Iveson seeks Oilers assist with Northlands proposal
Mayor Don Iveson wants the Edmonton Oilers to be part of a proposal to convert their former home at the Northlands Coliseum into a multi-rink hockey training centre.
“There are opportunities for the Oilers because of their association with hockey and because of the value of taking the existing building out of competition with (Rogers Place),” Iveson said following a speech Monday to the Rotary Club of Edmonton.
“There could be opportunities to work together and expedite getting to the desired outcome of a hockey development centre, which I think they have an interest in, from an overall hockey and an Edmonton brand-association point of view.”
Hockey Canada wants to build four ice sheets, a 200-metre track, a dry land training area, classrooms and offices in the coliseum, which would be mainly used by sports academies during school hours and by community groups on evenings and weekends.
City officials estimate the scheme would cost at least $102 million, with about $35 million of that expense covered by the savings from closing four aging singlerink arenas.
This price is roughly the same as two new twin arenas or one fourplex, which will be needed if the coliseum plan doesn’t go ahead, and eliminates the $8-million cost to demolish the building, Iveson said.
The Oilers Entertainment Group (OEG) has a veto on any sports or entertainment use at the coliseum through the downtown arena deal.
While Iveson said details of how the Oilers might participate must still be worked out, he said OEG chief executive Bob Nicholson, a former Hockey Canada president, has already helped by bringing in Hockey Canada.
“If we find an opportunity, whether it’s through some of the corporate sponsors that Hockey Canada can bring to bear, with OEG seeing value in it as well for their business and for hockey development, and we can bring (leasing and funding) to the table, I do think there’s a model we can find.”
Earlier this month, city council gave staff until May 30 to secure written support for the project from OEG and Hockey Canada.
Once they receive those endorsements, they’ll debate funding a $2.8-million business case and functional design.
Iveson also sees potential in supporting agri-business for financially struggling Northlands, which wouldn’t necessarily be involved in a coliseum development and is due at council in June with an agricultural vision for the notfor-profit organization.
“This whole region, taken together, by some estimates is Canada’s food capital,” Iveson told the Rotary luncheon.
“I think there’s a huge role for Northlands … driving that foodoriented sector into the future.”