Rexall Place

Rexall Place
Former names	Northlands Coliseum (1974–1995) Edmonton Coliseum (1995–1998) Skyreach Centre (1998–2003)
Location	7424 118 Avenue, Edmonton, Alberta T5B 4M9
Coordinates	53°34′17″N 113°27′22″W / 53.57139°N 113.45611°W / 53.57139; -113.45611Coordinates: 53°34′17″N 113°27′22″W / 53.57139°N 113.45611°W / 53.57139; -113.45611
Broke ground	November 3, 1972
Opened	November 10, 1974
Owner	Northlands
Operator	Northlands
Construction cost	C$17.3 million[1] ($79.2 million in 2011 dollars[2])
Architect	Manasc Isaac Architects, LTD[3]
Capacity	Hockey: 16,839 Concerts: 12,000 (approx)
Tenants
Edmonton Oilers (NHL) (1974–present) Edmonton Rush (NLL) (2006–present) Edmonton Oil Kings (WHL) (2007–present) Edmonton Drillers (CMISL) (2007) Edmonton Road Runners (AHL) (2004–2005) Edmonton Drillers (NPSL) (1996–2000) Edmonton Sled Dogs (RHI) (1994) Edmonton Skyhawks (NBL) (1993–1994) Edmonton Drillers (NASL) (1980–1982) Edmonton Oil Kings (WCHL) (1974–1976)

Rexall Place is an indoor arena in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada situated on the north side of Northlands. It is currently the home to the Edmonton Oilers of the National Hockey League, the Edmonton Rush of the National Lacrosse League and the Edmonton Oil Kings of the WHL. Though it is one of the oldest venues in the NHL, it has been consistently renovated to keep the facilities up to date.

History

The then Skyreach Centre, seen in 2001.

When the arena opened on November 10, 1974, it was known as Northlands Coliseum to house the World Hockey Association Oilers, named after the nonprofit organization that still owns the arena today. Then it became the Edmonton Coliseum in 1994, and Skyreach Centre in 1998^[4], before it changed to its current name during the middle of the 2003–04 NHL season when its naming rights were purchased by the Rexall medicine company, a subsidiary of Katz Group Canada^[5]; incidentally, the Katz Group now owns the Oilers and the Oil Kings through a subsidiary.

The arena was used to host games in the 1981 and 1984 Canada Cup hockey tournaments, including Game 2 of the 1984 finals between Canada and Sweden. In the 1995 World Junior Championships, which were held in various cities and towns throughout Alberta, Edmonton Coliseum was the site of several games, including Canada's 6–3 victory over Finland on New Year's Day.

The venue was the site of several Commonwealth Games sports in 1978, and part of Universiade (the World University Games) in 1983. It also hosted the World Wrestling Entertainment 2004 Backlash pay per view, and the CHL Top Prospects Game in 2008.^[6] Annual events include the Canadian Finals Rodeo and the Christian Conference, YC Alberta.

Rexall Place at Night

Before the 2007/08 season started, the Oilers dressing room was renovated for $3.5 million. The state-of-art room is now wider with a new medical room, lounge, bar, video room, weight room as well as other new facilities. Just after the entrance to the dressing room is a cubicle with 5 replica Stanley Cups in it that has all the names of the past Oilers who won cups with the team. Next to the 5 replicas is an empty space symbolizing that there is always room for another.^[7]

Arena information

The official capacity for hockey is currently 16,839, which is slightly less than the 17,100 the arena held before the 2001–02 NHL season. When it opened, the capacity was 15,423, but it was increased to 17,353 after the Oilers joined the NHL by adding an extra tier of seating on the side opposite the pressbox. This was increased to 17,503 in 1984. The arena underwent an extensive renovation in 1994 in which the seating capacity was reduced to make way for fifty-two luxury suites. Fifteen more suites were added in 2001. The arena can also be noisy, as noise levels have reached 119 dB during playoff games.^{[8][not in citation given]}

Future

A new arena has been proposed by the Katz Group to host the Edmonton Oilers games thus replacing Rexall Place. If built, the new arena would be located in Downtown Edmonton in the so called Edmonton Arena District.^[9]

Notable events

• The 2006 Scotties Tournament of Hearts was held in February and March.
• The 2008 National Lacrosse League All Star Game was held at Rexall Place on March 16, 2008.
• Rexall Place has hosted several NBA preseason games.^[10][11]
• In July 2008, the PBR's Built Ford Tough Series hosted their Montana Tractors Invitiational event at Rexall Place.
• Rexall Place will host the 2012 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships in 2012, along with the Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary.

