Rexall Place

Former names	Northlands Coliseum (1974–1995) Edmonton Coliseum (1995–1998) Skyreach Centre (1998–2003) [1]
Location	7424 118 Avenue, Edmonton, Alberta T5B 4M9
Coordinates	53°34′17″N 113°27′22″W / 53.57139°N 113.45611°W / 53.57139; -113.45611Coordinates: 53°34′17″N 113°27′22″W / 53.57139°N 113.45611°W / 53.57139; -113.45611
Opened	1974
Owner	Northlands
Operator	Northlands
Construction cost	C$17.3 million[1]
Capacity	Hockey: 16,839 Concerts: 12,000 (approx)
Tenants
Edmonton Oilers (NHL) (1974-present) Edmonton Rush (NLL) (2006-present) Edmonton Oil Kings (WHL) (2007-present) Edmonton Drillers (NASL) (1980-1982) Edmonton Drillers (NPSL) (1996–2000) Edmonton Drillers (CMISL) (2007) Edmonton Road Runners (AHL) (2004–2005) Edmonton Skyhawks (NBL) (1993–1994)

Rexall Place is an indoor arena in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada situated on the north side of Northlands. It is currently the home to the Edmonton Oilers of the National Hockey League, the Edmonton Rush of the National Lacrosse League and the Edmonton Oil Kings of the WHL. Though it is one of the oldest venues in the NHL, it has been consistently renovated to keep the facilities up to date.

[edit] History

When the arena opened on November 10, 1974, it was known as Northlands Coliseum to house the World Hockey Association Oilers. Then it became the Edmonton Coliseum in 1994, and Skyreach Centre in 1998, before it changed to its current name during the middle of the 2003–04 NHL season when its naming rights were purchased by the Rexall medicine company, a subsidiary of Katz Group Canada.

The arena was used to host games in the 1981 and 1984 Canada Cup hockey tournaments, including Game 2 of the 1984 finals between Canada and Sweden. In the 1995 World Junior Championships, which were held in various cities and towns throughout Alberta, Edmonton Coliseum was the site of several games, including Canada's 6–3 victory over Finland on New Year's Day.

The venue was the site of several Commonwealth Games sports in 1978, and part of Universiade (the World University Games) in 1983. It also hosted the World Wrestling Entertainment 2004 Backlash pay per view. Annual events include the Canadian Finals Rodeo and the Christian Conference, YC Alberta.

Before the 2007/08 season started, the Oilers dressing room was renovated for $3.5 million. The state-of-art room is now wider with a new medical room, lounge, bar, video room, weight room as well as other new facilities. Just after the entrance to the dressing room is a cubicle with 5 replica Stanley Cups in it that has all the names of the past Oilers who won cups with the team. Next to the 5 replicas is an empty space symbolizing that there is always room for another.^[2]

[edit] Seating capacity

The official capacity for hockey is currently 16,839, which is slightly less than the 17,100 the arena held before the 2001–02 NHL season. Some media sources^[who?] still quote the old capacity even though the Oilers have never announced an attendance above 16,839 since the most recent changes. When it opened, the capacity was slightly more than 15,200, but it was increased to 17,353 after the Oilers joined the NHL by adding an extra tier of seating on the side opposite the pressbox. This was increased to 17,503 in 1984. The arena underwent an extensive renovation in 1994 and has 67 luxury suites.

[edit] Trivia

Lists of miscellaneous information should be avoided. Please relocate any relevant information into appropriate sections or articles. (December 2008)

• Noise levels during playoff games have reached 114 dB.[2]

• A large bronze statue of Canadian hockey icon and former Oilers Captain Wayne Gretzky is situated outside of Rexall Place.

• At the beginning of Game 3 of the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim/Edmonton series of the 2006 Stanley Cup Playoffs, the Oilers' anthem singer Paul Lorieau sang only a few lines of "O Canada" before letting the audience sing out the rest of the anthem. This was done at all subsequent home games in the playoffs as well as at the home openers.

• During the 2006 Stanley Cup Playoffs, Oilers fans took to throwing a piece of Grade A Alberta Beef onto the ice. It was started during the 2006 Detroit Red Wings/Edmonton series as an answer to the Red Wings' tradition of throwing octopuses onto the ice.

• The 2008 CHL Top Prospects Game was held at Rexall place in front of 13,596 fans.^[3]

• The 2008 National Lacrosse League All Star Game was held at Rexall Place on March 16, 2008.

• Rexall Place hosted the 1st NBA preseason game in Edmonton on October 28, 1995 with the Boston Celtics playing the Vancouver Grizzlies.^[4]

• Rexall Place hosted the 2nd NBA preseason game in Edmonton on October 18, 1999 with the Toronto Raptors playing the Vancouver Grizzlies. In 2008, another NBA preseason game was hosted with the Toronto Raptors playing the Denver Nuggets.^[5]

• In July 2008, the PBR's Built Ford Tough Series hosted their Montana Tractors Invitiational event at Rexall Place.

• Rexall Place is the only NHL arena with player benches on the same side as the TV cameras.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] Live recordings

The following bands recorded live performances in the arena:

• Yes filmed their 1984 concert film 9012Live at the arena.
• Nickelback filmed their 2002 concert video Live at Home at the arena.
• Our Lady Peace recorded part of their 2003 record Live at the arena.
• Michael W. Smith recorded his live "Worship" DVD at YC Alberta.
• Corb Lund recorded his 2007 concert on video during the course of the Horse Soldier! Horse Soldier! tour.

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Rexall Place official website
• Discussion of hockey ice quality
• Edmonton Fans singing the Canadian anthem
• Rexall Place at Hockeyarenas.net

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