A new query has been put out to downtown businesses, asking them about the impacts the Memorial Cup may have had on their bottom lines.

“Please share any successes or challenges you’ve had during the Memorial Cup in Kamloops. The KCBIA would like to build on the experience for future events,” reads the request put out as part of the KCBIA’s monthly newsletter sent out on June 5.

Executive Director Howie Reimer suggests the question being put to its members could end up showing mixed results.

“I saw the patios were very busy…restaurants, the pubs, I think the nightlife… the night shifts in some of the places after-hours were jumpin’ pretty good during the Memorial Cup,” noted Reimer. “But some of the businesses reported that it was business as usual.”

However, Reimer argues there were less tangible benefits which came from the tournament.

“Again, you’ve got to think about the long-term impacts,” suggested Reimer.  “The fact that TSN had such beautiful shots, and the weather was fantastic, I can’t imagine anything but positivity and positive and economic and tourism impacts.”

In announcing in May of 2022 that Kamloops had secured the rights to host the Memorial Cup, the City of Kamloops — which was part of bidding process — suggested the local economic impact from the tournament could be between 12 to 15-million dollars.

Reimer says he expects to hear from more and more downtown businesses as June progresses.

However, Reimer says they don’t expect to make results of the questionnaire public, instead using them for internal consumption for ‘best practices’ for the next major event in Kamloops.

“Would the City have been better without the Memorial Cup? Absolutely not,” argued Reimer.