Northlands Coliseum stands as one of hockey’s most storied arenas — the barn on Edmonton’s exhibition grounds where Wayne Gretzky and the Oilers built the NHL’s last true dynasty. From its opening in November 1974 through four Stanley Cup championships and a 2016 farewell to Rogers Place, it packed in more hockey history than almost any building on the continent.
But the building’s story didn’t end when the Oilers left. This guide covers where the arena came from, how big it really was, everyone besides the Oilers who ever called it home, and exactly what’s happening to the site now as the City of Edmonton moves toward its long-planned demolition.
Quick Answer
Northlands Coliseum was Edmonton’s hockey arena — seating roughly 15,400 to 17,500 depending on the era — that opened November 10, 1974, and served as home to the Edmonton Oilers (WHA and NHL) through their final Rexall Place-era game in 2016. It closed permanently on January 1, 2018, and the City of Edmonton is now demolishing the building in phases, with full deconstruction targeted for completion by 2028.
How Northlands Coliseum Came to Be
Built for roughly C$17.3 million on Edmonton’s Northlands exhibition grounds, the arena was designed by Phillips, Barrett, Hillier, Jones Partners working with Wynn, Forbes, Lord, Feldberg & Schmidt — the same architectural team behind Vancouver’s Pacific Coliseum, which is why the two buildings share such a similar rounded bowl profile.
It opened on November 10, 1974, replacing the aging Edmonton Gardens as the city’s major-league venue and giving the WHA’s Edmonton Oilers a proper home just a few years before a teenage Wayne Gretzky arrived to change the franchise’s fortunes.
Seating Capacity, Layout, and Renovations
The bowl held 15,423 seats when it opened in 1974. A $14 million renovation in 1994 added 52 private suites and reshaped the seating bowl, and further upgrades in 2001 and 2007 followed. Hockey capacity peaked at roughly 17,500 in the mid-1980s before settling at 16,839 for the arena’s final NHL season in 2015–16; concert configurations, using a smaller stage-end footprint, typically held around 13,000.
For decades the building carried a reputation as one of the loudest arenas in professional sports — playoff crowds were reported to push noise levels past 119 decibels.
From Northlands Coliseum to Rexall Place — the Name Changes
The arena’s name changed four times without the building ever moving an inch. It opened as Northlands Coliseum, became Edmonton Coliseum in 1995, was rebranded Skyreach Centre under a naming-rights deal in 1998, and took the name most fans remember best — Rexall Place — in 2003. When that agreement lapsed ahead of the Oilers’ move downtown, the arena reverted to its original name, Northlands Coliseum, for its final season in 2016 and has kept it ever since.
Beyond the Oilers: Other Tenants and Major Events
Hockey’s biggest tenant wasn’t its only one. The WHL’s Edmonton Oil Kings played there from 1974 to 1976 and returned for a second stint from 2007 to 2016; the AHL’s Edmonton Road Runners used the building in 2004–05, and the NLL’s Edmonton Rush called it home from 2006 to 2015. The NASL’s Edmonton Drillers also played there from 1980 to 1982.
As an event venue, the Coliseum hosted the 1978 Commonwealth Games gymnastics competition, the 1981 and 1984 Canada Cup tournaments, the 1989 NHL All-Star Game, the 1996 World Figure Skating Championships, a share of the 2012 World Junior Championship alongside Calgary’s Saddledome, and several Briers (Canada’s men’s curling championship). A steady stream of major concert tours filled the bowl for more than four decades, making it Edmonton’s default indoor event destination long before Rogers Place existed.
The Gretzky-Era Dynasty
The coliseum was the stage for the greatest dynasty in NHL history. Wayne Gretzky and the Edmonton Oilers clinched the Stanley Cup on its ice four times — in 1984, 1985, 1987, and 1988 — while the arena hosted seven Cup Final series in total, including losses in 1983 and 2006. The fifth championship, in 1990, was captured on the road at Boston Garden in Game 5, the first time the franchise had ever clinched a Cup away from home.
Closure and the Move to Rogers Place
With the Oilers departing for the new Rogers Place arena in fall 2016, Northlands Coliseum lost its anchor tenant and quickly became a financial burden. The City of Edmonton assumed ownership on January 1, 2018, and the vacant building has cost the city over $1 million annually to maintain with no clear path to reuse — despite dozens of redevelopment proposals submitted over the years, none proved financially or contractually workable.
Demolition Timeline: What’s Happening to the Building Now
Edmonton City Council approved a roughly $35 million demolition plan for the site, with the Province of Alberta committing further funding tied to redevelopment of the land. As of 2026, the project is in its planning and site-preparation phase — surveying, utility locating, and soil testing — ahead of hazardous-materials abatement to clear lead and asbestos from the structure before major deconstruction can begin. Full teardown is targeted to run through summer 2026 into 2028, after which the cleared land becomes part of the broader Edmonton Exhibition Lands redevelopment, envisioned as a mixed-use community with housing, retail, and public space.
For the current project schedule and status updates, the City of Edmonton’s official Coliseum Deconstruction and Site Redevelopment page is the authoritative source.
Can You Visit Northlands Coliseum Today?
No — the building has sat empty and fenced off since closing in January 2018, and it is not open to the public. There are no tours, tickets, or events held inside, and none are planned before demolition. The surrounding Northlands exhibition grounds remain accessible, but the Coliseum itself is a closed, secured construction site pending its 2026–2028 deconstruction.
northlands coliseum history FAQs
When did Northlands Coliseum open?
Northlands Coliseum opened on November 10, 1974, in Edmonton, Alberta, replacing the older Edmonton Gardens as the city’s major hockey venue.
What was Northlands Coliseum’s seating capacity?
It opened with 15,423 seats, expanded to a peak of roughly 17,500 after a 1994 renovation added luxury suites, and held 16,839 for hockey in its final NHL season. Concert configurations typically seated around 13,000.
Why was Northlands Coliseum called Rexall Place?
Rexall Place was a naming-rights brand used from 2003 to 2016, tied to the Rexall pharmacy chain. The building reverted to its original name, Northlands Coliseum, once that agreement ended.
When did the Edmonton Oilers leave Northlands Coliseum?
The Oilers played their final NHL game at the arena on April 6, 2016, then moved to the new Rogers Place downtown for the 2016–17 season.
How many Stanley Cups were clinched at Northlands Coliseum?
The Edmonton Oilers clinched four Stanley Cup championships on home ice at Northlands Coliseum: in 1984, 1985, 1987, and 1988. The fifth title, in 1990, was clinched on the road at Boston Garden.
Is Northlands Coliseum being demolished?
Yes. The City of Edmonton approved a roughly $35 million demolition plan, with hazardous-materials work and major deconstruction proceeding through 2026 and full teardown expected by 2028.
Can you still visit or tour Northlands Coliseum?
No. The arena has been closed to the public since January 2018 and is fenced off as a secured site ahead of demolition — there are no public tours or events held there.
What other teams played at Northlands Coliseum besides the Oilers?
The WHL’s Edmonton Oil Kings, the AHL’s Edmonton Road Runners, the NLL’s Edmonton Rush, and the NASL’s Edmonton Drillers all played home games at the arena at various points.
How much did Northlands Coliseum cost to build?
The arena was built for approximately C$17.3 million and opened in 1974.
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