In 1919, under the guidance of Alberta Amateur Hockey Association league president Allan McCaw, a new elite senior amateur league was established in Alberta with two teams each in Calgary and Edmonton. The Big-4 League's intention was to compete for the Allan Cup, emblematic of Canada's national senior championship. The Tigers were created in 1920, along with the "Canadians", to represent Calgary in the Big Four after the city's two original teams, the "Wanderers" and "Columbus Crew", withdrew following the league's first season. The Tigers also faced the Edmonton Eskimos and Dominions who served as representatives of Alberta's capital. The Calgary teams were hosted at the Victoria Arena, which had been converted into a hockey rink in 1918.