Nearly a decade has passed since NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman had said Edmonton would host marquee league events once Rogers Place reached completion. Yet Oilers fans are still waiting for those promises to materialize, a frustration that bubbled to the surface on social media this week.
Speaking during Rogers Place's construction phase in March 2017, Bettman expressed clear intentions about bringing major NHL events to Alberta's capital.
His vision was straightforward that once the Ice District development reached its final form, Edmonton would earn its turn in the spotlight with an All-Star Weekend and an Entry Draft.
"When we show off Edmonton to the world, I'd like it to be done," the Commissioner stated at the time pointing out the importance of presenting a finished product to hockey audiences globally.
By the following year, Bettman reiterated this position while addressing the Edmonton Chamber of Commerce though he declined to commit to specific timelines. The message remained consistent and the league wanted the Ice District's transformation complete before rolling out the red carpet.
But Rogers Place has been fully operational since September 2016. The state-of-the-art facility has now hosted nearly a decade of regular season games, playoff battles and even community events. The Oilers have turned into perennial contenders reaching the Stanley Cup Final and capturing national attention.
Yet the promised All-Star Game and Draft continue eluding the city.
Oilers Analyst calls out the Commissioner on his promise
The growing impatience reached a boiling point this week when Oilers analyst Zach Laing took to X to directly challenge the league's silence. "Any update on this? asking for a friend..." Laing posted sharing a screenshot of Bettman's statements from 2017.
The post resonated with Edmonton's hockey community who have watched other cities receive multiple opportunities to host these signature events while Rogers Place sits idle.
any update on this? asking for a friend... https://t.co/eOVOU5MrMm pic.twitter.com/gRuigIXu5D
— zach (@zjlaing) January 8, 2026
The drought stretches back even further when examining historical context. Edmonton last welcomed All-Star Weekend in 1989, which was 37 years ago. The NHL Draft last touched down there in 1995, also marking three decades since the league's future stars had their names called in Alberta.
This year won't break the pattern either. The New York Islanders will host February's All-Star festivities serving as a convenient departure point for NHL players heading to the 2026 Milano Cortina Olympics on February 7th.
While Bettman's comments suggested a path forward tied to infrastructure completion, that benchmark was achieved years ago. What remains unclear is what additional criteria Edmonton must satisfy or whether organizational factors beyond the city's control are influencing the decision-making process.
For a hockey-mad market that consistently supports its team through thick and thin, the ongoing wait feels increasingly difficult to justify. Rogers Place has proven itself as a world-class venue. The Ice District has reshaped downtown Edmonton. The Oilers have delivered on-ice excitement.
Perhaps it's time for the Commissioner to revisit those 2017 remarks and provide Edmonton with more than implications and conditional statements. The city and its devoted fanbase deserves an actual answer.