Rogers Place has made its mark in sports and entertainment for its design, operational excellence, and unsurpassed attention to detail. Construction on the over one-million-square-foot, five-concourse facility initiated in March of 2014, and the facility opened its doors in September of 2016. In addition to the arena, the project also includes an attached community arena, a 34,000-square-foot grand entrance and events space named Ford Hall, and connective infrastructure to the light rail transit system, bringing the total project size to 1,116,000 square feet. The arena has hosted over two million guests in its first eight months of operation, and has focused on delivering a premium guest experience across all hosted events. The multitude of club spaces, seating options, unique hosting opportunities, partner activations, signature amenities, and architectural design have made Rogers Place the talk of sports and entertainment.
CLUB LEVELS
Sportsnet Club: Spanning two levels above the end of ice surface, the Sporstnet Club is built for hockey fans, featuring all-inclusive food with a rotating menu of casual favorites. Socializing within the club is enhanced by two full-service bars, multiple TV screens, and a variety of seating options.
Sky Lounge: This trendy two-level premium club is located above the end of the ice surface. Guests can enjoy the luxury and comfort of executive-style furniture, a full-service bar, in-seat beverage service, and all-inclusive food through a variety of culinary choices. Following the game, the experience continues as the curtain is drawn, and the music is turned up to transform Sky Lounge into Edmonton’s most unique nightspot.
Mezzanine Clubs: Two unique clubs situated at either side of the ice, the North and South Mezzanine Clubs provide a lounge-like atmosphere to entertain a large group. Each space features a private full-service bar, a variety of culinary choices, and lots of room to mix and mingle during an event or the big game.
Chairman’s Club: Located at ice level, immediately outside the Edmonton Oilers Dressing Room, the Chairman’s Club has been designed to deliver the most desirable and differentiated entertainment experience available. This 2,500-square-foot premium club is exclusive to a select few, as only 30 pairs of memberships are available. Providing the ultimate vantage point for the Oilers movement between the dressing room and the ice surface, the Chairman’s Club includes a dedicated chef serving up the finest in dining experiences nightly.
SUITES
Located on the private Scotiabank Suites Level immediately above the lower bowl, Scotiabank Suites are the pinnacle in premium hosting. The ultra-modern, spacious suites combine the best finishes with 5-star, in-suite service to ensure all guests have the most exceptional of experiences.
THEATRE AND LOGE BOXES
Theatre Boxes: Rogers Place Theatre Boxes provide the ultimate in intimate upscale hosting – a great place to entertain clients, co-workers, friends, or family. Located immediately above the lower bowl, each theatre box features comfortable armchairs and cushioned bar stools in a private, curtained environment. The private lounge located just behind the Theatre Boxes features premium meal service and a full-service bar.
Loge Seating: Loge Seating is one of the most popular hospitality products in Rogers Place. Situated on a wide private concourse, Loge Seating overlooks the lower bowl – right on top of the action. Loge Seating features in-seat food and beverage service and an exclusive open concourse that offers full-service bars and other gastronomic options.
CONCOURSE
Rogers Place was designed with an eye to creating unforgettable fan experiences for every customer. The five-concourse design, including a full upper concourse, allows both the upper and lower bowls to be top loaded, which translates to proximate amenities for every ticket holder. The wide concourses allow for a high level of service in customer circulation, and are supported by 15 escalators and 19 elevators. The 50-foot-high exterior walls around the main concourse mixed with walls of natural light enhance the entire guest experience.
FOOD & BEVERAGE
Just like the building itself, the food and beverage options within Rogers Place are top-notch. Items like artisan pizza, sushi, jerk chicken, rice bowls, AAA Alberta steak, and pierogi poutine are available, among other traditional arena staples. The Rogers Place food and beverage team has also worked hard to source high-quality and locally grown ingredients to highlight the dynamic menu. One must-try item is the Bobby Nick’s Burger, named after Oilers Entertainment Group CEO and Vice Chair Bob Nicholson. Layered on a toasted brioche bun, an Alberta Beef patty sets the stage for cheddar cheese, dill pickles, jalapeños, leaf lettuce, tomatoes, red onions, and is topped off with some crispy smoked bacon. Mustard and a signature sauce created by Bob himself round out what has become a fan favorite.
