Oilers Play Final Game At Rexall Place, Providing A Proper Sendoff For The Arena
The Oilers last night had their final game at Rexall Place, and "like the banner-raising nights, the jersey retirements, the reunions and even one statue unveiling, the Oilers definitely did it up right," according to Terry Jones of the EDMONTON SUN. The team last night offered a "special printed ticket for the occasion, a glossy booklet featuring memories of the years." The night "started with the Oilers bringing an assortment of people representing the various individuals involved over the years for the ceremonial opening faceoff." Cal Nichols "represented the 38 owners of the Oilers Investors Group who saved the franchise." The crowd "gave the occasion a standing ovation and in the final few seconds chanted, 'Let's go, Oilers!' at near playoff volume" (EDMONTON SUN, 4/7). The GLOBE & MAIL's Marty Klinkenberg writes a "standing-room crowd watched" the Oilers "play the last of more than 1,800 games at the only rink they have known" since '74. Few spectators "went home immediately after the game," as most of the nearly 17,000 fans on hand "stayed for a one-hour farewell tribute afterwards." Spectators began "streaming in to the arena as soon as the doors opened" at 3:30pm MT. The start of the game -- a sellout, for which tickets were being sold online at prices ranging from C$300 for nosebleeds to C$3,000 -- was moved to 5:00pm to "accommodate the closing festivities." The venue now will "be used for concerts for the rest of this year, and will play host to the men's world curling championship" in April '17 "before it closes down." Future plans are "being discussed, but the most popular option is to turn it into a multiplex with a half-dozen ice surfaces" (GLOBE & MAIL, 4/7).
FAMILY REUNION: In Edmonton, Dan Barnes writes the "Oiler salute has always been a first-class affair, be it a banner raising" or as it was yesterday, the "fondest of farewells" to Rexall Place. The highlight packages provided by Wayne Gretzky and other former players offered the team "a leg up on most" of its NHL peers. Other former Oilers in attendance last night included Kevin Lowe (now OEG Vice Chair), Mark Messier, Paul Coffey, Grant Fuhr, Jari Kurri and many more -- "smiling through another proper fete." Barnes: "It was that kind of night, old mixing with new, all one big happy Oiler family." After the game, the ice surface was "transformed into a 200-foot stage for the building's final act as the Oilers' first hockey home." Current and former players "entered the rink through a spotlit runway, to the strains of the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra." It "took awhile," but the fans "ate it up." Former players "took their seats on stools around the Oiler logo at centre ice and Sportsnet’s Gene Principe and John Shannon interviewed several players, many who thanked the fans." Lowe, who presided over the final act, the lowering of a banner honouring the building and the Oilers' captains, said, "It's a bittersweet night for all of us who played here" (EDMONTON JOURNAL, 4/7).
PROPER SENDOFF: In Edmonton, Robert Tychkowski notes the Oilers are "leaving a building that's seen more sweaters thrown on the ice than playoff games in the last 10 years, and moving into one that might be the envy of the league, but that doesn't mean" the team is "glad to get out of Rexall Place" (EDMONTON JOURNAL, 4/7). CBSSPORTS.com's Chris Peters wrote Rexall Place "got the sendoff it deserved." The arena for the "first time in a long time" buzzed with "palpable excitement." No matter what happens next, last night "was a good reminder that Edmonton remains a proud hockey city with great passion for their team and a hope for new memories to match those shinier ones" from the '80s (CBSSPORTS.com, 4/6).
