EDMONTON -- Hockey excitement is in full swing in Edmonton.
The 12 Western Conference teams began arriving on Sunday morning. They will call the Edmonton hub city bubble home for at least the next few weeks.
As well as the designated hotels, there are also restaurants, entertainment and outdoor spaces for players and staff. They will be tested for COVID-19 daily.
Exhibition games begin on Tuesday and the qualifying round starts on Aug. 1.
There will be no fans in Rogers place. The stands will be covered in LED screens and stages. On the television broadcast, fans will hear chants, goal horns and music for each team.
The Oilers Entertainment Group partnered with Treaty Six leaders to hold a welcome and thanksgiving pipe ceremony in the ICE District on Sunday.
The Treaty Six members offered prayers for a safe, healthy playoff.
Participants included Treaty Six Grand Chief Billy Morin, Chief Wilton Littlechild and Elder Cecil Crier.
United Cycle crews also polished up the replica Stanley Cup statue outside United Cycle on Gateway Boulevard to welcome teams as they arrived in the city.
"We really want to have the Cup looking its best as all the Western Conference Playoff teams are arriving here in Edmonton. Sort of a 'Welcome to Edmonton!' you know?" said United Cycle Operations Manager Kelly Hodgson.
The statue was built in 2007. It weighs over 850 pounds and is four metres tall.
The business is hoping people will come down to the statue during the playoff run to take pictures.
"We wanted to invite everyone in Edmonton to come take pictures with Edmonton's giant Stanley Cup. It's a fun, free, physically-distanced outdoor activity that everyone can enjoy during the playoffs—even if we can't all be at the arena cheering the Oilers on in person."
