The $613.5 million Rogers Place arena has opened in downtown Edmonton as the centrepiece of the city’s new ICE District.
An opening ceremony was held September 9 after 850 days of construction that was led by PCL Construction for the Oilers Entertainment Group.
The Rogers Place and related infrastructure boasts 18,651 seats, 1.1 million square feet of space, the largest true high-definition scoreboard in the NHL, expansive concourses with natural light, and an array of food and beverage options.
Rogers Place anchors a major revitalization of Edmonton’s downtown that boasts $5 billion invested in private and public developments, including the ICE District, which will be Canada’s largest sports and entertainment district.
“I want people to understand this place is special,” Edmonton Oilers legend Wayne Gretzky told the crowd assembled for the opening. “I hope you make some new memories and win some new championships.”
ICE District, an ambitious 25-acre, mixed-use development will include a JW Marriott hotel, casino, theatres and large outdoor plaza.
While much of the ICE District is still to come, Canada’s first Hyatt Place hotel—the Hyatt Place Edmonton Downtown — opened in late 2015 with 255 guest rooms and suites, 11,000 square feet of event space, underground parking and a host of other amenities in a striking angular 11-storey tower.
The ICE District is also the site of the Stantec office tower and the Edmonton Tower.
The district is not without its challenges: the downtown office vacancy rate has risen to 12.3 per cent, reports Avison Young, as 1.8 million square feet of new Class A office space will be delivered by 2018.
