2016 was a busy year for Rogers Place and ICE District — from the ice slab pour to the opening of the Edmonton Tower, and everything in between! Here is a look back at some of the key highlights:
JW MARRIOT ANNOUNCED
JANUARY 14, 2016:
JW Marriott Edmonton is announced as ICE District’s first luxury hotel. Expected to be complete in late 2018, the luxury hotel will be located between the 1-22 floors of the mixed-use tower — with the Legends Private Residences located above.
FIRST OPEN HOUSE
JANUARY 16, 2016:
Rogers Place welcomed the public to a sneak peek inside the building to witness the expansive progress of the ongoing construction.
FIRST SEAT INSTALLED
FEBRUARY 24, 2016:
The very first seat at Rogers Place is installed (seat 4, row 20, section 101).
ICE SLAB FOUNDATION INSTALLED
MARCH 10, 2016:
The ice slab foundation is installed at Rogers Place in preparation for the real deal!
OILERS TEAM TOUR
FIRST CONCERT ANNOUNCED
APRIL 28, 2016:
Rogers Place entertainment rollout begins, announcing some of the first concerts to come to Rogers Place.
SCOREBOARD INSTALLATION
ROGERS PLACE SIGNAGE
JUNE 28, 2016:
The first Rogers Place sign installation is complete.
GREYHOUND DEMOLITION
JUNE 30, 2016:
With the demolition of the Greyhound lot complete, the development of ICE District continues.
ICE TESTING
FINAL TOUCHES
AUGUST 28, 2016:
Final touches are made inside Rogers Place, including painting the lines on the ice surface.
FIRST SKATE
SEPTEMBER 1, 2016:
Connor McDavid is the first Oilers player to set foot on Rogers Place ice.
IRON FOOT PLACE UNVEILED
SEPTEMBER 8, 2016:
Alex Janvier’s artwork, Tsątsąke k’e (Iron Foot Place) — a 45-foot tile mosaic — was officially unveiled to the public.
OFFICIAL OPENING
SEPTEMBER 8, 2016:
The official opening of Rogers Place included special guests Daryl Katz, Mayor Don Iveson and Wayne Gretzky.
PUBLIC OPEN HOUSE
SEPTEMBER 10, 2016:
Nearly 60,000 excited fans came out to see the Rogers Place Public Open House.
FIRST CONCERT
SEPTEMBER 16, 2016:
Keith Urban performed the inaugural concert at Rogers Place to a sold-out crowd.
OIL KINGS SOLD OUT CROWD
SEPTEMBER 24, 2016:
For the first time in modern franchise history, the Edmonton Oil Kings played against the Red Deer Rebels in front of a sold-out crowd at their home opener inside Rogers Place.
DOWNTOWN COMMUNITY ARENA OPENS
SEPTEMBER 25, 2016:
Complete with a juggler, free skating and a DJ, the official opening of the Edmonton Downtown Community Arena was a day to remember!
OILERS HALL OF FAME ROOM
OCTOBER 12, 2016:
Oilers Entertainment Group unveiled the new home of the famed Wayne Gretzky Statue along with the Oilers Hall of Fame inside Rogers Place.
OILERS OPENING NIGHT
OCTOBER 12, 2016:
The Oilers Inaugural Season Opener at Rogers Place was a night to remember, marking a new era for the franchise.
NOMINATED BY POLLSTAR
KIDS & COMPANY OPENS
NOVEMBER 15, 2016:
ICE District welcomed the first tenants of Edmonton Tower, celebrating the official opening of Kids & Company.
GARTH BROOKS BREAKS RECORDS
DECEMBER 9, 2016:
With a total of nine shows announced at Rogers Place for February, Garth Brooks shattered his Edmonton sales record.
TORUK SETS NEW RECORD
DECEMBER 26, 2016:
Turning Rogers Place into the mystical world of Pandora, Cirque de Soleil’s Toruk — The First Flight broke their single show attendance record!