Bettman quiet on potential World Cup bids from Alberta, but suggests there’s interest

CALGARY — NHL commissioner Gary Bettman was hesitant to lay out details about potential bids to host the World Cup of Hockey in Alberta, but suggested Tuesday that there was interest.

The NHL and NHL Players’ Association announced last year the World Cup of Hockey would return for a fourth time in February 2028.

Not unlike the Olympics or the 4 Nations Face-Off last winter, the World Cup will assemble the world’s top hockey players under their national banners for a best-on-best tournament.

The NHL has said it will happen in locations in North America and Europe, but the host cities are undetermined.

When asked whether Calgary and Edmonton were putting in a joint bid for the World Cup, Bettman said he was “aware of the bid” but would not provide details including whether it was a joint or independent effort and from whom.

“Nothing has been finalized, but it was a good bid,” he said during a media availability at the Scotiabank Saddledome.

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

Tourism organizations in Edmonton and Calgary did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Speaking to reporters on Monday at an unrelated news conference, Calgary Mayor Jeromy Farkas said the “prospect of hosting events like this are very exciting,” and that he was “very much in support of a potential bid.”

His support, he clarified, would also hinge on whether it’s a good business decision.

“If you can show me the value for money, I’ll be the first cheerleader,” he said.

Farkas said he would be speaking with Bettman on Tuesday night.

The Alberta government had said it would pitch in up to $15 million to help host the tournament if one of its cities is awarded the bid.

A successful bid would mean breaking in Calgary’s new arena with an international tournament.

The $800-million facility, Scotia Place, is a part of a larger entertainment district expected to be completed in fall 2027. It’s expected to seat about 18,400 people.

“I don’t think there’ll be a nicer building anywhere than that,” Bettman said, having visited the construction site earlier Tuesday.

He said while nobody should denigrate the Flames’ current arena, it’s “past its time.”

“The best indication of that will be when you go to the new building and you see the difference in what is state of the art these days compared to what it was in the early 1980s.”

Bettman did not reveal details on any cities that might be placing bids to host the tournament.

“I’m not looking to encourage speculation. When the process is complete and we’re ready to make an announcement, we will.”

The tournament’s revival would be a dozen years after Team Canada won in 2016, having defended its title from 2004.

The NHL previously said the 2028 rendition would include at least eight teams, though Bettman said Russia’s participation would depend on aspects that the league doesn’t control, including the International Ice Hockey Federation’s input and “the state of the world.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 3, 2026.