Susan Darrington
Vice President, Building and Event Operations | Calgary Sports and Entertainment Corporation
Managing schedules for four sports teams under one roof and booking live events in between each contest is no easy task, but Susan Darrington makes it look like it is.
As the Calgary Sports and Entertainment Corporation vice president of building and event operations, Darrington leads the day-to-day management of the Scotiabank Saddledome, home to the NHL Calgary Flames, the Calgary Wranglers of the American Hockey League, the Western Hockey League’s Calgary Hitmen and the Calgary Roughnecks of the National Lacrosse League.
CSEC produces about 135 nights of sporting events every year as well as more than 35 live entertainment events, making it one of the busiest NHL buildings, and Darrington can’t help but be stunned by the work she and her staff have done in the 41-year-old arena.
“Our venue team does an incredible job of keeping our arena competitive, clean and a great place to visit,” Darrington said. “We host a weekly meeting called Dressing Room Jenga where we work with all four home teams to plan the day-to-day logistics of hosting events while providing daily practice ice or turf for home and visiting teams. I am constantly in awe of the work that is done 365 days a year, 24/7 to keep the Dome humming, and our guests warmly welcomed, on time!”
The kudos are well-deserved for Darrington and her staff who worked hard to serve its community and welcome a diverse group of acts including Shania Twain, blink-182, 50 Cent, Blake Shelton, Tyler Childers and Avril Lavigne. The team managed to make Scotiabank Saddledome, known for its iconic design resembling a horse saddle, feel new by embracing technology and enhancing the fan experience by reducing wait times, adhering to its mission statement: “Be the heartbeat of our community by creating connections, building champions and winning, together!”
Darrington looks forward to transferring that enthusiasm into the CSEC’s new arena called Scotia Place, which is scheduled to open in the fall of 2027 and will replace Scotiabank Saddledome.
“Scotia Place is being designed as a home for community and connection, and includes a community arena, outdoor and indoor plaza spaces, four restaurants, the Calgary Flames Team Store, and a future development opportunity in the northeast corner,” Darrington said. “The new facility will be a game changer for hockey, sports and live music fans and create new opportunities for connections for our fans as we expect to deliver more content to southern Alberta. I’m very fortunate to be a part of the journey.” ” — Oscar Areliz
