The Edmonton Oilers continue to be in communication with Alberta Health about the possibility of welcoming fans back to Rogers Place, but will not put a timeline on when they expect to open its doors.
Reports surfaced over the weekend indicating that Oilers Entertainment Group, the company that owns the Oilers, had put forth a proposal for the return of a limited number of fans to games.
In a statement to Sportsnet, the team said it will not rush the process and will need to ensure public health measures and best practices related to COVID-19 are followed.
"We are continuing that dialogue as it relates to the Return to Fans at Rogers Place. We believe we can host fans in Rogers Place and do it as safely as any venue in the world, based on our track record and expertise," senior vice president Shipton said. "We’ve also gained knowledge and best practices through conversations with many other venues that have opened to fans across the NHL and pro sports.
"But, we will only move forward with the plan, in conjunction with Alberta Health, as they ultimately need to sign off on the plan."
The Arizona Coyotes, Dallas Stars, Florida Panthers, New York Rangers and Tampa Bay Lightning are the only NHL teams allowing some fans to return to arenas. All the Canadian teams in the North Division were granted permission to play games at home arenas without fans in attendance.
