Northlands Agricom
Encyclopedia
The Edmonton Exposition and Conference Centre, or Edmonton EXPO Centre for short, is a multi-purpose arena
/conference centre variously used as a sports and music venue, and for hosting trade shows and conferences. It is located in Northlands
in Edmonton
, Alberta
, Canada
, adjacent to Rexall Place
. It is owned and operated by the Northlands
not-for-profit group. It was previously known as the Northlands AgriCom.
"Alberta Ballroom". The Canadian federal government meanwhile contributed $25 million.
New features include:
, the year the Edmonton Oilers
won their first Stanley Cup, on the site of the old Edmonton Gardens
, the first home of the Edmonton Oilers. The Oilers moved across 118 Avenue
in 1974 to the new Northlands Coliseum, now Rexall Place
, it is still owned and operated by Northlands. Prior to 2009, the EXPO Centre was known as the Northlands AgriCom, or simply The Agricom, from the agricultural and commercial trade shows which it was built to host.
From 1996 to 1998 the building was used as a venue for ice hockey
, with a capacity of 5,527 it was home to the Western Hockey League
's Edmonton Ice
, the Kootenay Ice
has since been operating in Cranbrook, British Columbia
.
The EXPO Centre hosts such major events as Edmonton's Capital EX
, which all halls are used for multiple purposes including a food court
, casino
, and trade show.
Over 2,500 more events are held at the EXPO Centre annually, mainly different types of trade shows. Major events include the Edmonton International Motor Show, the Home and Garden Show, YC Alberta, RV Expo, and Edmonton Pet Expo.
The facility is also sometimes used as a music venue, for example hosting the Offspring
on 13 June 2009, Weezer
on 22 April 2002, the mini-festival Campus Chaos on 25 September 2009 (headliners Hinder
and Lil John).
As a convention center, the EXPO Centre provides facilities for many different purposes in a wide range of sizes. Upon completion of the expansion in 2009, there has been eight convention halls, six ballrooms, thirteen meeting and boardrooms, a lounge, and several smaller galleries within the building. In addition to these rental spaces, Northlands maintains and staffs several concession stands and other visitor amenities during large events.
Arena
An arena is an enclosed area, often circular or oval-shaped, designed to showcase theater, musical performances, or sporting events. It is composed of a large open space surrounded on most or all sides by tiered seating for spectators. The key feature of an arena is that the event space is the...
/conference centre variously used as a sports and music venue, and for hosting trade shows and conferences. It is located in Northlands
Northlands
Northlands is a non-profit, volunteer organization in Edmonton, Alberta. It was founded in 1879, before the official incorporation of the city of Edmonton, or the province of Alberta....
in Edmonton
Edmonton
Edmonton is the capital of the Canadian province of Alberta and is the province's second-largest city. Edmonton is located on the North Saskatchewan River and is the centre of the Edmonton Capital Region, which is surrounded by the central region of the province.The city and its census...
, Alberta
Alberta
Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, adjacent to Rexall Place
Rexall Place
Rexall Place is an indoor arena in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada situated on the north side of Northlands. It is currently the home to the Edmonton Oilers of the National Hockey League, the Edmonton Rush of the National Lacrosse League and the Edmonton Oil Kings of the WHL...
. It is owned and operated by the Northlands
Northlands
Northlands is a non-profit, volunteer organization in Edmonton, Alberta. It was founded in 1879, before the official incorporation of the city of Edmonton, or the province of Alberta....
not-for-profit group. It was previously known as the Northlands AgriCom.
Expansion
Major renovations were completed in December 2009. This expansion added over 200000 sq ft (18,580.6 m²) to the original complex. The total is now 522000 sq ft (48,495.4 m²), or double the previous total. This was expected to make it the largest such facility in Canada outside of Toronto. The Alberta government contributed $50 million to the project which led to the decision to name the 13000 square feet (1,207.7 m²) ballroomBallroom
A ballroom is a large room inside a building, the designated purpose of which is holding formal dances called balls. Traditionally, most balls were held in private residences; many mansions contain one or more ballrooms...
"Alberta Ballroom". The Canadian federal government meanwhile contributed $25 million.
New features include:
- Four new exhibition halls (E,F,G,H)
- New conference area with meeting rooms and ballroom
- New gallery spaces connecting the halls
- A business centre
- A food court with licensed services
- Wireless internet access
History and use
The facility was first built in 19841984 in Canada
-Incumbents:*Monarch: Elizabeth II*Governor General: Edward Schreyer then Jeanne Sauvé*Prime Minister: Pierre Trudeau then John Turner then Brian Mulroney*Premier of Alberta: Peter Lougheed*Premier of British Columbia: Bill Bennett...
, the year the Edmonton Oilers
Edmonton Oilers
The Edmonton Oilers are a professional ice hockey team based in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division in the Western Conference of the National Hockey League ....
won their first Stanley Cup, on the site of the old Edmonton Gardens
Edmonton Gardens
The Edmonton Gardens was the first indoor hockey arena built in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. It was originally built as Edmonton Stock Pavilion in 1913, and held 5,200 spectators after its 1966 renovations....
