Oilers Entertainment Group is increasing its attendance expectations for the new Rogers Place, believing the arena now will attract "2.5 to 3 million visitors per year" after looking at figures for the first four months, according to Terry Jones of the EDMONTON SUN. From the time Rogers Place opened on Sept. 8 through the end of the year, 871,833 people "attended events" at the arena. OEG CEO & Vice Chair Bob Nicholson: "I'm really blown away by the numbers in that it was in only 115 days." Jones noted the arena's initial expectation was "as many as two million people per year." However, that has changed after attracting "close to 180,000 for nine Garth Brooks shows, a likely UFC event this summer and major events to take place after the Ice District opens." About two-thirds of the attendees "have turned the turnstiles" for either Oilers or WHL Oil Kings games, and both teams currently are in a "good position to be playing in the post season." Nicholson: "The reason we have this facility is for the Oilers and Oil Kings. Hockey still is the big numbers. The Oilers numbers, obviously, are sensational. But the Oil Kings numbers are sensational, too" (EDMONTON SUN, 1/1).
