Northlands (organization)

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Northlands
TypeNon-profit Organization
Founded1879
DefunctJuly 5, 2021; 8 months ago (2021-07-05)
Headquarters53°34′2″N 113°27′15″W / 53.56722°N 113.45417°W / 53.56722; -113.45417Coordinates: 53°34′2″N 113°27′15″W / 53.56722°N 113.45417°W / 53.56722; -113.45417,
Edmonton, Alberta
,
Key people
Peter Male, CEO[1]
Websitewww.northlands.com

Edmonton Northlands,[2] operating as Northlands, was a non-profit volunteer organization in Edmonton, Alberta. The organization owned exhibition grounds in northeast Edmonton collectively known as the Edmonton Northlands, which included venues such as the Northlands Park raceway, the Edmonton Expo Centre, and Rexall Place–the former home of the Edmonton Oilers. They were, in turn, used to host the annual exhibition K-Days, and the agricultural show Farmfair International.

History[]

Northlands was established in 1879, prior to the official incorporation of the city of Edmonton, and initially known as the Edmonton Exhibition Association. The organization consisted of a board, and a group of shareholders invited by the board. Past presidents of Northlands historically held voting status for life. The board of Northlands often included community members and local and provincial political figures, which helped contribute to the power and influence of the group and its members. All of Northlands' board members were unpaid volunteers, although they were typically provided with perks such as free parking, and tickets to events held at its facilities.[3][4]

While also operating as an agricultural society, Northlands was also well-known as an operator of venues in Edmonton; after the downtown Thistle Rink was destroyed in a fire, the association adapted a new livestock pavilion it had constructed in 1913 to also be able to operate as a hockey rink, resulting in what was later renamed Edmonton Gardens after an expansion in 1948. Northlands later oversaw the construction of its replacement, the Northlands Coliseum.[3] The Edmonton Oilers' original owner Charles Allard abandoned a proposal to build their own arena after being referred to Northlands, with partner Bill Hunter stating that "they asked us to support them because they felt our building would greatly impact and damage them."[3]

Despite its emphasis on being a volunteer organization operating in the public interest, historian Tony Cashman observed that amid the Oilers' prominence under Wayne Gretzky, Northlands "became a sort of an exclusive club financed by the public", having "[gradually] redefined itself unilaterally as an entertainment giant, retaining the perks of an agriculture society and the insider position of an implied partner of the city."[3] In 1989, ownership of the Northlands grounds was assumed by the City of Edmonton, and was leased to the organization under a 30-year term. The decision was met with criticism by Northlands, due to it having developed and constructed the sites.[3]

In 1994, caving to demands by Oilers owner Peter Pocklington—who had threatened to re-locate the team if he were not given the revenue from all events held at the venue, Northlands rented the Coliseum to Pocklington for $2.8 million per-year.[5][6][7] The rent agreement contained clauses requiring the Oilers to remain in Edmonton through at least 2004, and that local investors had to be given a chance to purchase the Oilers for a fixed price of US$70 million if a current or future owner announces their intent to re-locate the team.[8] In 1998, Leslie Alexander made an offer to acquire the Oilers, with an intent to re-locate the team to Houston as a companion to his NBA franchise, the Houston Rockets. This triggered the sale clause, and resulted in a consortium known as the Edmonton Investors Group (EIG) reaching an agreement to acquire the Oilers and keep them in Edmonton.[3][6]

EIG reached an agreement to pay the Coliseum's operating costs and $1 in rent per-year, in exchange for the ability to retain revenue (such as ticket surcharges) from hockey events and the sale of naming rights. Northlands would continue to receive the revenue from all other events held at the Coliseum—which included the increasing number of concerts hosted by the arena. The city contributed $2.5 million per-year in grant money to compensate for the former rent agreement with Pocklington.[3][6]

With the Coliseum lagging behind newer NHL arenas in terms of amenities, discussions began over the construction of a new arena. Conflicts emerged between the Oilers' owners (including its later Katz Group ownership) and Northlands over aspects such as location (such as building it as part of a downtown sports and entertainment district), and whether Northlands would be involved in the new arena or related venues at all (with one proposal having Northlands operate a downtown casino near the arena, which would contribute a share of revenue to the new arena).[3][6]

Northlands anticipated that the 2016 opening of the new downtown Rogers Place (which is run by the Oilers Entertainment Group) would lead to a major loss in revenue, due to major events being held there instead of the Coliseum. It projected that it would be unable to repay $48 million in loans it had received from the city to cover an expansion of the Edmonton Expo Centre. The organization proposed a redevelopment of the Edmonton Northlands that it dubbed Vision 2020, which included turning the Coliseum into a multi-rink facility, converting Northlands Park to an outdoor festival ground and casino, and adding a new, 5,000-seat indoor arena to the Expo Centre property.[9][10] The Edmonton City Council rejected the proposal, citing that its budget was underestimated.[11][12][13]

