I had an interesting conversation yesterday with a local business owner. He's a huge Oilers fan; has had season tickets for a number of seasons. What was interesting about the conversation is that by the end of it, I came to realize there are a great many things about the Oilers, both as a hockey team and as a business, that I don't spend time considering or discussing on Hockeybuzz.
For example, my friend told me how bad the food services are at Rexall Place, and how it creates an issue for him and his family when they go to games. His complaint in particular had to do with the availability of meals. "I go to games in a number of NHL cities throughout the year, and they all have better food services. I went to a Kings game, and I couldn't believe the quality of the food. Vendors sell plates of spaghetti there. Vendors! There are five-star food services in the building with top quality food and customer service. In Tampa Bay I got these awesome barbequed ribs from a vendor. What can you get at Rexall? Hot dogs, terrible burgers, overpriced popcorn," he said. "And God forbid if you drink beer. $8 for a 16 ounce glass. They screw the fans." He might have a point.
What was really interesting was his stance on the "need" for a new building. He feels the club is taking advantage of the taxpayers of Edmonton, and that there really isn't a need for a new building; or at the very least, it should be the team covering the majority of a new building's cost. "Katz doesn't even know how to manage Rexall Place properly. I'll get behind the idea of a new rink once Rexall offers things like food services comparable to other teams in the league."
I don't necessarily agree with my friend on all this stuff, but it certainly is food for thought. I go to enough games each year to know it sucks driving 140 miles after work, arriving minutes before a game, and being forced to pay for overpriced and underwhelming food. That being said, it's a hockey rink, and I don't go there for the food. I sort of expect it to suck. As far as the Oilers needing a new rink, NEED is a very subjective term. A new rink is more of a want than a need, but that being said, Rexall Place is certainly one of the worst in the league, and the team, which has had almost 300 consecutive sell-outs, could use an addition 3,000 seats. Like my friend, I have all sorts of ethical concerns over the use of millions of tax dollars on entertainment complexes at a time when no level of government seems to be running balanced budgets.
Owners of NHL teams in Canada know they have people by the short and curlies. Ask anyone in Winnipeg what happened to the mood of people in the city after the Jets left. Can you imagine winter in Edmonton without an NHL franchise to distract citizens from the constant -30c weather? Global warming, my ass. People have become so scared of the idea of the team leaving Edmonton that they are willing to completely overpay to ensure the NHL remains. Rest assured that the people running the show know it, and milk it appropriately.
I would like to write a blog in the next week or so featuring the opinions of those who go to games and experience Rexall Place first hand. Do the Oilers need a new rink? What should the team be doing with the building they are living in until a new home arrives? Are you satisfied with how the team is managed? What more (or less) should the Oilers be doing? You have voices...so let's hear what you think!
Please send me your thoughts, and I'll put some of the best in an upcoming blog. I can be messaged on this site, or via my Facebook page (sign me up!). I really look forward to hearing from you.
Edmonton Oilers Blogger • 
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