Whyte Avenue and downtown battle to become Party Central
Calgary can wait — there’s a Battle of Edmonton brewing as the city’s two main entertainment areas compete for a share of the Oilers playoff celebrations.
Up to 30,000 people per night swarmed into Old Strathcona during the team’s 2006 run to the Stanley Cup final, but with Rogers Place opening last fall, the downtown district hopes to grab Edmonton’s Party Central title this time around.
“In the past, it’s been at Whyte Avenue because that was the only densely populated bar street. You had Rexall Place way out in the back 40 by itself, with no real drinking seats around it,” Jesse Kupina, owner of Central Social Hall at 109 Street and Jasper Avenue, said Wednesday.
“My gut feeling is the majority of it is going to be downtown because of the arena. Since 2006, downtown has evolved immensely in terms of types of drinking establishments, number of seats.”
Kupina, who also owns south side’s The Ranch Roadhouse, expects some rivalry between the amusement districts on either side of the river as they try to attract thirsty Oilers fans.
“I think that will probably exist … I think the people that like Whyte Avenue will be on Whyte Avenue. I don’t think downtown will get those people, unless they’re attending a game, but the average person looking for atmosphere will probably be downtown.”
Ian O’Donnell, executive director of the Downtown Business Association, said members are putting out social media posts to “get everybody downtown” during the playoffs.
The first-night action included putting 1,000 people into the expanded Molson Hockey House bar in the Ford Hall pedway to watch the game on screens outside Roger Place. “Whyte Avenue is really highly concentrated in two or three blocks, whereas downtown is spread over 50 blocks. Whyte Avenue will be certainly exciting and interesting. Downtown will be a bit of a broader experience.”
O’Donnell sees this as a chance to show off Edmonton’s booming central core, which is being transformed
I think the people that like Whyte Avenue will be on Whyte Avenue. I don’t think downtown will get those people, unless they’re attending a game.
by an estimated $5 billion in development over the next few years, and is urging members to decorate windows and offices in hopes of creating an old-time Klondike Days buzz.
It’s taking time. “Everybody is behind the eightball because I think this snuck up on them, surprisingly,” O’Donnell said. “Perhaps being out of the playoffs for so long, we put away our playoff flags and gear and are having a hard time finding them … By Game 2, I think everybody will have figured it out.”
The River Cree Resort and Casino also hoped to lure in a piece of the action by holding an opening night playoff party it expected to draw 800 people.
Bars in Old Strathcona aren’t worried all their customers will be drawn away.
“That’s not really a concern for us. Whyte Avenue has always been a popular area. We’re confident people will come here and relive the nostalgia,” said Chloe Burandt, managing supervisor at The Pint near 80 Avenue and 104 Street.
“A lot of people will come down here because this is where they celebrated in 2006.”
Burandt, whose bar was fully booked for the night, thinks Edmonton has enough fans to keep all the entertainment hubs busy.
Even though Kupina is rooting for downtown, he agrees there will likely be enough action for the local hospitality industry to share.
“There’s 28-year-olds living in Edmonton who have never seen an (Oilers) playoff game in a bar … We don’t know what to expect. It’s a really exciting time.”