Development Corporation, would not disclose who the partners in the project would be, saying that negotiations are still ongoing and confidential.

The property will be secured through a land swap agreement under which the city will acquire the five-acre parcel at 10355 King George Blvd. in exchange for three city-owned parcels at:  

• 2750 194A St. 
• 19165 39 Ave.
• 12820-12842 96 Ave.

“The fact that our taxpayers will put up the land and pay for the building, tells you everything you need to know about how the private sector feels about this project,” said Annis. “Even a partnership where the city provides the land and the private sector builds and operates the arena at their cost, might be worth considering. But this proposal is completely one-sided and the mayor is prepared to sign a blank cheque and put our taxpayers on the hook. This proposal raises a ton of red flags for Surrey taxpayers.”

Annis was also skeptical of the cost estimate.

“The actual cost of the Newton community centre is going to be more than that, and when you look at the number of publicly funded projects that are over budget and behind schedule, is it any wonder no one will take that $360 million price seriously,” said Annis.

Annis also questioned moving the Vancouver Giants from the Langley Events Centre to the proposed 10,000-seat arena.

“The Vancouver Giants are a terrific team, but they do not fill the Langley Events Centre which has about 5,200 seats,” said Annis. “The average attendance at a Giants game is less than 4,000 fans. So how will they fill a 10,000-seat arena as the anchor tenant and what are the details of that agreement with the city?”

Locke said the project is anticipated to generate $2.4 billion in economic benefits for the city over 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,” Locke said. “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.”  

City residents should be excited for the project, Aujla said.

“This is an exciting project for the City of Surrey that will really form the core of a new sports, culture and entertainment district,” Aujla said. “Bringing together this new parcel of land, with experienced parties to build, operate and tenant this new 10,000-seat arena, is going to unlock significant opportunities for the City.”