Edmonton is No Good Episode 4: New Rink, Same Stink

[spetch]

Just to add a funny little E=NG, heard through the grapevine that everytime McLellan puts in The Monster he "can't watch"

[Reggie Dunlop]

Even "This Hour has 22 Minutes" is piling on the E=NG

Spoiler!

http://www.facebook.com/22Minutes/ph...type=3&theater

[McG]

I was at the Greasers v Leafs game on Tuesday night and thought that I would pass along some thoughts.

The rink; obviously still being constructed, as well as the surrounding areas, so I don't want to be too critical. I thought that only having one place to eat and drink, in facility but not in the ticketed area, could be better done. I'm thinking that as the development work completes, they will be able to add more restaurants. I did like that the bar stayed open after the game, so that you didn't have to leave the facility if you wanted to debrief on the game with buddies. I thought that the entrances were misplaced and maybe this will get fixed going forward, but people tend to approach the rink from the east and west as well as north/south; instead of making people walk down a street where -30 will come soon enough, let them get into the building soonest. Bathrooms were horrendous in the section that I was in; I can't believe that they are worse than Rexall but they are. Long line ups. I also heard that many suites don't have bathrooms in them either, but this is hearsay as I wasn't in one. The food and drink lines seemed to move quickly, but the line management needs improving. What I mean by this is that while the lines moved quickly, once you got to the front, people were crossing in front of other lines as called by the server. I can also confirm that the beer gets filled to the rim of the cup now. I think that these are fixable, although not sure about the bathrooms.

the rink. it is big! there is a lot of air inside the rink itself although a leafs oilers game was loud enough. the sub woofers in the rink were awesome, and the scoreboard was good as well. There looked to be areas where extra seats could be added if needed up high. It had a feel of air Canada centre with the second tier boxes, and GM place with just the feel of the place. Neither are bad, I like both rinks, but it will take a little while I think for the oilers to have a distinct feel. the seats were better than rexall, but no cupholders (oh the humanity!) meant that people were kicking their food and drinks as well. I know drink holders can reduce capacity, but just mentioning it. the areas where I walked also seemed to have eliminated traffic jams; the concourses seemed to be wide enough to let people pass through, which has to be the goal of building design.

the fans; leafs oilers was always going to be a lot of chest thumping and in your face moments...I have been to plenty of games in the saddledome with opposing fans, and I have been an opposing fan at other rinks and stadiums myself many times. I just think that an increase in numbers of opposing fans makes everyone braver, and a lot of effort goes into taunting other fans instead of watching the game. In my section, we had one guy almost at the end of the game turn around and tell the guys behind him to shut up, and yet neither seemed to be wearing any team colours. really odd. maybe something was said that was over the line, but it was odd to ask people to be quiet at a hockey game. Nothing came of it, which was probably for the best for all but just an odd thing at an odd game.

One thing that was cool was the extra rink there; we got there early to walk around the rink and the Grant McEwan mens team was practicing on it. We watched a few drills and I just thought that it added to the ambience of the place, it felt like winsport a bit that you could sit down and watch some drills or scrimmages.

the area. I have worked in the rink area for a number of years, and the revitalization of the bars and restaurants looks really good. at one time, the rat hole dominated this area (although a bit farther down), and now many older brick buildings have a second life. to me, this is the biggest boost for the rink downtown.

the philosophy. having been to a few nfl stadiums, I know that the goal is to entice the fans to spend money on food and gear. I thought that the oilers were a lot more low key on this, good and bad, and yet at the end of the night, I had spent a chunk of loot on food and beer. So, if everyone treated it like an "event", the oilers would be able to get their non hockey related revenues up significantly.

My advice to the flames and other teams would be to make sure to work together off ice for the benefit of all fans. of course compete on ice, but off of it, help each other out as to what works or doesn't work in the design of facilities. I would also try to make each game as a unique event, I know that is a lot harder than it sounds, but every day games etc need to be boosted up. I heard people ask where the oil derrick was that the oilers used to skate through. when I was at gm place, they used to have an awesome musical start with lights etc that tested the sound system and was really cool. it made a hockey game an event, if that makes any sense.

I chomp on the greasers regularly in this thread, but wanted to share some info from actually going to the game.

tldr? E=ng

[Azure]

I think at some point the media in Edmonton needs to take some responsibility for hyping up these players to the point where everything is about McSavior, and not about the team actually winning, and it plays a part in how terrible the team has been the last decade.

At this point it seems like even if the Oilers lose, at least McSavior scored, and that is more important.

[The Fonz]

Originally Posted by Azure

I think at some point the media in Edmonton needs to take some responsibility for hyping up these players to the point where everything is about McSavior, and not about the team actually winning, and it plays a part in how terrible the team has been the last decade.

At this point it seems like even if the Oilers lose, at least McSavior scored, and that is more important.

It's the media's job to generate hype. If the market is bored of the Oilers, then ultimately the media will lose revenue.

