Last weekend's Wickfest female hockey tournament was the first of several "marquee sport tourism events" in Surrey this year.
To date, Sport Surrey says 16 sport tourism events are secured for 2025, with many more to come.
"The trajectory for growth in Sport Tourism in Surrey is significant, with 55 events being hosted in 2023, and 77 events hosted in 2024. We are anticipating an even busier year for 2025," according to Jennifer Farrell, manager of Surrey's Healthy Communities department.
In addition to Wickfest's 70 teams and close to 1,400 participants, the annual Canada Cup softball tournament in July will draw 117 teams and 1,850 athletes. In mid-March, the huge Surrey Mayor's Cup soccer tournament will involve 219 teams and nearly 9,500 athletes at parks across the city.
The city's sports tourism driver, Sport Surrey is a partnership of the City of Surrey, Surrey Hotel Motel Association and Discover Surrey. The Sport Surrey website sells Surrey as "Canada's year-round sports hub" and "one of Canada’s most sought-after destinations for major sporting events."
According to Farrell, Surrey's Sport Tourism Strategy will soon be updated with recent capital investments in sport facilities, including the new hockey arena in Cloverdale and the addition of another field hockey turf at Tamanawis Park in Newton.
In 2025, Sport Surrey's successful-bid events include the Fortinet Cup golf tournament hosted by PGA Tour Americas (in September at Morgan Creek), the Canadian National Championships for Master Bowling (June, at Scottsdale Lanes) and Canadian Youth and Open Chess Championships (July, Sheraton hotel in Guildford).
Sent by Farrell, a calendar shows sports tournaments in Surrey in 2025.
