Saskatoon’s TCU Place celebrates 50th anniversary

Easter Sunday marks the 50th anniversary of TCU Place.

When it opened its doors for the first time on April 1, 1968, it was known as Saskatoon Centennial Auditorium, named after Canada’s centennial celebrations the year before.

The Saskatoon Symphony Orchestra performed at the grand opening ceremonies, along with the Greystone Singers, Saskatoon Choral Society, Saskatoon Boys Choir and the university chorus.

It didn’t take long for major acts to hit the new stage.

Just eight days after the doors opened, British band The Troggs performed their hit song “Wild Thing,” the University of Saskatchewan held its first convocations at the auditorium on May 14 and 15, and the first country act—the Colonel Tim McCoy Show— stopped in on June 15.

Later that year, during the federal election, NDP leader Tommy Douglas and PC leader Robert Standfield also held the first political rallies in the building.

Building history

TCU Place turned 50 on April 1, 2018. It opened as Saskatoon Centennial Auditorium in 1968. (TCU Place/Twitter)

It wasn’t a fast process to get the auditorium built—it took nearly seven years from start to finish.

On Dec. 11, 1961, Mayor Sidney L. Buckwold and city council passed a resolution that the auditorium would be Saskatoon’s major centennial project.

Grant money from the provincial and federal governments covered the costs of the new facility in the downtown core.

From 2006 to 2007, the facility underwent a $10-million renovation, which added on the convention centre.

During that time, TCU Financials also received naming rights, re-branding the auditorium as TCU Place on May 1, 2006.