Everywhere you look in Rogers Place, someone is doing something. Construction workers are scrambling to get the massive arena ready for Thursday’s grand opening.
From window cleaners to street sweepers, it’s an all-out effort to tie up as many loose ends as possible.
Calibre Coatings paint supervisor Dave Dupuis normally oversees about 30 painters.
On Wednesday, he had a paint roller in hand to help get the work done.
“It’s all hands on deck,” said Dupuis who was squeezing in a quick smoke break outside the arena’s front doors.
“Every single person, including all PCL (staff), right to the supervisors to project managers, are in there cleaning, even doing touch ups themselves. PCL is helping everybody at this time. Everybody. All trades on deck.”
Dupuis said he loves being a part of the construction of Rogers Place.
“We’re all proud to be a part of it even though it’s a little stressful,” added Dupuis who’s been working on site for the last 17 months.
The workers outside the arena were in constant motion Wednesday. Several crews were feverishly putting on the shiny silver siding that covers the massive building.
The rink, along with the other related construction, has transformed the four-block area on the edge of Edmonton’s downtown. Some people walking along 104th Avenue stopped to take pictures.
“I’m kind of impressed that they’re this far along, ” said Neil Chatten, who walked to the arena over lunch to get a look.
The former Torontonian said the change is exciting to see.
Workers were putting finishing touches on Roger’s Place Wednesday, one day before the grand opening. (Min Dhariwal/CBC News )
Big hole in the ground
“I moved here 10 years ago from Ontario,” he said. “I grew up in the Toronto area, and it’s starting to build like a big city.”
Others remember the big hole in the ground before construction started.
Epcor’s head office is housed in the tower directly east of Rogers Place. Company spokesman Tim le Riche has had a daily view of the project from the 27th floor.
“I’ve had this bird’s eye view from day one and it sure has been exciting to watch it go from ground level to where it is at now,” he said. .
Outside one of the arena’s entrances, Chris Finch was getting ready to take his son and two lucky friends inside Rogers place for a chance to skate on the brand new ice.
Finch, who works in the area, said the construction of the arena has had a huge impact.
“The downtown is completely different from what it used to be. There used to be a lot of empty lots, not much going on, so it’s definitely a lot better now,” said Finch.
Jump starting the area has always part of the plan according to Tim Shipton, vice president of communications for the Oilers Entertainment Group.
Shipton and the entire Oilers organization can’t wait to reveal what the arena has inside. The opening ceremonies start at 5 p.m. Thursday.
“We’re down to crunch time here. We’ve got over a thousand people working inside” said Shipton.
“It’s been a blur. It’s been an exciting project for all of us but now that we’re on the eve on the opening this building, I think we’re all saying, ‘we’re ready to do it.’ “