[5] Plans for a city owned trade and convention centre, originally combined with sports (arena, stadium) facilities, had been considered for a number of years.

[6] The area on Grierson Hill where the centre now resides had a coal mine operation from 1892 to 1893, one of a number along the banks of the North Saskatchewan River near the turn of the century.

The scope of the project was reduced when the Northlands Coliseum ice hockey arena opened in 1974, followed by the Commonwealth Stadium football facility in 1978.

Edmonton City Council received support from the electorate to move forward with a more focused trade and convention centre in a special plebiscite in 1979.

[10] In June 2019, it was announced that the ECC's glass atrium would be fitted with transparent solar panels as part of a $10.8 million project.

[11] Installation was formally completed in June 2020; as an artistic component, the south roof was inscribed with the text of the poem "Gift of a river" by E. D. Blodgett, rendered in morse code.