In July 2017, it was reported that Northlands had discussed divesting its facilities, and to re-focus upon promoting agricultural innovation. On August 29, 2017, Edmonton reached an agreement to forgive Northlands' debt, in exchange for the Expo Centre and Coliseum being brought under city ownership effective January 1, 2018. The Expo Centre was brought under the Edmonton Economic Development Corporation alongside the downtown Edmonton Convention Centre, while the Coliseum was formally closed at that time.[14][15][16][17] Northlands Park hosted its final horse races in October 2018,[18] and its casino closed in January 2019.[19] Both were succeeded by the new Century Mile Racetrack and Casino south of the city in April 2019.[20]

On June 10, 2021, Northlands announced that it would dissolve effective July 5, 2021, and that stewardship of Farmfair International and K-Days would be assumed by Explore Edmonton moving forward. The group's financial difficulties had been further impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, which required K-Days to be cancelled in both 2020 and 2021.[21]

Facilities[]

The midway at the 2010 K-Days
  • Edmonton Expo Centre (1984 - 2017) - Completed in 1984, as the "Agricom", it underwent a 200,000-square-foot (19,000 m2) expansion in 2009.[22] The Edmonton Economic Development Corporation assumed operations on January 1, 2018.
  • Northlands Coliseum (1974 - 2017) - completed in 1974, previously named Edmonton Coliseum, Skyreach Centre, and Rexall Place. Closed January 1, 2018.
  • Northlands Park (1951-2019) - Horse racing circuit completed in 1951 as the "Spectrum", renovated in 1995. Features over 625 slot machines, 700 seat restaurant, live harness and thoroughbred racing and simulcast racing from around the world. Closed on January 31, 2019.[19]
  • Northlands Sportex - Convention hall built in 1963 and demolished in 2008 to make room for the expansion of the Edmonton Expo Centre.[23]
  • Edmonton Gardens - Completed in 1913, held 5,200 spectators until its demolition after the completion of the Coliseum.

References[]

  1. ^ "Officers & Senior Managers | Edmonton Northlands". 10 June 2019.
  2. ^ "NORTHLANDS ANNUAL REPORT 09" (PDF). Retrieved 2021-08-14.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h "From the archives: David Staples on Northlands' complex history". Edmonton Journal. Retrieved 2021-06-12.
  4. ^ Antoneshyn, Alex (2021-06-10). "Northlands to cease operations, Explore Edmonton to manage K-Days". CTV News Edmonton. Retrieved 2021-06-12.
  5. ^ "Scrappy Oilers' Stubborn Savior". Los Angeles Times. 2006-06-05. Retrieved 2021-06-12.
  6. ^ a b c d "David Staples: The rise and fall of the Edmonton Coliseum". edmontonjournal. Retrieved 2021-06-12.
  7. ^ Eisler, Dale (1997-11-17). "Home-town proud". Maclean's. Retrieved 2021-06-13.
  8. ^ Eisler, Dale (1997-11-17). "Home-town proud". Maclean's. Retrieved 2021-06-13.
  9. ^ "City council wants answers before forgiving Northlands debt and approving redevelopment". CBC News. Retrieved 2017-08-31.
  10. ^ "Northlands unveils long-term strategic plan as new arena rises in downtown Edmonton". Edmonton Journal. Retrieved 2018-11-01.
  11. ^ "City releases scathing findings on Northlands' future plan". 2016-08-24.
  12. ^ "Council votes to forgive Northlands' $47M debt, take over Expo Centre". Edmonton Journal. Retrieved 2018-11-01.
  13. ^ "Convention centre merger to save Northlands still puts debt on Edmonton taxpayers". Edmonton Journal. 2017-06-27. Retrieved 2017-08-31.
  14. ^ "Council votes to forgive Northlands' $47M debt, take over Expo Centre". Edmonton Journal. 2017-08-30. Retrieved 2017-08-31.
  15. ^ Stolte, Elsie (September 13, 2017). "Decision to shutter Northlands Coliseum means demolition on the table". Edmonton Journal. Retrieved September 17, 2017.
  16. ^ "Northlands Coliseum will close permanently at end of this year". CBC News. September 13, 2017. Retrieved September 17, 2017.
  17. ^ Kornik, Slav (September 13, 2017). "Edmonton's Northlands Coliseum closing its doors in January". Global News. Retrieved September 17, 2017.
  18. ^ "Handing over the reins: Northlands Park hosts final horse-racing event". Global News. Retrieved 2021-06-12.
  19. ^ a b "Emotional farewell for Northlands staff on final day of casino's operation". Globalnews.ca. Retrieved 2019-04-08.
  20. ^ Bergot, Nicole (2019-03-29). "Rush to the racetrack: Century Mile Racetrack and Casino at EIA opens Monday". Edmonton Journal. Retrieved 2019-09-15.
  21. ^ Antoneshyn, Alex (2021-06-10). "Northlands to cease operations, Explore Edmonton to manage K-Days". CTV News Edmonton. Retrieved 2021-06-12.
  22. ^ AgriCom Evolution.09 expansion Archived October 24, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
  23. ^ "Northlands Sportex demolished for new building". ctvedmonton.ca. 2008-10-20. Retrieved 2011-03-10.

External links[]

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