Rexall Place now equipped with metal detectors

WATCH ABOVE: Rexall Place now has metal detectors installed that will be fully operational by the Oilers home opener. Vinesh Pratap has more.

EDMONTON – Anyone attending an NHL event at Rexall Place will now have to walk through a metal detector before entering the venue.

Northlands and the Oilers organization revealed the enhanced security measures at the arena on Wednesday.

“The safety and security of everyone entering our venue is our number one priority and we have been working closely with the Oilers Entertainment Group to create the most efficient process possible,” said Tim Reid, President and CEO of Northlands.

The Oilers organization paid for the detectors and will split the operating costs with Northlands for this season. Once the Oilers move to Rogers Place, the metal detectors will be moved there as well and will be used for all events, officials say. Once the detectors are moved to Rogers Place, the Oilers organization will handle all the operating costs.

In August, it was announced the arena would be equipped with 34 walk-through metal detectors that would be operating during all Oilers home games for the 2015-16 season.

The heightened security measure is mandated by the NHL and applies to all 30 NHL arenas this season.

READ MORE: Metal detectors coming to Rexall Place for Oilers home games 

The walk-through metal detectors will be in partial operation starting Sept. 16 for the Oilers Rookies Game and in full operation by Oct. 15.

Special access will be available to those with mobility challenges or medical devices like pacemakers.

Northlands is reminding visitors that all bags and purses are checked at the doors and that personal items that trigger the detector should be placed on the side table. If the alarm sounds when someone walks through the metal detector, that person will go to secondary screening which could include hand-held detectors and pat downs.

“The key thing is arrive earlier and understand that the less they have in their pockets, the easier it’s going to be going through,” said Stu Ballantyne with the Oilers Entertainment Group. “It does move through very quickly but if there’s a secondary search that will slow the line.”

Items that are banned from Rexall Place include weapons, self-defence sprays, explosives, outside food or drinks, video recording devices and selfie sticks.