Calgary water rules not expected to hamper Grey Cup, pubs promise plenty of beer

CALGARY – Calgary residents and businesses are being asked to restrict their water use for the month, but local pubs are telling football fans not to worry.

There will be enough beer to go around for Grey Cup. 

“We’re trending so that we shouldn’t be running out of our own product,” said Geoff Allan, general manager and co-owner of Bottlescrew Bill’s Pub.

“If we do, we do know lots of other guys here we can buy similar stuff from.

“So, not all is lost there.”

The city is hosting festival events this week in the lead-up to the Canadian Football League’s championship game Sunday, when the Edmonton Elks take on the Montreal Alouettes. 

Calgary is expected to host up to 350,000 fans, with about 35,000 out-of-towners from across Canada, said organizers. Another 6,000 hotel room nights have been booked.

At the same time, the city is in the final repair stage of a problematic water main that has twice had major ruptures in the last two years.

The city has put water restrictions in place until around the end of the month.

People are being asked to take shorter showers, make fewer toilet flushes and run only full loads in the washing machine and dishwasher. Businesses are being asked to limit their use too.

Melissa Pawlak, Bottlescrew Bill’s head brewer, said brewing happens weeks ahead of time, so it won’t have an impact on the quantity or quality of Grey Cup beers. 

Its brewing process usually takes about 2,000 litres of water, but the team cut that in half by halting a system that isn’t as water efficient.

Previous breaks of the Bearspaw South Feeder Main threw the city into water restrictions before the Calgary Stampede in 2024, with most rules lifting after the event kicked off. The rules were also in place over New Year’s Eve in 2025.

This go-round, there were months to prepare for the restrictions.

Kampus Brewing, just a short drive from McMahon Stadium, is expecting a busy weekend. General manager Chris Schneider said they’re well stocked.

“We have a lot of regulars here that love CFL and love the Grey Cup,” said Schneider.

Since imposing this round of restrictions on Nov. 4, the city has stayed below its set threshold of 500 million litres of water used per day.

City officials said Thursday that they don’t expect any challenges with staying under that limit over Grey Cup.

John O’Connell, general manager of the downtown Hyatt Regency Calgary, said one of the most common comments from visitors is that they don’t know about the water restrictions. 

“But once we inform them, it seems like everyone’s happy to do their part,” said O’Connell.

It’s the fifth time Calgary has been under water restrictions because of the pipe problems, and O’Connell said the hotel is well versed in how to manage.

There are posters around the hotel telling guests about the rules, and guests are only served water at the attached restaurant when requested.

O’Connell said he expects all hotels will likely be filled to the brim, but with the right measures, the city can stay on track.

“We anticipate that they’re going to have a great time and the water restriction is going to have little effect to their fun of visiting and seeing the game.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 13, 2026.