, the first home of the Edmonton Oilers. The Oilers moved across 118 Avenue
118 Avenue, Edmonton
118 Avenue is the designated name of two major arterial roads in central Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, separated by the Edmonton City Centre Airport. The west side services both an industrial area, and a residential area, while the east 118 Avenue, originally Alberta Avenue, is one of the oldest...
in 1974 to the new Northlands Coliseum, now Rexall Place
Rexall Place
Rexall Place is an indoor arena in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada situated on the north side of Northlands. It is currently the home to the Edmonton Oilers of the National Hockey League, the Edmonton Rush of the National Lacrosse League and the Edmonton Oil Kings of the WHL...
, it is still owned and operated by Northlands. Prior to 2009, the EXPO Centre was known as the Northlands AgriCom, or simply The Agricom, from the agricultural and commercial trade shows which it was built to host.
From 1996 to 1998 the building was used as a venue for ice hockey
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
, with a capacity of 5,527 it was home to the Western Hockey League
Western Hockey League
The Western Hockey League is a major junior ice hockey league based in Western Canada and the Northwestern United States. The WHL is one of three leagues that constitute the Canadian Hockey League as the highest level of junior hockey in Canada...
's Edmonton Ice
Edmonton Ice
The Edmonton Ice were a junior ice hockey team based in Edmonton, Alberta that played two seasons in the Western Hockey League.Despite the long held belief that Major-Junior hockey could not compete against the NHL, the WHL expanded to Calgary in 1995, and to Edmonton in 1996...
, the Kootenay Ice
Kootenay Ice
The Kootenay Ice are a major junior ice hockey team based in Cranbrook, British Columbia and competing in the Western Hockey League. The team plays its home games at the Cranbrook Recreational Complex, also nicknamed the RecPlex.-History:...
has since been operating in Cranbrook, British Columbia
Cranbrook, British Columbia
Cranbrook, British Columbia is a city in southeast British Columbia, located on the west side of the Kootenay River at its confluence with the St. Mary's River, It is the largest urban centre in the region known as the East Kootenay. As of 2006, Cranbrook's population is 18,267, and the...
.
The EXPO Centre hosts such major events as Edmonton's Capital EX
Edmonton's Capital EX
Edmonton's Capital EX, formerly known as Klondike Days or K-Days, is an annual 10-day exhibition held in Edmonton, Alberta, usually near the end of July. In recent years it has attracted between 700,000 and 800,000 visitors each year...
, which all halls are used for multiple purposes including a food court
Food court
A food court is generally an indoor plaza or common area within a facility that is contiguous with the counters of multiple food vendors and provides a common area for self-serve dining. Food courts may be found in shopping malls and airports, and in various regions may be a standalone development...
, casino
Casino
In modern English, a casino is a facility which houses and accommodates certain types of gambling activities. Casinos are most commonly built near or combined with hotels, restaurants, retail shopping, cruise ships or other tourist attractions...
, and trade show.
Over 2,500 more events are held at the EXPO Centre annually, mainly different types of trade shows. Major events include the Edmonton International Motor Show, the Home and Garden Show, YC Alberta, RV Expo, and Edmonton Pet Expo.
The facility is also sometimes used as a music venue, for example hosting the Offspring
The Offspring
The Offspring is an American punk rock band from Huntington Beach, California, formed in 1984. Known as Manic Subsidal until 1986, the band consists of lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist Dexter Holland, lead guitarist Kevin "Noodles" Wasserman, bassist Greg K. and drummer Pete Parada...
on 13 June 2009, Weezer
Weezer
Weezer is an American alternative rock band. The band currently consists of Rivers Cuomo , Patrick Wilson , Brian Bell , and Scott Shriner . The band has changed lineups three times since its formation in 1992...
on 22 April 2002, the mini-festival Campus Chaos on 25 September 2009 (headliners Hinder
Hinder
Hinder is an American rock band from Oklahoma that was formed in 2001 by drummer Cody Hanson, guitarist Joe Garvey, and singer Austin Winkler. The band was inducted into the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame in 2007.-Formation and early history:...
and Lil John).
Facilities
| Hall | Square Feet | Booth Capacity | Reception Capacity |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | 53,262 | 274 | 2,500 |
| B | 58,104 | 301 | 3,000 |
| C | 77,472 | 413 | 4,000 |
| D (arena) | 53,410 | 325 | 3,500 |
| 8,990 | 65 | ||
| E | 53,836 | 253 | 2,500 |
| F | 39,156 | 181 | 2,000 |
| G | 29,328 | 138 | 1,800 |
| H | 36,126 | 178 | 2,000 |
| Alberta Ballroom | 16,677 | 1,200 | |
| Totals | 417,371 | 2,063 | 22,500 |
As a convention center, the EXPO Centre provides facilities for many different purposes in a wide range of sizes. Upon completion of the expansion in 2009, there has been eight convention halls, six ballrooms, thirteen meeting and boardrooms, a lounge, and several smaller galleries within the building. In addition to these rental spaces, Northlands maintains and staffs several concession stands and other visitor amenities during large events.