When it comes to game day there’s more than the highlight of watching the Edmonton Oilers on the ice. Some fans are lucky enough to attend Rogers Place in person, while others make do with watching at home, or meeting up with friends at a sports bar. Either way, digital technology has added plenty of ways to stay connected before, during, and after every game.
Rogers Place at the Centre of Oilers Game Day
Since 2016 Rogers Place has been the home of the Oilers, bringing major league hockey to downtown Edmonton. Meeting up before a game is easy thanks to transit access, whether LRT or bus, and the Downtown pedway system.
Food and drink options are numerous downtown, ranging from the on-site sports bar Studio 99 to vegan fare at Padmanadi or sinking your teeth into steakhouse treats at SABOR Restaurant.
The reverberating cheers of over 18,000 fans makes watching the game live at Rogers Place something to remember. Many fans choose to linger after a game, soaking in the atmosphere and chatting at one of the many sports bars.
Watch Parties and Sports Bars Bring Fans Together
No ticket doesn’t mean no watching, as sports bars are a great alternative. Located in Unity Square in downtown Edmonton, 1st RND has the perfect menu of burgers, beer, and sports on big screens. If a pub’s more your speed then The Sherlock Holmes Pub Downtown might be the elementary choice, where you can just relax with a beer and catch the game.
Or you can have dinner at home or a restaurant and then migrate to a sports bar, or even watch at a party arranged by friends, combining home comforts with major league excitement.
Major games and playoff runs can make these options particularly important as tickets can be harder to find.
Watching the Oilers From Home Has Changed
Watching hockey at home has changed, and not just with bigger screens. Fans can get lots more information than just what the TV shows. Apps enable live statistics to be found easily, including data on player performances. And apps made by leagues and teams can offer extra detail, plus scores from other NHL games and ‘as it stands’ tables are easy to come by. Group chats among friends and on social media offer plenty of opportunity for memes and mockery online.
The Phone Has Become the Second Screen
Smartphones are everywhere these days, and can be used to check live stats or discuss dodgy decisions even while the live hockey is unfolding. They can also be handy for checking replays or highlights during a break, or to see how other games in the NHL are going. And it can be fun to see how a fantasy sports team is doing.
This doesn’t necessarily detract from the main TV as the focus. Hockey has its share of stoppages and intermissions which can be convenient for checking other scores quickly on a phone.
Before the Puck Drops and After the Final Whistle
Ahead of the puck dropping fans can prepare in various ways, from game day rituals to reading team news in the paper or online, or just wearing lucky socks and double checking the beer and snacks are ready to go. Online chat and predictions or meeting up with friends at the bar or home for a watch party can add a social dimension too.
Once the final whistle blows the action be relived through highlights, or analysis can be absorbed by listening to discussion in podcasts or checking the latest stats.
Beyond the Game Digital Entertainment for Oilers Fans
Hockey fans can indulge in the sport beyond just watching it, including playing with friends in fantasy sports leagues. Video games are another form of popular digital entertainment, whether these are played solo, multiplayer online, or enjoyed via streaming. Social media and sports betting are other common forms of entertainment during free time.
Hockey’s fun but it’s not on all the time, and when it’s the off-season or in-between fixtures adult fans can use their phones for other forms of online entertainment. This can range from streaming and video games to platforms like the Grand Mondial Casino for those into casino games.
Oilers Game Day Is More Connected Than Ever
Oilers’ fans can enjoy the experience of watching live at Rogers Place, and digital technology has only increased the ways this can happen. As well as attending in person, watch parties, sports bars, and home viewing, even streaming via mobile, have made it easier than ever to follow the game. And having a second screen puts all the stats and news at your fingertips, while social media means you’re never far from friendly banter.
