Saginaw 'Soar's' After Winning the Bid to Host the 2024 Memorial Cup

“United We Soar.”

For the first time in the 104-year history of the Memorial Cup, Michigan will host the championship of the Canadian Hockey League in 2024. It’s been dubbed the NCAA Final Four of Canada.

The Memorial Cup presented by Kia was awarded to Saginaw and will take place for 13 days from May 22 to June 3, 2024. It is estimated that there will be more than 4,500 overnight stays in area hotel rooms tied to this event.

According to Dr. Annette Rummel, President and CEO of the Great Lakes Bay Convention and Visitors Bureau, the tournament will bring an estimated $24-million to the region.

Although American cities have hosted the Memorial Cup on four separate occasions in the event’s 104-year history, never before has an Ontario Hockey League American city held this prestigious tournament. 

The Memorial Cup has been around since 1919 and this will be only the fourth time an American city has been the host. Portland, Seattle, and Spokane, Washington, were the other sites. Saginaw was selected ahead of Ontario Hockey League bids from the Niagara IceDogs, Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds, and Kingston Frontenacs.

“We are thrilled to bring the Memorial Cup to the state of Michigan for the first time in the event’s history,” CHL president Dan MacKenzie said. “The Spirit and City of Saginaw submitted a remarkable bid and we have no doubt that they will do an outstanding job of hosting our CHL championship next year.”

First awarded in 1919, the Memorial Cup pays tribute to Canadian soldiers who died in World War I. The trophy was rededicated in 2010 to honor all soldiers who died fighting for Canada in any conflict.

"We respect and understand the significance that the Memorial Cup has in Canadian culture and we plan to illustrate this respect and honor throughout the event," Spirit president Craig Goslin said.

The Memorial Cup is the Canadian Hockey League’s championship and is celebrating its 105th year – an amazing tradition. The CHL is made up of three ice hockey leagues: the Western Hockey League, the Quebec League, and the Ontario Hockey League. The Spirit is part of the Ontario Hockey League.

“We’re incredibly excited to be hosting the Memorial Cup here in Saginaw, and it took the entire community to win the bid and get it here,” reflected Goslin. “You can go anywhere in the United States, and I don't care where you go, you're not going to find people who care more than the people here in Saginaw.”

“In order to win the bid, I had to have two approvals: one from Dick Garber as the majority owner of the team. He said, ‘Let's do this!’ Then I went to the (Saginaw) County Commissioners and told them that in order to win the bid, the building had to be prepared and up to the Memorial Cup standards. For that, we needed a lot of renovations, including our suites and dressing rooms. The County Commissioners agreed, saying, ‘You go win the bid, and we'll get this done for you.'”

Goslin further stated that the Convention & Visitors Bureau – Annett Rummel and her staff – did the major lifting with the eventual bid.

 “I want to say they are true top-notch professionals,” said Goslin. “After we were selected, we gathered all the players into our theater room to tell them, and they knew I was coming in with either good news or bad news. My body language gave it away. The verbal announcement was secondary to my initial entrance with a smile on my face. Their reaction when they learned we were hosting the Memorial Cup was one of euphoria. They couldn't believe it. For all the kids in that room, it was a huge moment: to them, playing in the Memorial Cup is a dream come true.”

“Most of the kids on our team are Canadian and understand the significance of the event. For many Canadian boys, playing in the Memorial Cup is the pinnacle. Everything we do is geared toward those players' development and their ability to cherish this experience. I'm so happy for them and this will be a moment they will remember for the rest of their lives. When they're 70 years old, they'll tell their grandkids that they competed in the Memorial Cup here in Saginaw.

Telling those kids, and seeing the looks on their faces – I'll never forget that moment.”

Former Saginaw County Controller Robert V. Belleman played a key role in the improvement plan for the Dow Event Center, mapping out three phases of a capital improvement project. The county spent approximately $20,000 to prepare architectural estimates and renderings of the improvements at the Dow. County Board Chairman Christopher Boyd and the Board of Commissioners adopted a resolution to purchase, acquire, and construct capital improvements and to publish notice of intent to issue bonds.

The Memorial Cup preparations are hitting a record pace for the construction/renovations at the Dow Event Center. Local firms stepping up include Kibbe & Associates, the chief architects/engineers, and Spence Brothers Contracting. Others include John E. Green, Tri- City Acoustical Co, Nelson Electric, Murray Painting, Higher Image Signs and Wraps, Watchfire LED, Simoni Systems Inc. and others.

A few of the major improvements to the Dow Event Center feature a much-needed upgrade to the visitor’s locker room, suites, and modern amenities like an LED advertising ribbon, LED curved wall display advertisements, and two LED digital dasher boards.