Live recordings

The following bands recorded live performances in the arena:

• Dottie West recorded her 1983 Showtime special Dottie West: Full Circle with the Alberta Orchestra at the arena, which also featured Larry Gatlin & The Gatlin Brothers, John Schneider, David Frizzell and Shelly West.
• Yes filmed their 1984 concert film 9012Live at the arena.
• Nickelback filmed their 2002 concert video Live at Home at the arena.
• Our Lady Peace recorded part of their 2003 record Live at the arena.
• Michael W. Smith recorded his live "Worship" DVD at YC Alberta.
• Corb Lund recorded his 2007 concert on video during the course of the Horse Soldier! Horse Soldier! tour.
• Thousand Foot Krutch filmed their concert at YC Alberta on May 28, 2010 at the arena. A live CD and DVD of the show is planned for a June 7, 2011 release.

References

1. ^ "Door not quite shut on provincial aid". Edmonton Journal. 2008-03-25. http://www.canada.com/edmontonjournal/news/story.html?id=7e9f06b4-8ed6-4bda-b8b8-03dca661ef77. Retrieved 2009-11-15. 
2. ^ Canadian inflation numbers based on data available from Consumer Price Index, by province (monthly) (Canada) Statistics Canada. Retrieved August 21, 2011 and Consumer Price Index, historical summary Statistics Canada. Retrieved December 7, 2010
3. ^ http://arenadigest.com/in-the-arena/visits/rexall-place-edmonton
4. ^ Zoltak, James (1998-10-12). "Skyreach Equipment Ltd. Purchases Naming Rights At Edmonton Coliseum". Amusement Business. AllBusiness.com. http://www.allbusiness.com/services/amusement-recreation-services/4574504-1.html. Retrieved 2011-01-18. 
5. ^ "Oilers' Skyreach Centre renamed". CBC Sports. 2003-11-20. http://www.cbc.ca/sports/story/2003/11/20/SkyReach1117.html. Retrieved 2011-01-18. 
6. ^ "Edmonton Oil Kings to host 2008 Home Hardware CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game". Hockey's Future. 2007-03-28. http://www.hockeysfuture.com/articles/9538/edmonton_to_host2008_top_prospects_game/. Retrieved 2011-01-18. 
7. ^ "Oilers hope change is good". National Post. 2007-09-18. http://www.canada.com/topics/sports/hockey/story.html?id=c54125f8-9150-41a6-8003-c9c68c07ae23. Retrieved 2009-11-15. 
8. ^ http://www.servinghistory.com/topics/Rexall_Place::sub::Trivia
9. ^ "Edmonton Arena District". http://revitalizedowntown.ca/. Retrieved 2011-01-18. 
10. ^ Boston Globe
11. ^ "Raptors Face Nuggets In Edmonton In Pre-Season Tilt". NBA.com. 2008-07-30. http://www.nba.com/raptors/news/release_073008.html. Retrieved 2009-11-15. 

External links

• Rexall Place official website
• Rexall Place at Hockeyarenas.net

Events and tenants
Preceded by Edmonton Gardens	Home of the Edmonton Oilers 1974 – present	Succeeded by Downtown arena
Preceded by Red Deer, Alberta	Host of YC Alberta 2000 – present	Current holder
Preceded by Ottawa Civic Centre	Home of the Edmonton Rush 2006 – present	Current holder
Preceded by HSBC Arena & Dwyer Arena, New York	Host of the World Junior Ice Hockey Championships along with Scotiabank Saddledome 2012	Succeeded by TBA, Russia
Preceded by Colisée Pepsi, Quebec City, Quebec	Host of the CHL Top Prospects Game 2008	Succeeded by General Motors Centre, Oshawa, Ontario
First Arena	Home of the Edmonton Drillers (CMISL) 2007	Succeeded by Servus Credit Union Place, St. Albert, Alberta
Preceded by Rose Garden Arena, Portland, Oregon	Host of the National Lacrosse League All-Star Game 2007	Succeeded by Pepsi Center, Denver, Colorado
Preceded by Ricoh Coliseum, Toronto	Home of the Edmonton Road Runners 2004-2005	Succeeded by Cox Convention Center, Oklahoma City
Preceded by an indoor arena in Chicago, Illinois	Home of the Edmonton Drillers (NPSL) 1996-2000	Dissolved
First Arena	Home of the Edmonton Sled Dogs 1994	Succeeded by Orlando Arena
Preceded by St. Louis Arena	Host of the NHL All-Star Game 1989	Succeeded by Pittsburgh Civic Arena
Preceded by Edmonton Gardens	Home of the Edmonton Oil Kings (WCHL) 1974–1976	Succeeded by Memorial Coliseum, Portland, Oregon