City tourism arm sees new event park as boon that’ll enhance Edmonton image

A new event park beside Rogers Place will have a venue for concerts and other events, leading some city officials to worry.

A new event park that will soon be built next to Edmonton’s downtown arena has some local politicians worrying it will end up poaching bookings from the city’s two convention centres.

But the city arm that’s responsible for those centres and for drumming up local tourism business says the new facility and the resulting actions its creation brings are most welcome.

The $250-million park to be built on the site of the Oilers Entertainment Group’s (OEG) Fan Park on 104 Avenue between 101 and 102 streets is slated to open in 2029 as a medium-sized venue for concerts and other events.

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City council voted 9-4 Monday to approve a $400-million deal with the Alberta government and the OEG to build the event park, construct housing near Rogers Place and fund next summer’s demolition of the Coliseum, the ex-home of the National Hockey League’s Oilers that’s been vacant for more than eight years.

The city’s contribution is $138 million, the province’s $183 million and OEG’s $87 million.

Those councillors who voted against the deal expressed concerns over the potential for the event park to take business away from the Edmonton Convention Centre and the Edmonton Expo Centre.

The park was billed as a medium-sized concert venue and community space, but city staff added “conferences and trade shows” as potential uses during negotiations.

“That was not on my radar throughout these conversations,” Coun. Anne Stevenson, who represents the north-central Ward O-day’min, told media on Tuesday. “I think it creates a direct threat to our city-owned convention centre, also our expo centre.”

City staff didn’t have time to do the typical impact analysis for the event park. Instead, City Manager Eddie Robar relayed information from text conversations with the Oilers to councillors in real time.

But while some politicians are wringing their hands over the deal, the woman who runs Explore Edmonton welcomes the construction of the event park.

Traci Bednard, its chief executive officer, believes it will boost the city’s brand and, in turn, attract more people to Edmonton and boost convention centre bookings.

“For the visitor economy, this really is a huge investment,” Bednard told CTV News Edmonton.

But that’s not the only part of the deal she is excited about.

The demolition of the Coliseum and the realignment of the LRT at the old home for city sporting events and concerts will enhance the Edmonton Expo Centre, Bednard says.

It’s been nearly a decade since the Oilers played their final game at the Coliseum. The deal will see it torn down next summer to the tune of $37.5 million, allowing early work for future housing on the site.

It also includes $68 million to prepare land north of Rogers Place for housing, with 350 units to be built by 2028.

City councillor Aaron Paquette of the northeast Ward Dene voted for the deal that he says protects Edmonton taxpayers by capping the city’s contribution.

“In any city-building enterprise, everyone gets skin in the game, and the reason for that is so that everyone does their part,” he told media.

“The province is offering us $183 million free and clear. In what world do we not take that money?”