Every year, a few stories stand out as the most important in Edmonton — stories that get us talking around the proverbial water cooler and resonate deeply in our city. Postmedia is counting down our picks for the Top 5 stories of 2016 in our city.
Top story #3: Rogers Place
When Rogers Place officially opened its doors in September, it was the culmination of nearly a decade of debate, hand-wringing, anticipation and excitement. Numerous other buildings have been planned and already built, but sitting in the heart of the city’s downtown, the new $614-million home of the Oilers is arguably the crown jewel.
No building will see the traffic Rogers Place will get over the next several decades, certainly not in such a public way. And thus understandably, no development raised the ire of those who opposed its construction in such stark contrast with the glee shown by those who cheered the new building.
The glimmering silver facade of Rogers Place evokes a number of different emotions from the people of Edmonton.
Rogers Place, the new home of the Edmonton Oilers, photographed on Sept. 7, 2016.
For city officials, many hope it is the anchor for downtown redevelopment, the first step in what will be transformative in how the city looks, feels and operates.
For neighbourhood residents, there is a love/hate relationship with a building that will draw thousands to their slice of the city, livening up the streets, filling bars and restaurants while also congesting roads and threatening their residential tranquility.
For Daryl Katz and his ownership group, it is the culmination of nearly a decade of public meetings, city council debates and private hand-shaking to build a legacy in the city that goes beyond hockey and will reshape the world of entertainment in Edmonton.
A tiny McDavid steps onto the ice after the grand opening of the Downtown Community Arena attached to Rogers Place in Edmonton, Sunday, September 25, 2016.
And for hockey fans, it is the cathedral where they hope Connor McDavid and his Oilers teammates can lead the city back to a glory they have been desperately seeking since the days of Wayne Gretzky, Mark Messier and the other stars of decades past.
But no matter what Edmontonians think of Rogers Place, the construction and opening of the building captured the attention of the city.
To read more of our Year in Review coverage, click here.
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