you: Or if it weren't for events, time would not occur.
Geometric physics suggests the latter and I agree (geometry gives rise to strings, etc.). The issue is causality: "were it not for A, C would not be."
Because we know space/time is created as the universe expands - one can look at the physical realm (4 dimensions) in one of two ways: either energy/matter creates space/time or space/time expansion creates energy/matter.
I am not versed in the latest in cosmology, physics, string theory, quantum theory, etc, so I'll stick my neck out and argue from the practical and hope to learn something. Human beings became aware of time through change (events) in the other three dimensions. And then measured time as change in the other three dimensions. Time is relative and is defined by the change in the other three dimensions. Without change in the other three dimensions, there is no time.
In what way does an expanding universe create anything, other than a way for us to measure the four dimensions?