[sureLoss]

Bettman coming to tour Scotia Place construction. Could be linked to world cup host search.

https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/article...rld-cup-venue/

Gary Bettman is coming to Calgary on Monday for a site visit of Scotia Place.

Could an announcement that Calgary will host the 2028 World Cup of Hockey soon follow?

Deputy commissioner Bill Daly told Sportsnet he will join the commissioner for a sit-down with ownership, a tour of the arena’s construction site and an update on the building’s progress.

The timing is fascinating, given the fact Calgary is on the short list to host the next incarnation of best-on-best hockey, which fans are already anticipating given the triumphant return to the Olympics by NHLers.

The NHL and NHLPA have whittled the list of 25 applicants down to just a few North American candidates to host four nations in round-robin play, followed by a playdown that would also be hosted on this side of the pond.

A European city will host the other four teams before they make the trans-Atlantic flight to start playing elimination games.

Daly revealed on Sunday the venue announcements are two weeks away.

magine Matthew Tkachuk returning to Calgary wearing Team USA colours, alongside his brother, as Connor McDavid, Sidney Crosby and Co. try to avenge the overtime loss in last month’s Olympic gold-medal game.

Dare to dream Calgary, as plenty of sources suggest the world-class pitch tabled by the Flames and city partners is going to be hard to beat.

The plan goes well beyond hosting games, as Calgary is promising a festival‑style atmosphere built around concerts, fan events, and community celebrations.

Think of the energy that swept through the city during the Olympics, then add the modern production value of a league‑run event.

Imagine the economic impact, the global attention, the chance to christen Scotia Place with the biggest hockey event the city has seen since the Flames’ run to the 2004 Stanley Cup Final.

This is the kind of moment that defines a new arena’s legacy before the paint is even dry.