Rogers Arena A "Go" In Edmonton

((HT: 630CHED))

After holding the city of Edmonton hostage in front of his Seattle teaser a few years ago, Oilers owner Daryl Katz got his wish- C$480-million in public funding to make Rogers Place a go by the 2016 season.

Katz, Edmonton Mayor Don Iveson, City Manager Simon Farbrother and other muckety mucks went public (highlights below) came forward to say how happy they all were that nothing stands in the way of building a new barn for the hockey team.

In an interesting side-bar, the price tag includes a C$2-million contribution from MacEwan University. Their contribution helps increase the number of seats in the adjoining "community rink." They'll get a new home out of the deal, too, and won't have to travel the 20 miles to West Edmonton- where they currently play.

Here's a short look at the presser


And here's where they came from with the Seattle dance...
((HT: TSN))

Oilers Name New Arena, Shocking No One With Sponsor...

((HT: Sportsnet))

Edmonton’s new hockey arena is getting a new name, and keeping in line with everything going on with the hockey universe these days in Canada, it will be called Rogers Place.

The Katz Group gets all revenue from the naming rights since they negotiated the deal in the first place...

Just in time for the 2016 NHL season...

"This is a great day for Edmonton's downtown and our city," said Edmonton Mayor Don Iveson. "Rogers Place will become a beacon in our downtown, one that will foster a new sense of energy that will further attract development and investment in the heart of our city."

Here's a fly through that the powers that are put together on how it might look...
((HT: CTV News Edmonton))


And here's the interview with President and COO Pat LaForge on "Prime Time Sports" talking about the deal and other Oilers stuff...