COMMUNITY – New curling, racquet complex to replace Memorial Arena
Location of new sports complex in 700 block Victoria Street.
A new curling and racket sports complex will rise in place of the Memorial Arena and Kamloops Curling Club on Victoria Street, the City announced today (Jan. 23, 2026).
Because it will require demolition of the existing buildings, construction won’t start until 2030 after the new arena multiplex in Dufferin is open.
The City has also acquired adjacent properties to the east of the Victoria Street project, creating a 3.6 acre development site.
“The redevelopment of this city block will create a vibrant downtown hub that integrates curling and racquet sports and has potential for much more, including fitness space, community amenities, and even housing — a central place for active living,” said the City’s news release.
“It will support the growing demand for indoor racquet sports, which urgently require space, while also increasing our capacity to host national and international curling events and training camps.”
The design, timeline and budget have yet to be determined. The City says community consultation will be done on the new facility’s design and on how to mark the Memorial Arena’s place in the city’s history.
“The City’s vision for the downtown curling and racquet sports complex extends far beyond replacing old infrastructure. It is intended to be a dynamic, inclusive community space that supports active lifestyles, strengthens social connections, and contributes to long-term downtown revitalization.”
ArmchairMayor.ca 
Lame duck council and a lame duck administration putting out a press release on a Friday with no costs estimates associated. How naive does a reader have to be to believe any of this nonsense?
Whatever happens to this old site will be determined by the next council or the one after that, certainly it won’t be from this tired council who’ve lost almost all of their juice.
As far as the Multiplex and particularly the Police Station build, neither of these are likely to see the light of day, moreover don’t hold your breath that there won’t be significant changes to the PAC as the next council will be faced with tremendous spending challenges do to the decisions from this spend happy administration and feckless council.
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Don’t we have a shortage of ice sheets for hockey and such? If so shouldn’t the existing ice sheet be replaced and intergrated into the new facility?
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Good Afternoon,
I just read the article regarding the new curling club and racket ball court replacing Memorial Arena which is a Heritage building. So now this city council wants to remove a building that is a memorial to the Armed Forces that fought in World War 1 and 2. What next the Cenotaph on Battle Street so they can put up more high rises.
Was this even brought to the publics attention or behind closed doors????
Thank You
Rod Totten
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There is room for at least twenty floors, upward. A community bond should be issued to finance the beast.
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