Vaccine record or negative test will be needed at Oilers games, Rogers Place events: OEG
Edmonton's NHL arena and major concert venue will ask guests to be vaccinated against COVID-19.
If ticket holders cannot provide proof of full immunization two weeks before event day, they will need to provide a negative COVID-19 test result from an approved tester taken within 48 hours of the event's scheduled start time.
"After careful deliberation with stakeholders including the NHL, WHL, live entertainment promoters, our fans and Alberta Health, we believe these changes are not only vital to the safety of our fans and staff, but also critical in the fight against COVID-19 as we welcome fans back to our venue and do our part for the safe reopening our city, province and country," read a statement from Oiler Entertainment Group's director of hockey communications, Jamie Cartmell.
In order for proof of vaccination – either electronic or paper records – to be accepted at the venue's entrance, guests will need to have been vaccinated for 14 days.
More details on how the policy will be implemented will come in a future update, Cartmell told CTV News Edmonton.
The changes will take effect Sept. 28, when the Oilers play their first pre-season game, and last for the "foreseeable future."
OEG employees, volunteers and contractors are required to be fully vaccinated by Sept. 14.
“We're thrilled because we were, at one point, really questioning whether or not we'd be able to go to games,” said Deb Troppmann, a season ticket holder.
Troppmann had a liver transplant and has a weakened immune system as a result.
“So this is a huge peace of mind for us, going in knowing that everyone around us, all the staff and fans and volunteers are either going to be vaccinated or have a negative COVID-19 test.”
Edmonton Elks fans were not required at the start of the CFL season to provide proof of vaccination, a negative test, or wear masks at games. On Tuesday, a team spokesperson said "conversations around fan vaccination requirements will be occurring."
“This is the way we need to move forward and people are going to have to realize that in order to put that behind us. Folks need to get vaccinated so we can start enjoying things again,” added Troppmann.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
opinion Tom Mulcair: Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's train wreck of a final act
In his latest column for CTVNews.ca, former NDP leader and political analyst Tom Mulcair puts a spotlight on the 'spectacular failure' of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's final act on the political stage.
B.C. mayor gets calls from across Canada about 'crazy' plan to recruit doctors
A British Columbia community's "out-of-the-box" plan to ease its family doctor shortage by hiring physicians as city employees is sparking interest from across Canada, says Colwood Mayor Doug Kobayashi.
'There’s no support': Domestic abuse survivor shares difficulties leaving her relationship
An Edmonton woman who tried to flee an abusive relationship ended up back where she started in part due to a lack of shelter space.
Baseball Hall of Famer Rickey Henderson dead at 65, reports say
Rickey Henderson, a Baseball Hall of Famer and Major League Baseball’s all-time stolen bases leader, is dead at 65, according to multiple reports.
Arizona third-grader saves choking friend
An Arizona third-grader is being recognized by his local fire department after saving a friend from choking.
Germans mourn the 5 killed and 200 injured in the apparent attack on a Christmas market
Germans on Saturday mourned the victims of an apparent attack in which authorities say a doctor drove into a busy outdoor Christmas market, killing five people, injuring 200 others and shaking the public’s sense of security at what would otherwise be a time of joy.
Blake Lively accuses 'It Ends With Us' director Justin Baldoni of harassment and smear campaign
Blake Lively has accused her 'It Ends With Us' director and co-star Justin Baldoni of sexual harassment on the set of the movie and a subsequent effort to “destroy' her reputation in a legal complaint.
Oysters distributed in B.C., Alberta, Ontario recalled for norovirus contamination
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has issued a recall due to possible norovirus contamination of certain oysters distributed in British Columbia, Alberta and Ontario.
New rules clarify when travellers are compensated for flight disruptions
The federal government is proposing new rules surrounding airlines' obligations to travellers whose flights are disrupted, even when delays or cancellations are caused by an "exceptional circumstance" outside of carriers' control.