The Rogers Place Effect

We often refer to the McDavid effect, and how the young phenom attracts NHL free agents to the city like no other. Everybody wants to play with Connor. Everybody knows that because of him, the Oilers will have some serious Stanley Cup potential in the upcoming years. One player, in particular, was Milan Lucic. But Connor McDavid wasn’t the ONLY reason that Milan Lucic chose to sign in Edmonton. A big, shiny, new building had a little something to do with his decision, and that building isn’t stopping with Lucic. Rogers Place will be the reason Edmonton lands a number of upcoming sporting events as well. 

After returning from IIHF meetings at the World Cup in Toronto, Bob Nicholson dropped the news on Edmontonians that he aims to bring the 2019 IIHF World Junior Hockey Championships and the 2020 World Cup Of Hockey to Rogers Place in Edmonton. First reported by Terry Jones, Nicholson believes that the Ice District was made for events like these, and that it can be done. 

I haven’t been able to stop thinking about this since I first read about it. How cool would it be for Edmonton to host two huge tournaments in a span of two years? Throw in a Stanley Cup Final series in the mix and I can die a happy man. 

Bob Nicholson is second-in-command to Rene Fasel, president of the IIHF, so you know he will have some pull towards making this happen. Will we have to bid for it? Probably. But the up-and-coming Ice District means that it’s almost a lock to get at least one of those tournaments in Edmonton. With the success of the World Cup in Toronto, it’s hard to believe that they won’t run the tournament again, (also dependant is whether NHL players will play in the Olympics or not), which will open up bidding wars to host the next tournament. 

Edmonton also had amazing success when they split the World Juniors with Calgary in 2012. An event that pumped over $90 million into the Alberta economy is guaranteed to come back again. Maybe this time, Edmonton can host the whole tournament on its own? Who wants to watch a game in the Scotiabank Saddledome anyways?

Bob Nicholson also imagines a public ice skating rink outside Rogers Place, curling sheets, or a fun, little bobsleigh race for kids if an event that big ever comes. Where is all of this going to fit? I have no idea, but if saying we’ll build it lands us the World Cup then count me in!

First the World Juniors, then the World Cup, THEN the Stanley Cup Finals (or before that, depends how big you dream), THEN THE OLYMPICS?? Who knows about that one but with a state of the art building like Rogers Place, who knows where the possibilities will end. Would you like to see the World Cup or World Juniors come to Edmonton? Let me know in the comments. 

After a long summer of arguing and waiting, the NHL season is right around the corner and that means it’s time for us to throw another party. We wanted a take-2 on last year’s season and decided that we would celebrate the start of the second year of Connor’s reign over Oil Country. Thanks to our friends at AMA Travel, Cornerstone Insurance, the Pint, Oodle Noodle, and United Cycle we’ve got a big night planned for you complete with raffles, swag bags, and two trips (valued at $5000 each) for two to the outdoor game in Winnipeg courtesy of AMA Travel.

Here’s what you need to know:

See you on October 14th!