Plan an event

Get directions to AMCC

The AMCC has:

• twin ice pads (56 x 26m), with off-season floor rentals
• 300 spectator seats on the East Rink and 399 spectator seats on the West rink
• 9 dressing rooms, a referee room, end zone scoreboards and shot clocks
• upper viewing lounge for 100 people standing or 75 seated

Meeting rooms:

• 2 meeting rooms, up to 175 people or up to 50 people
• larger room has a kitchen with a bar area and a stage

Learn more about Albert McCormick Community Centre (AMCC).

Get directions to Moses Springer Community Centre.

The centre has:

• an arena (56 x 26 m) with four change rooms and 200 spectator seats
• capacity of 1,080 on the arena floor
• eight-lane outdoor pool with two waterslides and three change rooms
• space for groups of up to 500 people, with a ramp and stairs to the shallow end
• a meeting room for up to 30 people

Learn more about Moses Springer Community Centre.

Get directions to RIM Park Manulife Sportsplex.

Take a virtual tour of RIM Park.

Indoor spaces

Banquet hall:

• 10,000 sq. ft. space
• capacity for 500 people seated (with head table and dance floor)
• can hold up to 650 guests theatre-style

The hall includes:

• serving kitchen
• walk-in refrigeration
• bar services
• two elevators
• 14-foot ceiling
• upper balcony entrance for a receiving line

The room can be divided into different layouts to fit your event.

4 Olympic-sized ice pads: 

• Piller's rink has 500 spectator seats, a press box and a sound booth
• Optimist's and Lion's rinks have 250 spectator seats 
• Carolyn Fedy Skating Centre rink with an attached fitness centre

Amenities include:

• 36 large dressing rooms with showers
• main concession stand
• fully licensed restaurant

Indoor field house:

• 3,852 sq. m
• divides into 3 fields
• spectator seating for 300
• true grass-like turf

Gymnasiums:

• 2 NBA-sized gymnasiums
• sprung maple floors
• divide into 4 single gyms
• full court capacity of 1,300 people
• stage area available

Meeting rooms:

• capacity from 30 to 80  people
• 2 rooms have sinks
• basic audio-visual equipment available for rent

Outdoor spaces

12 multi-purpose sports fields:

• 2 international size artificial turf sports fields
• 4 natural grass fields with lighting
• player benches with spectator seating
• 6 enclosed ball diamonds
• 4 sand beach volleyball courts

Additional amenities for outdoor spaces include:

• washroom facilities
• accessible parking
• a pavilion
• community playground
• walking loop

Learn more about RIM Park Manulife Sportsplex.

Get directions to WMRC

Olympic-sized ice pad:

• 3,400 spectator seats
• viewing capacity of 4,800
• ice surface that can be covered with event decking
• 6 large dressing rooms with showers
• 2 referee rooms with showers
• press box and first-aid room
• 5 concession booths
• event staging up to 8.5 by 12 metres

Activity court:

• 6,000 sq. ft. multi-use gym space
• moveable basketball nets

Swimplex swimming complex:

• eight-lane pool
• three-storey waterslide
• diving tower and springboards
• swirl pool and separate kids’ play area

Meeting rooms:

• 4 meeting rooms
• capacity of 25 to 40 people

Learn more about the Waterloo Memorial Recreation Complex (WMRC).

You need approval from Waterloo Region Public Health if you:

• rent a location that allows on-site food preparation, or
• serve food prepared off site, or
• serve pre-packaged food

Apply at least 45 days before your event using their form.

City catering

Review the city's catering services.

To serve alcohol at a city facility:

• bar must be run and served by our food services team
• you need a licence and must comply with the Municipal Alcohol Policy (PDF)
• you must have a certificate of insurance with at least $5 million in Commercial General Liability

The events team can help you get insurance while booking.

Insurance is required if your event has:

• alcohol
• food
• amusement rides
• inflatables
• fireworks
• live entertainment

Insurance protects participants, volunteers and organizers. The City of Waterloo must be named on the coverage, with up to $5 million in liability depending on your event.

The events team can help you get insurance.

You need an Entandem licence to play licensed music, recorded or live, at an event.

Your music vendor may already have a licence. If not, you may need to get one.

You need a TSSA certificate and insurance for any amusement ride.

Learn more on the TSSA website.

You may need an animals for entertainment licence if you have live animals at your event. Not all city facilities allow animals.

Review animals for entertainment licences information.

Fireworks

Fireworks have strict rules in Waterloo:

• you can only use them on approved holidays and times
• only property owners can set them off on their own property

Learn more about fireworks in Waterloo.

Open flames and campfires

You need a permit for open flames or campfires:

• permits are only for culturally significant group or community events with at least 25 people
• the permit fee is $79.05
• groups must bring their own propane BBQs
• charcoal BBQs are not allowed

You need a noise exemption if your event will have loud noise between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m. (9 a.m. on Sundays)

Apply for a noise exemption.

You need a special event permit form if your event uses or closes a road or sidewalk.

Give yourself enough time to get approval:

• apply 60 to 120 days before your event if it is along the light rail transit route
• apply at least 60 days before your event if it closes a road or lane
• apply 30 to 60 days before your event if it uses sidewalks or trails

Apply for special event permit

Use our pre-planned routes

Check our pre-planned walk routes that don't require a road closure.

Tents may need approval from our building division if:

• a single tent is more than 60 square metres, or
• a group of tents together is more than 60 square metres

Learn more on the tents page

Your event may need security if:

• a large number of people are attending, or
• alcohol is being served