By a surprisingly wide 10-3 margin, the Edmonton City Council voted to move forward on a plan for a new $450-million Edmonton Oilers (NHL) arena, directing city staff to work out an agreement with the team. The funding plan was slightly tweaked before it was approved this afternoon. The base agreement remained the same. The […]
Tag Archives | edmonton
Edmonton poised to approve Oilers arena deal
The Edmonton City Council could pass a proposed Edmonton Oilers (NHL) downtown arena deal this morning after hearing final testimony on the issue yesterday. The testimony split along familiar lines: local businesses saying investment in the downtown core would be beneficial to all, with some citizens opposed to any public spending on a sporting facility. […]
Edmonton on verge of arena deal?
After years and years of talk and study, the Edmonton Oilers (NHL) are pushing the city to finally get an arena deal done by Halloween. The $450-million arena deal is amazingly similar to what was originally pitched years ago: the Oilers will put up $100 million toward arena construction and put money into downtown redevelopment. […]
Oilers prep Plan B for new Edmonton arena
The Edmonton Oilers (NHL) have done their homework on a backup plan for a new arena should a downtown plan fall though by holding discussions with the Enoch Cree Nation this past spring. The discussions didn’t really go very far; both sides acknowledge that the first choice of the Oilers is a downtown site, and […]
Protesters object to Edmonton arena funding
It was a weekend for protests in Edmonton, as scores of protesters showed up to City Hall to object to public financing of a new Edmonton Oilers (NHL) arena without a referendum or other input. While we’re not sure there’s a groundswell of public sentiment opposing a new downtown arena — indeed, this story comes […]
Alberta: We’re open to some sort of Edmonton arena funding
Alberta provincial officials were surprisingly open to some sort of involvement in funding for a new Edmonton Oilers (NHL) arena — but it’s most likely the money would go to infrastructure and not directly toward the facility. When Mayor Stephen Mandel announced a funding plan for the new Oilers arena, the initial pushback from some […]
Edmonton, Oilers reach agreement on framework of arena funding deal
{jathumbnail off} Not all the pieces are in place yet, but the city of Edmonton and the ownership of the Edmonton Oilers (NHL) have agreed on yet another iteration of the framework of a $450-million new-arena funding deal — albeit one with a $100-million hole. The plan calls for the Oilers to pay $100 million, […]
Edmonton approves arena funding plan
{jathumbnail off} The Edmonton City Council approved a $450-million arena funding plan largely along the lines of what Mayor Stephen Mandel had proposed a day before, with the city’s contribution capped at $125 million and another $125 million coming from a controversial ticket tax. The funding formula: $100 million from The Katz Group, owners of […]
Edmonton mayor lays out arena funding plan
{jathumbnail off} Edmonton Mayor Stephen Mandel laid out an arena funding plan in his annual State of the City address, but the formula already faces opposition from Edmonton Oilers owner Daryl Katz, who is against a ticket tax. Mandel argues that the Oilers are in danger of leaving if a downtown replacement for Rexall Place […]
Report: New arena needs 30-year commitment from Oilers
{jathumbnail off} If a new downtown Edmonton arena is to work, the city needs a 30-year commitment from the Edmonton Oilers (NHL), measurable targets for revenue from concerts and other events, and a specific number of days the facility can be used by the community, according to a report released by city officials. The report, […]
Complicating factor in Edmonton arena discussions: Northlands
Northlands has been an important part of Edmonton hockey since 1912, when the ag organization built a new arena and pavilion hall to replace Thistle Arena. Since then, junior and pro hockey has been played in Northland-controlled arenas — and the group wants a piece of the proposed new downtown arena, despite opposition from the […]
City: New Edmonton arena would revitalize downtown
{jathumbnail off}A new downtown arena would revitalize downtown Edmonton, say city officials, who say most city residents approve of a new Edmonton Oilers (NHL) arena — the issue is to what extent the city will pay for it and by what means. Yesterday the mayor released answers to 140 questions about the arena, submitted by […]
