Kelowna urged to disclose bids in Prospera Place management deal
Published 3:03 pm Friday, September 25, 2026
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GSL Group, which operates Prospera Place, is asking the city of Kelowna to release the details about the new management deal for the arena, which is set to take place at the turn of the decade.
Last October, the City of Kelowna announced it would not be renewing its contract with GSL to manage the facility, opting to make a deal with Oak View Group Canada, an American company involved in sports, venue management and more.
Oak View Group (OBG) is based out of Denver, Colorado, and is responsible for hundreds of venues around the world, including Seattle’s Climate Pledge Arena.
As the 2026 municipal election approaches, GSL wants the city to release all the bids it received before the selection was made.
If selected, GSL tells Black Press Media it would have continued operations at Prospera Place for a fee of $75,000, with no less than 97 per cent of profits returning to the arena.
President and CEO of GSL Group, Graham Lee, said the company has been proud to serve the community for more than 25 years.
“Kelowna residents have never been told why the city chose a bid from a company directed by American executives. They should know before they vote,” said Lee.
In 1999, Prospera Place was opened by the City of Kelowna with the help of GSL in a deal where GSL said it contributed more than 70 per cent of the original capital.
“Since then, close to $17 million has been re-invested in the area or returned to the city by GSL. Prospera Place has hosted major concerts and sporting events for decades, including the Memorial Cup in 2026.
Managed by GSL, the arena has been operated and serviced locally, supporting workers and businesses in Canada, including parking, ticketing, food and beverage.
Lee believes it is important to keep supporting Canadian business in Kelowna, pointing to the government, which urges Canadians to buy local goods during a trade war with the United States.
“GSL is calling on the City of Kelowna to release the commercial bids it received, confirm whether it has executed an agreement with OBG, publish the evaluation criteria, weightings and scores for the final bids, and disclose whether any proposal cost taxpayers less than GSL’s – before residents vote on October 17,” reads a GSL press release.
Black Press Media reached out to the City of Kelowna for comment, but is yet to receive a response.
GSL Group’s full proposal can be found here.