LIVE: Regina executive council discussing sale of REAL District to Brandt

An executive council meeting discussing Brandt Properties Ltd. purchasing a portion of Regina’s REAL District is underway.

The City of Regina, REAL District, and Brandt – owned by Shaun Semple – reached the agreement after beginning negotiations in November of 2025.

The deal must be approved by Regina’s executive council before it can be debated by city council on May 6.

Read more:

• Renderings reveal vision for Regina’s Brandt Centre, other REAL facilities
• What’s in the Brandt-REAL deal? Breaking down the agreement
• Brandt’s REAL deal set to be scrutinized at Regina City Hall

According to the deal, Brandt would pay the city $6.4 million to obtain the Brandt Centre, Queensbury Centre, Canada Centre building, Ag-Ex building, Stockman’s Building, Commercial Cattle Barn, the land McDonald’s sits on and the parking lot on the south end of the grounds.

The area within the yellow line contains the property that would be sold to Brandt if the deal proceeds. (City of Regina/Geoff Smith/980 CJME)

The city would continue to own Mosaic Stadium, the Cooperators Centre, AffinityPlex and Bunge International Trade Centre.

Daren Anderson, the city’s outgoing chief financial officer, said last Friday that the deal would save taxpayers $79 million dollars over the next five years.

If the deal is approved, Brandt will overtake different cultural, sporting and agri-business events like Agribition.

Brandt will take over operation of the Queen City Ex, as long as it is commercially viable and there is demand for the event, according to Anderson.

Brandt said the total investment would exceed $113 million including $73.5 million to account for deferred maintenance in REAL District buildings.

The company included renderings of its plans to transform the property into a world-class venue for concerts and entertainment.

Rendering of main stage at Queen City Distillery. (Brandt/City of Regina)

About 700 unionized employees with REAL would become Brandt Centre employees if the deal is approved. Their existing collective agreements would continue.

Fifty out-of-scope employees are also impacted. Some would be offered employment while others would receive severance.

WHL commissioner hopeful for proposed Brandt Centre upgrades in deal

Dan Near, the commissioner of the Western Hockey League (WHL), put his support behind the agreement in front of executive council on Wednesday.

“The business around events in hockey has changed dramatically, with customers expecting more from their local facility and athletes expecting higher standards from the spaces where they train and develop,” he said.

The Brandt Centre is currently home to the WHL team, the Regina Pat Canadians.

The centre was built in 1977, and Near said it requires a significant investment to repair and upgrade parts of the building.

Many of the WHL rinks where teams play are municipally owned between the city, operator and club.

However, Near said many of the capital commitments made aren’t enough to keep the lights on and the ice plant running. The commissioner said the city would be incredibly fortunate for Semple to take on the upgrades. 

“I’m certain Brandt will continue to put the community first and do what is best for Regina, because I see that every day and how they operate in the Western Hockey League,” he said

Delegates warns executive council “time kills deals”

Former Regina Mayor Pat Fiacco wished a deal like this came along while he led the city.

“My god, I can’t imagine the relief the board of directors of REAL are going to have when this deal is done,” he said. “That burden on them has been incredible.”

Fiacco said REAL has served the city well, but its current structure limits its ability to take on risk where the private structure can.

“Maintaining the status quo continues to place that burden on taxpayers,” he said. “This proposal shifts financial and operational risk away from the taxpayer and onto the private sector.”

Mike Tate, CEO of the Regina & District Chamber of Commerce, said Brandt’s private sector investment expands the tax base without requiring ongoing public subsidy.

He urged council to act in a timely manner.

“Time kills deals,” Tate said. “We’re very fortunate to have this on the table.”

More to come …