Fans in Edmonton just got a glimpse of their city’s future, but not everyone is ready to say goodbye to the past. The old Edmonton Oilers’ Coliseum, once packed with cheers and championship banners, is coming down, and a shiny $250-million event park is set to rise east of Rogers Place.
For some, this deal sparks hope for a downtown revival after all, the new coliseum is a part of a larger $408.2 million event project. For others, letting go of the building where legends were made stings a little more. So what does this mean for the Oilers’ legacy and the city as a whole?
Is This the End of an Era for the Oilers’ Old Coliseum?
The redevelopment plan is set through a three-way partnership with the City of Edmonton, the Government of Alberta, and the Oilers Entertainment Group (OEG). This agreement brings together $183 million from the province, $138 million from the city, and $87 million from OEG.
Altogether, the funding is designed to cover the event park, pay for new housing in the ICE District, and put an end to the Coliseum’s era with demolition long in the works.
This Coliseum, home to five Stanley Cup wins and years of Edmonton Oilers memories, has sat empty since the team moved downtown in 2016. The latest deal earmarks $37.5 million for demolition, with work beginning next year.
City leaders believe clearing the site will finally let Exhibition Lands be redeveloped, opening the door for future residential projects and new public spaces. Mayor Amarjeet Sohi made it clear, calling the project “a big investment in our downtown.” According to him, the new event park should bring people back to the core and help draw in more big events.
OEG is all-in, too, describing this agreement as proof of what can happen when city and provincial governments partner up with the private sector.
Not all voices were on board. Councillors Andrew Knack, Michael Janz, Erin Rutherford, and Jo-Anne Wright voted against the plan, raising questions about rushed decision-making and housing promises that felt vague. In the words of Knack, the vote felt like “a gun to our head.” Janz also said an event park wasn’t even on the list of budget priorities.
Still, most councillors backed the plan, pointing to the bigger upside. City Manager Eddie Robar sees potential for even more private funding rolling into the downtown area, which he called “a cascade effect to stimulate further investment.”
How the Oilers Project Will Change Downtown
Alongside the event park, this agreement pushes OEG to build almost 354 housing units by 2028. City officials hope the Village at ICE District will eventually hit 2,500 homes when fully developed.
The city’s share of the tab will come from the Capital City Downtown Community Revitalization Levy, which got an extension earlier this year.
The event park itself will replace the current Fan Park next to Rogers Place. Its concept design features space for outdoor concerts, festivals, and community hangouts, promising year-round access.
Supporters picture the park putting Edmonton’s name back in the conversation as a great place for large-scale events and gatherings. That positive image is something city leaders are excited about as plans move forward.
There are still concerns about competition, especially with venues like the Edmonton Convention Centre. Some councillors warned that the event park might pull business away from city-owned facilities, but OEG has told council that trade shows and big conventions are not the park’s main focus.
For many Oilers supporters, the most emotional piece is watching the old Coliseum go. The building was the heart of the city’s hockey history for decades, and as demolition draws near, closing that chapter brings a bittersweet feeling. City officials are betting that letting go of the old and investing in the new will help downtown Edmonton come alive once again.
