Ten years ago, Rogers Place opened its doors in the heart of downtown Edmonton, bringing a new era to the city’s sports and entertainment scene while generating billions of dollars in investment and development in the downtown core.
Over the past decade, Rogers Place has welcomed millions of guests and hosted hundreds of world-class sports, entertainment and community events. It remains a key gathering place for Edmontonians and visitors to celebrate some of the city’s biggest moments.
“Over the past decade, Rogers Place has become more than a building. It’s where Edmontonians have come to celebrate and connect,” said Mayor Andrew Knack. “As we celebrate this milestone, we also celebrate the people and partnerships that have created a place that has brought millions of people downtown and given our city countless unforgettable moments.”
Rogers Place has become one of North America’s top sports and entertainment destinations. It has transformed the downtown core, encouraged new housing development and increased economic activity. The arena was funded in part by the Downtown Community Revitalization Levy (CRL). By the end of 2025, the CRL had invested $545 million in projects within the city’s core, driving more than $4.8 billion in completed, ongoing and planned private development.
Rogers Place has solidified Edmonton’s reputation as a world-class sports and entertainment destination. Over the years, the venue has hosted global music icons including Garth Brooks, Paul McCartney, Coldplay and Elton John; major sporting events such as the NHL Playoff Bubble, IIHF World Junior Championship and Canadian Finals Rodeo; the JUNO Awards; and unforgettable Edmonton Oilers playoff runs that have brought the city together.
“For the past decade, Rogers Place and the Ice District have been powerful drivers of what makes Edmonton a destination of choice,” said Traci Bednard, President and CEO, Explore Edmonton. “They have transformed our city’s ability to compete for and host some of the biggest events in sport and culture, including the Canadian Finals Rodeo, World Juniors, Canadian Country Music Awards, PWHL and WNBA, bringing visitors downtown, supporting local businesses and creating energy that extends well beyond the arena. World-class venues like Rogers Place and the Ice District give people more reasons to visit, experience and invest in Edmonton.”
The impact of Rogers Place extends far beyond the main arena. The Downtown Community Arena provides recreation opportunities for Edmontonians and a home for downtown postsecondary athletics. Nearby, the ICE District Plaza and Fan Park @ ICE District serve as year-round gathering places for community events, festivals, celebrations and free public programming. Together, these spaces provide opportunities for people to gather, connect and experience the downtown community throughout the year.
As the centrepiece of the ICE District, Rogers Place has grown from a single venue into a thriving downtown district that brings together urban residential towers, office spaces, a hotel and a variety of retail shops and restaurant spaces. Upcoming projects, including the Downtown Event Park and Village at ICE District, build on this momentum to drive further downtown growth.
“Ten years later, we’re incredibly proud to see Daryl Katz’s bold vision come to life, with Rogers Place and ICE District becoming a catalyst for investment, development and community in downtown Edmonton,”said Tim Shipton, Executive Vice President, OEG Sports & Entertainment. “Together with the City of Edmonton, our partners and the community, Rogers Place and ICE District have brought millions of people downtown, created thousands of jobs, generated significant economic activity, attracted billions of dollars in investment and given Edmontonians and visitors to our city a place to come together for unforgettable moments. There is an incredible foundation in place, and we’re excited about the opportunity to build on that momentum in the decade ahead.”
Quick Facts:
- $545 million — invested through the Downtown Community Revitalization Levy in projects within the CRL area by the end of 2025, helping spur more than $4.8 billion in completed, in-progress and planned private development. (Source: City of Edmonton, Downtown CRL Annual Report)
- $3.2 billion — estimated economic impact generated by ICE District Phase I, including $1.4 billion in GDP and $953.5 million in wages and salaries. (Source: CBRE / STEAM Economic Impact Assessment)
- 10,000+ — estimated full-year jobs generated through ICE District Phase I. (Source: CBRE / STEAM Economic Impact Assessment)
- 14 million+ event attendees and 3,000+ events across three ICE District venues. (Source: OEGSE / ICE District)
- $2 billion+ — privately invested by Katz Group/OEG Sports & Entertainment in ICE District, following an original commitment of $100 million to downtown development. (Source: Katz Group / OEGSE)
- 25 acres — transformed into the ICE District mixed-use development. (Source: ICE District / OEGSE)
- 1.3 million sq. ft. of LEED Gold office space, 740+ residential units and 346 hotel rooms developed in ICE District. (Source: ICE District / OEGSE)
- 8,000+ — employees working in ICE District. (Source: OEGSE / ICE District)
- 10,000+ youth participants in Fan Park programming in 2025 alone. (Source: Edmonton Oilers Community Foundation, 2025 Community Impact Report)