Curve: Unlike any NHL facility restaurant in North America, Curve is brought to life by the Rogers Place culinary dream team with a menu specifically designed to highlight local flavors. Overlooking the expansive Ford Hall, Curve offers everything from plated menus and themed buffets to signature cocktails crafted specifically for concerts and events.
OUTSIDE THE VENUE WALLS
Oilers Hall of Fame: Nestled under Ford Hall with street level exterior views, the Oilers Hall of Fame room is a dynamic space for media announcements, more intimate banquets, or cocktail receptions. High ceilings and full-length windows make this room feel spacious, bright, and inviting. The product of a partnership between Oilers Entertainment Group (OEG) and the Hockey Hall of Fame (HHOF) in Toronto, the Oilers Hall of Fame room features one-of-a-kind loaned artifacts from the HHOF, along with memorabilia owned by the Oilers franchise and private collectors.
Downtown Community Arena: The northeast corner of Rogers Place is home to a new neighborhood gem – the Downtown Community Arena. Downtown desk jockeys can drop in for a heart-pumping skate before work. Neighboring communities will have special skate nights, and anyone can take in programs like adult shinny and drop-in public skating. Plus, as home to MacEwan Griffins hockey, and a rental practice space for the Edmonton Oilers and Oil Kings, this arena will be a unique downtown destination.
ARCHITECTURE
For Rogers Place to become a catalyst for the revitalization of downtown Edmonton, it had to be a great piece of architecture, both inside and out. The architecture includes a focus on beautiful sweeping curvilinear lines, high-volume spaces, natural light on all levels of the facility, high-quality finishes, and extensive digital animation. Excellence was a key word associated with the development of Rogers Place from day one. Excellence in design, operation, sustainability, and technology are all key elements of the project that have surpassed the expectations of all. Equally important aspects – fan experience and building community – have combined to provoke reactions such as that of music superstar Keith Urban, the first artist to perform in Rogers Place.
“So many arenas are purely built for sport, and the concert sound suffers, but not Rogers Place,” Urban said. “It’s one of the best sounding arenas I’ve played in.”
TECHNOLOGY
Rogers Communications is not only the title naming rights sponsor but also a technology partner, and Rogers Place is the most technologically-enabled arena in North America. The Wi-Fi and distributed antenna systems are the most advanced that current technology allows, and features first-of-their-kind wireless antenna ports located in the lower bowl hand rails. The 6mm resolution center-hung scoreboard, designed in-house by OEG, is the largest true HD scoreboard in the NHL. The facility includes four other large interior and exterior LED boards, 1,250 56-inch LCD interior monitors, two interior and two exterior ribbon boards, and nine two-sided, 85-inch exterior digital kiosks. The facility also features the latest in digital projection technology and state-of-the-art game presentation equipment. All these digital tools are operated out of a state-of-the-art video control room, which also features full production studios.
VENUE ENTRYWAY
Ford Hall, the grand entrance to Rogers Place, is a stretch of 24,000 square feet of multi-use, programmable space, which may be used for public and private events, and can accommodate up to 4,000 guests. It is a stunning combination of architecture, technology, natural light, and art. The focal point for this space is Tsątsąke k’e (Iron Foot Place), a spectacular 45-foot circular mosaic set in the floor. A signature piece from world-renowned aboriginal artist Alex Janvier, this work of art speaks to Edmonton’s rich history as a gathering place.
DESIGN-BUILD TEAM
Architect: HOK
General Contractor: PCL Construction
Owner’s Consultant: ICON Venue Group