Prospera Place
ThePulseofKelowna
PROSPERA PLACE - THE PULSE OF KELOWNA
Prospera Place isn't just a building; it's a cultural icon that has captured the hearts of Kelowna residents and visitors alike. A thriving hub, it brings the community together with exciting sporting and entertainment events that everyone can enjoy.
Since opening in 1999, Prospera Place has been home to the WHL Kelowna Rockets and hosted a wide array of sporting events, from the Memorial Cup to Skate Canada International competitions. It has also welcomed chart-topping shows and artists like Shania Twain, Jay Z, Elton John, Aerosmith, Michael Bublé, and Cirque de Soleil.
The arena is also home to “Rock The Lake,” an outdoor music festival that has featured performers such as April Wine, Randy Bachman, A Flock of Seagulls, and many more. Learn more
Event memories
Elton John
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Jay Z
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Cirque du Soleil
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WWE
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KISS
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Sting
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B.B. King
Michael Bublé
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Tiësto
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Backstreet Boys
Barenaked Ladies
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Skate Canada International
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Russell Peters
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History
Howitallbegan
THE HISTORY: HOW IT ALL BEGAN
In 1994, the City of Kelowna was looking for a private partner to help build a much-needed arena for the city—after a failed referendum, and two failed partnership negotiations, that's when Graham Lee, President and CEO of RG Properties (now The GSL Group), stepped up to the plate.
Graham and his company, GSL group, covered almost 70% of the investment costs for Prospera Place, pursuing an ambitious mission to create a state-of-the-art sports and entertainment arena that was leagues above what any city of Kelowna's size had ever seen before. Learn more
Chronology of Failed Arena Deals prior to GSL
Failed Negotiations with Axor
Official ground breaking
Graham Lee, Mayor Walter Grey, Bruce Hamilton, and Andre Blanleil
Ribbon Cutting at ground breaking ceremony
Crane preparing for dynamic compaction of ground
Start of construction aerial photo 1997
Concrete footings and columns
Preparing formwork of second level
Coming soon sign, corner of Water Street and Cawston Street
View of building from Sunset Drive
Raker beams being installed
Concrete placing of upper level
Roof membrane being installed
Innovation
Anarenarivalingtheworld'sbest
AN INNOVATIVE CONCEPT: A FIRST FOR ARENA THIS SIZE
A resounding success that has energized and modernized much of the city's cultural scene, the arena's innovative and industry-changing achievements were recognized shortly after it opened. Prospera Place was named the Best Arena with under 15,000 seats in Canada at the Canada Music Week Awards. It was also named a Top 10 Facility with under 10,000 seats in North America by Polistar and earned a Gold Award for Infrastructure at the Canadian Council for Private Public Partnerships. Prospera Place has also spurred the creation of similar-sized venues across Canada and the US, including Penticton, Abbotsford, and Victoria.
Canadian Music Award
Voice of the Community
TheHeartoftheCity
Voice of the Community: THE HEART OF THE CITY
It's not just the events that make Prospera Place so special; it's the stories that unfold within its walls. Here, couples have met during concerts, families have created unforgettable memories, and locals have cheered on their friends and hometown team.
From the very beginning, Prospera Place has been an integral part of Kelowna, providing entertainment and excitement to the lives of everyone in the community. It has also become part of the fabric of what makes Kelowna special: in addition to being a world-class city nestled in BC’s famed Okanagan Valley, it is now a booming sports, entertainment, and arts hub.
Quotes from industry leaders
Facts Check
PriceWaterhouseCoopersReport
FACTS CHECK: PRICE WATERHOUSE COOPERS REPORT
Prospera Place’s success speaks for itself. Specifically, a 2022 PWC report card (commissioned in anticipation of the 25th anniversary) detailed the arena's resounding financial accomplishments—benchmarking it as a standard for other arenas in similar-sized cities.
Note: The $1.24M annual contribution from the city comes in the form of arena ice time purchases which the city uses for revenue-generating events. This reduces the city's contribution significantly. In addition, GSL Group pays $438,000 GSL in property tax as well as $49,000 towards capital maintenance annually, further reducing the $1.24M contribution (other publicly owned arenas do not pay property taxes).
The Future
Avisioninthemaking
The Future: A VISION IN THE MAKING
Always driving for growth, GSL Group believes Prospera Place has further potential beyond its current success. The vision is to ensure it continues to be a state-of-the-art, internationally renowned entertainment centre with endless opportunities for the people of Kelowna and other local communities.
For Prospera Place,
of residents had favourable comments about the arena, which included the physical design, layout, condition, and amenities
Of those that had an opinion of upgrades to Prospera Place,
have greater confidence and trust in the private sector doing the upgrades and believe that city budgets should be focused on other priorities like creating affordable housing
With a detailed focus on the site’s purpose, impact and future, GSL Group sees an expansion that would ensure the community thrives in every possible way. It would become a place where people of all backgrounds and interests could “LIVE, EAT, PLAY and LEARN” and Get SociaL.
Prospera Place - The possibility is infinite.
