New Arena for Downtown Edmonton

[Shodan]

Oilers have mayor onside for $1B downtown complex
End in sight for 32-year-old arena Rexall Place

Gordon Kent
The Edmonton Journal

Friday, December 22, 2006

EDMONTON - Mayor Stephen Mandel says he would support a proposal to build a new hockey arena in downtown Edmonton that could be part of a $1-billion development.

A scheme has been floated for several months to move the Oilers to a state-of-the-art arena and entertainment complex in the heart of the city, and Mandel agreed Thursday that the days of Rexall Place as Edmonton's main hockey venue may be numbered.

"We think Northlands is looking at their building to see if it can be renovated or changed. If it can't be, (and) my guess is it would be difficult, then we need to start looking at a new stadium for Edmonton," he said in a year-end interview.

"That particular one is old. If we do (build a new structure), we need to be creative and not burden the taxpayers ... do something that will be sustained in the long term, but really make a statement about what we can do.''

An arena could cost $300 million-$400 million, with the whole project carrying a possible price tag of $1 billion if a hotel, office buildings and other facilities are included, Mandel said.

He didn't indicate whether any city money would be spent on such a scheme, but sees "great merit" in suggestions to construct it on the site of the downtown post office and the long-vacant land north of the CN Tower.

"We think you can design it in such a way to incorporate that as part of downtown. You link downtown, North Edge (residential development north of 105th Avenue), and Downtown East through a stadium that's going to be used a lot."

While Rexall Place, which opened in 1974, is one of the smallest arenas in the NHL, the Oilers have about seven years left on their lease with Northlands.

Canada Post still uses the downtown property for administrative offices and customer mail services, and has said it has no plans to move.

Mandel, who expects the groups involved to make a decision in 2007 on whether the project is feasible, said an arena would be busy with Oilers games, Oil Kings junior games, concerts and other events.

"I think it's exciting and I think the citizens of Edmonton are up for that. I think there's a view today that we can do, whereas in the past there was a feeling that this is Edmonton, we can't do," he said.

"There's a very positive attitude ... it's a great city right now."

© The Edmonton Journal 2006

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