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Reviving the downtown core of Edmonton through Rogers Place

@rogers
Efficiency - Apr. 26, 2017

Reviving the downtown core of Edmonton through Rogers Place

With an innovative data network that allows for a variety of connectivity options, Rogers Place is more than just a hockey rink.

Stew MacDonald, Chief Commercial Officer of the Edmonton Oilers Entertainment Group

As a long-time fan of downtown Edmonton, launching the brand new Rogers Place facility was a dream come true for Stew MacDonald, Executive Vice President Revenue of Oilers Entertainment Group. We asked him to share what the new arena means for fans of the Edmonton Oilers, and the community.

Share a bit about your personal connection to the team.

I first started with the Oilers in the spring of 1987. I was fortunate enough to be a part of three Stanley Cup Championships in my first four seasons. I have witnessed many highs and lows during my time with the club, but what stands out the most to me is the passion Oilers fans have for their team. Our ability to reward their loyalty with the opening of Rogers Place has been incredibly satisfying.

Talk about how the business of hockey has changed over the last 5-10 years as it relates to your role.

15 years ago most of a fan’s connection to their team was through traditional media (TV, radio, print). Fan access has changed dramatically since then through the depth of content provided via digital and the personal connections available through social. With dependable Wi-FI becoming a reality inside arenas, fan expectations continue to evolve and grow. The ability to be connected through their mobile devices to both the game and the experience has quickly become a key foundation of the fan experience.

With dependable Wi-FI becoming a reality inside arenas, fan expectations continue to evolve and grow. The ability to be connected through their mobile devices to both the game and the experience has quickly become a key foundation of the fan experience.

What are some of the business challenges you were facing and hoped to address with the new arena?

There were a number of areas we wanted to address. First, there was a demand for more and better amenities for all fans. There was also an expectation to support our fans mobile needs while attending events, via both provider service and Wi-Fi. We also needed to overcome the limited space we had for sponsor messaging in our previous arena – which we solved by moving primarily to an IPTV-based digital advertising platform.

How has the new arena and Rogers technology in particular positively impacted the business, from helping your employees work more efficiently, to fan engagement to improving player performance?

From a fan perspective, the data network has allowed us to offer a wide variety of food and beverage options in locations spread throughout all areas of the arena. The data network has also allowed for technology-driven fan activations, including the Rogers Fan Hubs. The Rogers Place app had been instrumental in assisting guests with transportation management, wayfinding inside the arena, food and beverage service options and entertainment opportunities. It already has us wondering how we lived without this level of Rogers technology.

It already has us wondering how we lived without this level of Rogers technology.

The dependability of the DAS/WIFI network has also been critical in allowing our staff to access key people and resources immediately to resolve issues for our customers.

Looking to the future, what initiatives are you most excited about now that you have access to this technology?

The growing integration of fans into the game night experience – on the concourse or in bowl. We’re definitely excited about what the future can bring to all fans at Rogers Place!

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For an exclusive look at the story behind Rogers Place, and how it has revitalized the downtown core of Edmonton - watch the video below.