[wired]

I'm in the trades, and I was talking with some electricians, they are greaser fans. And most of them are saying its the same old same old with their team.
Happy with McJeasus, but not much else.
I loved chirping after the Flames blanked the Leafs.....so many f bombs coming back at me.

[albertGQ]

Darnell Nurse out long term now

[Cali Panthers Fan]

Originally Posted by albertGQ

Darnell Nurse out long term now

Perfect, now the Oiler fan trolls have excuses for the losses ready in hand.

Every. Single. Year.

[CaptainCrunch]

Start the whining brigade as a weak blueline gets weaker.

All we'll hear is that if only we didn't have these injuries we'd be contenders.

Every team has injuries but they've drafted well enough and developed well enough to at least float until their key players get back.

The Flames have done very well since Johnny went down because we have just plain better organization depth then that so called team to the North.

Yes we don't have the gaudy high draft picks that the Oilers have had and pretty much failed to utilize, but at least we're not a team built like a paper bag which tends to blow away at the first signs of the winds of adversity.

To me the Oilers do deserve some bad karma from the hockey gods, their window to compete is going to close fairly quickly as their high end players get huge salary cap devouring dragon contracts and they continue to over pay for free agents. In the end they'll be razor thin teams that will collapse due to things like injuries until they decide to actually not just gleefully roll in first round draft choices and then fail everywhere else.

[Major Major]

In what world is losing a bottom pairing dman an excuse for anything?

[CaptainCrunch]

Not to worry, Sure Fire Norris Candidate Davidson will come riding in on his white horse and roll a spell of winning on his 12 sided die soon.

[Flashpoint]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

To me the Oilers do deserve some bad karma from the hockey gods, their window to compete is going to close fairly quickly as their high end players get huge salary cap devouring dragon contracts and they continue to over pay for free agents. In the end they'll be razor thin teams that will collapse due to things like injuries until they decide to actually not just gleefully roll in first round draft choices and then fail everywhere else.

I'm thinking that dragon snapping up McDavid is going to be one of the most fun things we've ever watched as Calgary Fans.

Really, just can't wait.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Major Major

In what world is losing a bottom pairing dman an excuse for anything?

It's essentially the equivalent of the Flames losing Wideman. Snore.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Flashpoint

I'm thinking that dragon snapping up McDavid is going to be one of the most fun things we've ever watched as Calgary Fans.

Really, just can't wait.

Leon Draisaitl is positioning himself for a very nice sized raise as well. I imagine it's a matter of time until Eberle and RNH are auctioned off. RNH can be salvaged IMO as in a better situation I feel he can be a very good 2nd line center but Eberle is the definition of one-dimensional scoring winger and I don't think his value is nearly as high as Oilers fans expect as it's certainly going to be lower than Hall and that return wasn't exactly a home run.

[FBI]

Doe this mean Reinhart is coming up? Pretty please!

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by Major Major

In what world is losing a bottom pairing dman an excuse for anything?

Connor's World

[McG]

Originally Posted by FBI

Doe this mean Reinhart is coming up? Pretty please!

or fayne, who would experience a Virtanen-like turnaround.

[McG]

http://www.edmontonsun.com/2016/12/0...er-body-injury

With Nurse going on injured reserve, Mark Fayne, who was on waivers a week ago but was recalled when Eric Gryba was hurt in practice, will play his first game since injuring his knee against Carolina Oct. 18. He only played 2:27 in that game. Fayne will likely play with Oscar Klefbom. Matt Benning will be with Andrej Sekera.
The Oilers also recalled defenceman Dillon Simpson from the Bakersfield Condors as a seventh guy. Brandon Davidson (shoulder) is skating and practising but is a week to 10 days from playing. He could find his way into the top six when deemed ready, too.

Just one more reason for Craig Simpson to cheer during the broadcast.

[Major Major]

For all the tinkering, retooling, spent money and assets to improve a blue line, that looks as brutal as it ever has.

[devo22]

Originally Posted by McG

http://www.edmontonsun.com/2016/12/0...er-body-injury

With Nurse going on injured reserve, Mark Fayne, who was on waivers a week ago but was recalled when Eric Gryba was hurt in practice, will play his first game since injuring his knee against Carolina Oct. 18. He only played 2:27 in that game. Fayne will likely play with Oscar Klefbom. Matt Benning will be with Andrej Sekera.
The Oilers also recalled defenceman Dillon Simpson from the Bakersfield Condors as a seventh guy. Brandon Davidson (shoulder) is skating and practising but is a week to 10 days from playing. He could find his way into the top six when deemed ready, too.

Just one more reason for Craig Simpson to cheer during the broadcast.

so Gryba, Nurse and Davidson are out and Fayne pretty much hasn't played in months, and Reinhart still can't get a sniff? Wow. Not that's it's that surprising because his lack of speed really hurts him in today's NHL, but still, what a way of burning two high draft picks. Might as well have made the picks and ruined them Oilers style, at least that would have sold some hope to the fanbase for a year or two until everybody realized they're poo.

The Isles probably still can't stop giggling. Beauvillier is already playing in the NHL and Barzal is going to be a good one.