NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman not ready to name winner of the 2028 World Cup of Hockey bid

Gary Bettman visited Calgary on Tuesday, where he acknowledged Calgary's and Edmonton's joint bid to host the 2028 Hockey World Cup.

NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said the progress of the new Scotia Place arena is coming along nicely.

“It looks like it’s going to be a spectacular first-class state of the art arena,” said Bettman, who also met with team owners and talked to season ticket holders during his Calgary visit on Tuesday.

“I’m excited about it and Flames fans will be excited about it when they have a chance to experience it and it’s going to be great for the City of Calgary.”

“The new building is twice as large in square footage, it has more bathrooms, it has more amenities and it’s just going to be incredible. I don’t think there will be a nicer building anywhere than that.”

No decision on who will host 2028 World Cup of Hockey

Scotia Place is on target to open for the start of the 2027-28 hockey season, and it may be in line to host one of hockey’s biggest events.

Calgary and Edmonton have put in a bid to co-host the 2028 World Cup of Hockey. Bettman says he’s seen the Calgary-Edmonton bid and he liked it.

“Bids are being evaluated and nothing has been finalized but it was a good bid,” said the NHL commissioner.

“I’m not prepared to tell you today that it was or not the winning bid but certainly it’s a bid that people can be very proud of.”

Best of the best

Bettman expects an announcement on the wining bid to be made in a couple of weeks time.

The 2028 World Cup of Hockey would pit the best of the best from eight nations against each other.

Flames Head Coach Ryan Huska says it would be a huge score if Calgary were to host some games.

“I think for our fan base to have an opportunity to see that quality of hockey like we just watched in the Olympics come to Calgary where people have a chance to watch it live, I think would be something amazing for our fans,” he said.

“I know our organization would do a ridiculously good job of hosting this event.”

Flames players like defenceman Zach Whitecloud would also love to see the event here.

“Having it here and the possibility, not only as a player but as a fan of the game, it’s really exciting to have the possibility of it coming here … really big for the city and exciting for the fans and the City of Calgary,” he said.