Rogers Communications is planning a C$700M "coverage boost in Alberta while inking a 13-year exclusive partnership" with the Oilers, according to Matt Dykstra of the EDMONTON SUN. Rogers will "receive official sponsorship and marketing rights" for the Oilers, WHL Edmonton Oil Kings and Rexall Place. Oilers President & CEO Patrick LaForge said, "They've been our largest broadcaster, providing 60 games a year to Oilers fans and now we're adding to that with Rogers technology and sponsorship in a much bigger way to generate content and implement it better." LaForge added that the deal "will carry over to the new downtown arena when it's finished." The deal "includes advertising placements, arena signage, concourse, rink, in-ice, in-bowl and in-game applications." Rogers also will be the "presenting sponsor of Oilers television broadcasts, the Oilers website and the Oilers Mobile App." Rogers Exec VP & CMO John Boynton said that the plan is the "first step of a bigger Rogers investment in Alberta." Boynton said Rogers plans to be "a dominant player" in the province and that some changes will start soon. He said Rogers will "experiment" with several different ways to interact with Oilers fans (EDMONTON SUN, 10/2). LaForge: "We had a relationship with Telus (which has expired). We are happy to say that Rogers is adding on to our relationship." The agreement "does not include naming rights for the yet-to-be-built downtown arena" (EDMONTON JOURNAL, 10/2).
