Brandon – a modern prairie city with a diverse culture 

Brandon is the second largest city in Manitoba, set in the scenic Assiniboine River valley. With a population of 46,000 and a trading area population of 180,000, Brandon is a modern prairie city with a diverse culture. Our moderate size makes us both easy to navigate and able to provide your championship with what it needs. It also means that your event won’t get lost in the shuffle it might elsewhere. When you host in Brandon, everyone knows you are here!  

Brandon Brings You Back 

In Brandon, events are our business. We have a long history of successful event hosting that stretches back decades. Events that keep coming back to Brandon include the Canada Games (1979, 1997), Curling Canada events (The Brier in 1963, 1982 and 2019, The Scotties in 1993 and 2002, the 1995 Ford World’s and the 1997 Olympic trials) and Legion National Youth Track and Field (2017, 2018). Our volunteers and venues thrive on sports events; we can’t wait to help you have the best event possible! 

Brandon has numerous venues that easily adapt to suit any number of unique event hosting requirements. Capable of accommodating intimate sport committee meetings to large event seating for more than 5,000, most venues offer onsite banquet and catering solutions, equipment rentals and auxiliary services. Their central locations allow quick and easy access to the many recreational opportunities that Brandon has to offer. 

Keystone Centre – Community at Heart 

One of the largest sports, entertainment, agricultural and recreation complexes of its kind in North America, the Keystone Centre features 540,000 square feet of space under one roof. It is also conveniently attached to the 159-room CanadInns Destination Centre Brandon to easily accommodate your event’s attendees. Featuring Westoba Place as its main arena, two additional NHL sized ice surfaces in the Enns Brothers and Flynn twin arenas, the multi-acre Agricultural Centre of Excellence, Brandon Curling Club and an additional 11 meeting rooms, the Keystone Centre is home to the WHL Brandon Wheat Kings and has hosted some of Western Canada’s best events from local competition through provincial tournaments to the 2010 Memorial Cup and the 2019 Tim Hortons Brier.  

Healthy Living Centre at Brandon University 

The HLC is Brandon’s newest state-of-the-art facility housing three full size gymnasiums and is home to the Brandon University Bobcats. The Richardson Gymnasium features seating for 1,000 and an indoor four-lane jogging track. This facility also features a modern weight and fitness centre, meeting and programming space and six change rooms. Host to the 2016 CIS Women’s National Volleyball Championships, the HLC is looking forward to welcoming national volleyball back in 2025 with the USports Men’s Championships.  

Softball and Baseball Facilities 

Brandon is also home to excellent ball facilities in the eight-diamond Simplot Millennium Park, 2000 seat stadium Andrews Field, and the most recently completed Ashley Neufeld Softball Complex which boasts four brand new regulation softball diamonds; ANSC has hosted incredible western Canadian softball competition in recent years.  

Brandon’s Community Sportsplex 

The Sportsplex is a versatile facility for sporting events. After hosting the 1997 Canada Games, the Sportsplex has hosted many regional, provincial, and national competitions including the 2017 and 2018 Royal Canadian Legion National Youth Track and Field Championships. With an NHL sized arena, full concession, newly renovated six lane competition length pool, three racquet ball courts, and a state-of-the-art track that was completely resurfaced in 2017, the Sportsplex is ready to host a variety of major sport competitions. 

Stay with Us!  

Brandon is known for its prairie hospitality, located in the heart of Friendly Manitoba. With 1400 guest rooms in the city, all within a ten-minute drive of all our incredible venues, you won’t be disappointed with your accommodations here! Brandon University has also undergone renovations to its multiple residences and is a perfect choice for an athlete’s village experience.  

Event Hosting Grants 

Brandon First can help you apply for funding to offset the costs associated with hosting events. Event Hosting Grants are available from the City of Brandon through its Accommodation Tax Program. Details and forms are available online, or you can contact Brandon First to get your application started. Our knowledgeable staff is available to help you with every step, from initial application and data tracking right through the final report, making it easier for you to access the funds you need for your event to reach its full potential. 

Brandon is an excellent mid-size choice for sport tourism. With our proud legacy of successful event hosting, knowledgeable venues, vendors and event service providers, a solid committed volunteer base and the venues and logistics needed to successfully compete, we are ready to host you again and again. Let us show you what we can do when #BrandonBringsYouBack 

Jennifer Watson                                              Pam Reiss 

Development Coordinator         Winnipeg Regional Sales Coordinator 

Brandon First                                                    Brandon First 

204-729-2156                                                    431-556-2726 

jenn@brandonfirst.com                   pam@brandonfirst.com  

If you would like to be the next member whose profile will be featured on the STC website, contact Barb MacDonald, Communications Consultant at bmacdonald@sporttourismcanada.com.