This article is part of the Bright Leaders of Calgary series, which features prominent corporate leaders from our Team Calgary program and their insights on the local business community and vision for the future.
Calgary is known as a city of entrepreneurs and opportunity — and the place to go if you want to go places. Combine this with a thriving sports, entertainment and arts and culture scene, and the city’s reputation of vibrancy and livability continues to grow.
Calgary Sports and Entertainment Corporation (CSEC), operator of the Scotiabank Saddledome and owner of five major sports franchises, is one of the most well-known organizations contributing to this high quality of life.
From upcoming transformative projects like Scotia Place to unforgettable fan experiences, CSEC is helping define what it means to live, work and play in Calgary. The organization is also a driving force boosting Calgary’s cultural identity and economic future — both priorities in the city’s economic action plan, Uplook.
We sat down with the President and CEO of CSEC, Robert Hayes, to explore why the Blue Sky City is ranked among the best cities to live in North America and the world.
Calgary’s economic action plan, Uplook, emphasizes livability as one of the core pillars to building a resilient city. How do sports and entertainment contribute to Calgary’s identity as a world-class city?
Having major sports and entertainment puts Calgary on the map — it signals that we’re a serious, world-class city. We have the infrastructure, the business environment and increasingly, the sports and entertainment offerings that make a city truly livable and give people a sense of hope and excitement.
At Scotia Place, there will be an outdoor plaza capable of hosting up to 5,000 people and featuring a giant video board. Imagine a playoff series where more than 18,000 fans are inside watching the Flames and thousands more are outside enjoying a street-party atmosphere. That’s the kind of energy and connection we want to foster — a gathering place for people across Calgary and southern Alberta.
How does CSEC contribute to Calgary’s livability and sense of community, especially through sports and entertainment?
CSEC’s sports teams — hockey, lacrosse, football — naturally appeal to different groups in the city. There are options for all ages, interests and price points, from youth-friendly teams like the Hitmen, Roughnecks and Wranglers to legacy teams like the Flames and Stampeders.
Recognizing the diversity that we have here in Calgary, we want to be there and available for more constituents. We’re really proud that the fastest growing group showing interest in the Calgary Stampeders football team is women.
As we transition over to Scotia Place, entertainment is a key focus of ours and an area we want to grow. Whether it's intimate concerts, major shows or comedy and cultural events, we want to create a space that reflects the full spectrum of interests in our community. We’re also working closely with our partners, Calgary Municipal Land Corporation and the Calgary Stampede, to activate the entire event district year-round.
From the revitalized downtown core and Arts Commons to the new Scotia Place and BMO Centre, Calgary’s sports and entertainment scene has the potential to contribute to an already incredibly vibrant city.
What do you think sets Calgary apart as a place where people want to build their careers – and lives?
Calgary is the best city in North America. We have incredible education options, like the University of Calgary, and are attracting major investment and innovation with initiatives like the Opportunity Calgary Investment Fund that are fueling growth in technology and related industries.
Calgary has one of the most educated workforces in the country, paired with an unmatched work ethic. People here want to work hard and be successful. That drive, combined with livability, our proximity to the mountains and incredible parks and recreation, make Calgary an extremely attractive city.
What are you seeing in Calgary’s business environment that gives companies confidence to invest or expand here?
Calgary and Alberta are seen as places that are open for business. We have a government that supports growth and a city where if you want to work hard, there are people who will help you.
What really sets us apart is our philanthropic environment — which is like nothing I’ve ever seen anywhere else. Whether it’s financial support, mentorship or volunteering, our community wants to give back. People want to invest here to continue to drive our economic landscape and make our province a good place to do business, and to live.
We also have a very well-educated and driven workforce and a strong tradition of community involvement. People here serve on boards, mentor others and invest their time because it’s the right thing to do — a mindset that has been passed down through our generations.
Scotia Place is a major milestone for Calgary. What does this project mean for the city’s future, and how will it help drive economic and cultural growth?
Scotia Place is designed to be an environment that is active and thriving 365 days and nights a year. We are purposely integrating restaurants and amenities that operate daily, and the goal is to make the area a consistent destination for Calgarians. Surrounding infrastructure developments, like the Green Line, new hotels and future residential and commercial projects, are all working to expand accessibility and foot traffic.
Ultimately, Scotia Place, alongside the BMO Centre, is envisioned as a cultural and economic gathering place for Calgary — capable of hosting everything from playoff celebrations to summer festivals.
What gives you optimism for Calgary’s future?
What gives me optimism for Calgary’s future is, without question, our people. This city has been incredibly welcoming to my family and me, and that spirit of acceptance is something you don’t find elsewhere.
Here, people choose to work hard and give back, which is an intangible strength on Calgary’s balance sheet. It’s reflected in our education, our work ethic and our shared desire to make the city a better place for everyone.
About Team Calgary: The Team Calgary corporate partnership program engages our community’s visionary thought leaders to influence Calgary’s economic growth and create long-term prosperity and opportunities for all Calgarians.
Together, we advance the economic strategy, Uplook: An Action Plan For Our Economy, as the path to make Calgary the place where bright minds and big ideas come together with an unmatched spirit to help solve global challenges.
