‘It was a great success’ – MC Co-Chair Steve Thomson

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That feedback, he explained, came from across the country , from fans, sponsors, league officials, and visiting teams, all pointing to a tournament that not only ran smoothly, but left a strong impression of Kelowna as a premier event host.

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For Thomson, the signs of success started with the basics: packed arenas, active fan zones, and a downtown that felt transformed.

“All the games were sold out,” he said. “That’s a good indicator of success.”

But it wasn’t just ticket sales. It was the atmosphere.

“You could feel it in the air,” Thomson said. “The vibe downtown was on.”

From the opening ceremonies onward, he said the organizing committee saw an event that moved from planning to execution without major disruption, a transition that often determines whether pressure turns into problems or performance.

“There was a bit of nervousness,” he admitted. “There are so many moving parts, and you want everything to go well.”

Once the tournament began, however, that tension eased.

“When things are in place and rolling, it becomes easier,” he said. “The team did a great job.”

Much of that success, he added, came down to the people behind the scenes, the volunteers, operational staff, and community partners who helped keep everything on track.

“Our volunteers did a great job,” Thomson said. “So much positive feedback about their role and the interactions visitors had with them.”

One of the key goals going into the Memorial Cup was community engagement. For Thomson, that meant more than just attendance numbers, it meant making sure residents felt part of the event.

“That was one of our objectives,” he said. “We wanted the community fully engaged.”

He believes that goal was achieved, pointing to strong turnout in fan zones, local programming, and community spaces built around the tournament.

“We had great attendance in the fan zone and festival zone,” he said. “It all came together.”

Beyond the visible energy, Thomson is also watching for something less immediate but just as important: economic impact.

A conservative estimate was made before the tournament, but early indications suggest those numbers will be exceeded.

“I’m expecting we’ll see numbers significantly above what we projected,” he said. “Businesses in the area were feeling it.”

Visitors came from across Canada – including Everett, Kitchener, and Chicoutimi – filling hotels, restaurants, and shops throughout the Okanagan.

That kind of impact, Thomson said, reinforces why cities compete to host major events in the first place.

“We’ll do a full analysis,” he said, “but I think the numbers will be quite a bit more significant than expected.”

The tournament also drew attention from future hosts. Officials from Guelph, Ontario, set to host next year, visited Kelowna to observe operations firsthand.

“They were certainly picking our brains,” Thomson said. “We showed them everything.”

He said the visiting delegation attended operational meetings and toured the city, gaining insight into what makes a successful Memorial Cup.

“They were very impressed,” he said. “They’ll take some of the elements into their program.”

While each host city will do things differently, Thomson said the shared learning is part of what strengthens the event year after year.

Looking back, one of the clearest takeaways for him is how Kelowna presented itself on a national stage.

“It showed so well,” he said of the city’s national broadcast exposure. “People who weren’t in the arena still saw how beautiful Kelowna is.”

He also noted strong feedback from broadcast crews and production teams.

“They couldn’t believe how beautiful the city was,” he said. “It really came through.”

That visibility, he added, continues to position Kelowna as a destination for large-scale sporting and cultural events.

“It shows why we’re attracting more national events,” he said.

For all the logistics, numbers, and planning, Thomson said two moments stood out most.

The first was the connection between visiting fans and the tournament experience.

“To see out-of-town fans so engaged and enjoying themselves,” he said, “that was really neat.”

The second was a youth initiative that brought Grade 5 students into the spirit of the Memorial Cup through school programming and a ball hockey tournament.

Inside the Memorial Arena, students gathered for a mini final, complete with energy, competition, and a visit from former players.

“The kids were just full of energy,” Thomson said. “That was a real highlight.”

As for what comes next, Thomson is stepping into a quieter chapter.

For now, retirement includes fishing, travel, and a chance to slow down after months of intense preparation and execution.

“I don’t know what’s next,” he said with a laugh. “Hopefully something comes along.”

Still, he made it clear that stepping back doesn’t mean stepping away entirely.

“I’ve always wanted to continue to contribute to the community,” he said. “I hope there’s a way to do that.”