EDMONTON — As the new home of the Edmonton Oilers continues to take shape, Edmontonians are invited to take a peek inside Rogers Place — and organizers expect a big turnout.
The City of Edmonton is hosting a three-hour long sneak peek on Saturday. The doors will open at 11 a.m., and access to the line-up area near 101st Street and 104th Avenue opens at 10:30 a.m.
The city originally was going to allow access starting at 9:30 a.m., but bumped it up an hour because the temperature on Saturday is expected to be -20°C, and there are no warm-up facilities on site.
Those attending are asked to dress for the weather, as they may be in line for some time depending on interest. They’re also asked to wear sturdy and warm footwear for walking on dirt paths and uneven terrain.
Here are some rules the city has put forth to those attending the sneak peek:
- No food or drinks permitted inside the building;
- Bags larger than 8.5×11” are not permitted. Diaper bags are allowed but may be subject to search;
- Minors must be accompanied by an adult and strollers are discouraged due to minimal storage space and uneven terrain;
- Cameras are welcome, but professional cameras with detachable long lenses are not permitted;
- Pets (except for service animals) are not permitted;
- Promotional photos will be taken at this event. Attending the event signifies an attendee’s agreement to be in the photos. Local media will also be attending and taking pictures and/or filming;
- Any other items deemed a safety concern or risk may not be permitted;
- Guests who need assistance with mobility or are deaf/hard of hearing are asked to contact Lesli at 780-442-2102 by Wednesday, January 13, 2016 to make any necessary arrangements.
Visitors are encouraged to take transit to the site. There is no drop off zone for those being driven to the event. There are several parkades nearby to park at and walk to the site.
“You’ve watched Rogers Place rise from the ground and followed along on the live construction cams. On Saturday, January 16 it’s your chance to get a first-hand look at one of Edmonton’s largest and most talked-about construction projects,” the city wrote in a news release about the event.
People will get a rink-side view of the entire bowl, and a glimpse at the Downtown Community Arena, the other arena being built in the city’s ICE District.
Earlier this month, changes to the community rink were revealed, showing some big differences between the concepts originally envisioned during the contentious arena debates of 2012 and the coming reality.
The wood panel ceiling was cut, saving more than $1 million, individual seats in the stands have been replaced with benches, and the glass partition separating the rink from the concourse— a request from the Oilers— has been scrapped.
Watch below: Changes made to Downtown Community Arena
READ MORE: Headway being made on Edmonton’s downtown arena
The community rink is part of the overall $600 million project, which is on time and on budget.
People attending Saturday’s tour of Rogers Place are asked to be in line no later than 2 p.m.
The most recent look inside Rogers Place was posted on the arena’s YouTube page on Dec. 21, when NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman was given a tour.
The following pictures of the inside of Rogers Place were released on Nov. 6, 2015:
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