Edmonton Oilers' arena deemed structurally sound after storm

Edmonton’s mayor said a preliminary assessment shows storm damage to Rogers Place is not structural, and the arena will be able to hold upcoming NHL games.

Don Iveson said photos of Thursday night’s flooding and damage to the arena’s roof are concerning.

“The damage is cosmetic and is to the roof’s surface, as opposed to any structural damage,” Iveson said in a news conference Friday.

“It doesn’t look good but … the building is sound, and it will be possible to recover from this quickly.”

The 4-year-old arena is part of a complex in Edmonton’s downtown.

Oilers Entertainment Group, which leases the arena from the city, said in a statement that significant rain, mixed with hail, led to pressure on the arena’s storm drainage system. Water damage was restricted to Ford Hall and the mezzanine level corridor.

“We do not foresee any significant delays or barriers to either the Edmonton Oilers training camp or preparations and activities related to our hosting as the NHL hub city for the 2020 NHL playoffs,” the group said.

Edmonton and Toronto were chosen as the hub cities for the playoffs that were suspended when the covid-19 pandemic hit in March.

The Pittsburgh Penguins open the playoffs against the Montreal Canadiens in Toronto.

Teams are to arrive in the cities in just more than a week, with games to start Aug. 1.