Oilers Entertainment Group Vice-Chair & CEO Bob Nicholson wants to host both the IIHF World Junior Championship in '19 and the World Cup of Hockey in '20, as the timing of the events would allow the NHL Edmonton Oilers to "show off the by-then world-famous Rogers Place, and at the same time celebrate the opening of Edmonton’s Ice District," according to Terry Jones of the EDMONTON SUN. Nicholson, the former Hockey Canada head who also serves as a VP of the IIHF, said that he believes Edmonton "would make a monster success of both." Nicholson: "What we did in Edmonton the last time was the best we’ve ever seen for a World Junior. And I think we can build on that." Jones notes the '12 World Junior tourney "sold a record 571,000 tickets with a record 440,000 going through the turnstiles in the combined Edmonton-Calgary hosting." Nicholson: "There are a lot of different events we can have there in the winter. ... Your imagination can just run wild." Nicholson also suggested "ice carvings and ice bars" as possible attractions. Meanwhile, Nicholson "wasn’t sure before the World Cup began if it would be a fit" in Edmonton. But despite an event that "lacked the sizzle" of previous incarnations, Nicholson "sees it working." As the event "comes to an underwhelming conclusion with empty seats and nowhere near the interest of the old Canada Cups, a secondary story to the local teams opening training camp and pre-season games even in Canada, there’s debate about if or how the World Cup should return." It would likely "have to be held earlier and completed prior to NHL camps opening, but that would work in Edmonton’s favour, with a summer flavour to the Ice District" (EDMONTON SUN, 9/29).
