Photo credit: RocketFAN

By Regan Bartel

Counting down the days

Kelowna’s Memorial Cup: A city in motion

Jan 21, 2026 | 6:00 AM

Four months before the first puck drops, the 2026 Memorial Cup in Kelowna is already moving toward a sellout.

David Rush, co-chair of the Kelowna Rockets Memorial Cup Committee, says the tournament is generating real excitement.

“We’re at over 80 per cent of the tickets are now sold for the Memorial Cup,” Rush told RocketFAN.

The national junior championship begins May 22, and Kelowna is preparing for what could be the biggest sporting event the city has hosted in years.

Rush says the planning has been intense, but the committee is confident.

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“We are absolutely ready. There’s lots of moving pieces… but we’re in really good shape and it’s going to be a great event.”

That confidence comes after months of meetings and constant behind-the-scenes work.

“We meet pretty well weekly. We have some small groups. We have some big group meetings, but there’s daily activities, weekly meetings, and lots of stuff going on behind the scenes,” Rush said.

But hosting the Memorial Cup isn’t just about hockey. It’s also about creating a week-long experience for fans and the city.

“You have the tournament itself and then you have the sizzle on the steak… we’ve got four teams, we’ve got hotels, we’ve got buses, we have security, we have gala events, we have parades. You name it, we’ve got it,” Rush said.

One of the biggest goals is to make sure the city feels the tournament beyond the arena.

“One of our goals is to completely activate and animate the downtown, similar to the CCMAs, the Brier… and the Downtown Kelowna Association is a key partner in all of this,” Rush said.

Rush says the downtown will be a focal point with fan zones, family zones, a hockey Hall of Fame display, parades, and welcoming ceremonies.

“Banners are up now,” he said.

The city has already shown strong support, with several local organizations fully engaged in the planning.

“Everyone’s pumped about it,” Rush said, naming the Downtown Kelowna Association, Tourism Kelowna, Festivals Kelowna, city staff and Westbank First Nations as key partners.

He also noted Mayor Tom Dyas has been fully supportive of the event.

“He was part of the committee for 2020. He’s 100% behind it,” Rush said.

The committee’s trip to Rimouski earlier this year helped reinforce just how big the Memorial Cup is on a national stage.

“When you’re in the media room watching the TSN guys, the CBC guys… the impact really starts to hit you,” Rush said.

Rush was in Kelowna during the last Memorial Cup in 2004, but says being involved in the planning makes this experience different.

“I was more of just a fan observing it rather than being involved,” he said.

The tournament will be played at Prospera Place, which has seen major upgrades funded by the city.

“The Jumbotron is unbelievable, and until you’re here and you see it, you can’t believe it,” Rush said.

He also pointed to improvements behind the scenes that will enhance the event for broadcasters and fans.

“All this background stuff you don’t necessarily see, but it’s absolutely crucial to putting on a great event,” he said, adding the committee is “really indebted to the city for the huge investment.”

With ticket sales already past 80 per cent, Rush says the committee expects a sellout.

“Our expectation is we will sell out. That is what we budgeted for,” he said.

Ticket sales are currently being handled in packages rather than single-game tickets.

Right now, Rush says single tickets are not being offered.

“Right now we’re not offering any single ticket sales. It’s all packages,” he said.

The demand has also translated into volunteer interest. The committee is still recruiting for the tournament.

“We’re looking for probably four to 500 volunteers,” Rush said.

Even though the event is massive, Rush says he feels confident about the planning process.

“My nature is I’m a bit of a worrier… but I can say right now that every key component is under control on the planning process,” he said.

Rush credits the depth of experience behind the event, including members from the city, tourism groups, and the Kelowna Rockets organization.

“We have an incredible team,” he said.

As the countdown continues, Rush says the interest is growing not only in Kelowna but across the province and beyond.

For those who haven’t decided yet, he had one simple message.

“Get your tickets now,” he said. “And volunteer.”

The 2026 Memorial Cup opens in Kelowna on May 22.