Calgary Sports: Free Tryouts Kick Off All Sport One City

CALGARY, AB — Registration just opened for "All Sport One City," a ten-day stretch in February where Calgarians can try dozens of sports for free—and rack up entries for prizes like Flames tickets while they're at it.

The event runs February 7-16 across city-wide venues. It's the same model that drew over 2,800 participants last year: show up, try a session, leave. No membership fees, no pressure to commit. Sport Calgary—the nonprofit behind the annual showcase—partnered with more than 30 community sport organizations and 40 multi-sport venues to make it happen.

The Incentive Layer

Every session earns an entry into a prize draw. Winners walk away with Calgary Flames tickets or recreation centre prize packs. It's a carrot designed to nudge adults and seniors off the couch and into a boxing ring, curling sheet, or climbing wall.

Last year's edition offered 74 different sports. Sport Calgary hasn't confirmed the 2026 roster yet, but the registration portal is live now at sportcalgary.ca.

The Money Behind the Model

Sport Calgary operates on a traditional budget of roughly $500,000 in annual grants plus $100,000 in other revenue. In 2023, City Council handed the organization a one-time $700,000 grant that fueled the expansion of initiatives like this one. CEO Catriona Le May Doan has been vocal about the need for sustainable funding—code for "we need more than one-offs to keep this rolling."

The province chipped in $895,000 last August through its sports event grant program, but that funding spread across multiple provincial events, not just Calgary's free-play festivals.

The Youth Component

"All Sport One City" targets adults and seniors. The youth version—"All Sport One Day"—ran separately last June and August for kids aged 6-17, offering over 240 sessions at 10 locations. That program introduced the "Green Sports Equipment Drive," a sustainability play that funneled donated gear to the KidSport Calgary Flames Sports Bank.

No word yet on whether a similar initiative will attach to the 2026 adult event.

What Happens Next

Sessions begin February 7. Participants can register online starting today. Sport Calgary and Tourism Calgary are pushing the event to both residents and visitors as a low-barrier entry point into Calgary's sport club ecosystem.

The registration window stays open through mid-February. Full session schedule drops closer to launch.