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Edmonton Coliseum. Northlands Coliseum. Skyreach Centre. Rexall Place. A building by any other name would still smell as nostalgic. That is, at least to long-time Edmontonians who remember the Edmonton Oilers' string of victories spanning 1984 to 1990.
In our Throwback Thursday today, we take a look at a bit of a different moment in the Coliseum's history, courtesy of Forum contributor Kyle Blanchett of Blanchett Neon.
In November of 2003, Katz Group purchased the naming rights to the Coliseum, naming it Rexall Place, the most prominent brand that the group owned at the time. A big name and a big building necessitated a big sign to proudly display the new brand, and local firm Blanchett Neon was brought on to design and build it.
The naming rights on the Coliseum expired in 2016, the same season that the Oilers moved to the brand new Rogers Place, and the sign has subsequently been dismantled.
The future of the Coliseum building currently remains in limbo. Despite at least two proposals for repurposing it having been floated - one as a new multi-level, multi-ice arena, and a second as a residential redevelopment - the City of Edmonton has expressed intent to demolish the building as part of a redevelopment of the larger surrounding Exhibition Lands, though the date with the wrecking ball has yet to be decided.
Have an idea for a future Throwback Thursday? Let us know by leaving a comment below!
