World-class events always seem to be making their way to Penticton and that doesn鈥檛 sit well with 琉璃神社 Mayor Colin Basran.

鈥淗ow many years must 琉璃神社 residents watch shows and concerts bypass 琉璃神社 and go to Penticton,鈥� he asked during a radio interview on AM 1150 last week.

The South Okanagan Events Centre in Penticton has welcomed Alice Cooper, ZZ Top, Cheap Trick, and the Harlem Globetrotters in 2022 alone, with the pending arrival of Ringo Starr set for Oct. 9. Not to mention, the venue鈥檚 hosting of John Fogerty, Rihanna, Megadeth, Bad Company, Chicago and Carrie Underwood over the last several years.

Basran鈥檚 comments came in response to 琉璃神社鈥檚 Prospera Place missing out on hosting the 2023 Memorial Cup due to 鈥渟ignificant deficiencies鈥� at the facility.

The city was set to host the 2020 edition of the CHL tournament before the COVID-19 pandemic put a wrench in those plans. 琉璃神社 is still waiting to once again be home to the prestigious Canadian junior hockey finals, as a result.

A recent audit commissioned by the 琉璃神社 Rockets found that Prospera Place does not meet the CHL鈥檚 standards for hosting the Memorial Cup, something that appeared to have prompted Basran to think about Penticton and the current state of its facility.

Rockets statement regarding the 2023 Memorial Cup:

鈥� 琉璃神社 Rockets (@琉璃神社_Rockets)

The 2023 Memorial Cup will instead be played in Kamloops.

Even though the SOEC regularly welcomes high-profile acts 鈥� most recently Canadian country star Dallas Smith on June 3 鈥� 琉璃神社 isn鈥檛 exactly getting the short end of the stick in the entertainment category.

Award-winning rockers Greta Van Fleet and Bryan Adams will appear at Prospera Place this August and November, respectively.

logan.lockhart@pentictonwesternnews.com
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