A quick comparison of the three Candian cities we spent time in:
Third star: Edmonton. Oil Country greeted us with minus-16 (Celsius) temperatures and unplowed roads. Granted, this was the final stop on the tour, but Alberta’s capital city didn’t do a lot to impress. Its parting gift was minus-30 temps and a white-knuckle drive at 6 a.m. to its international airport, which was 40 minutes outside the city. … Rexall Place is a fun place to watch the game, and it’s rafters are a virtual history of the NHL over the past 25 years. But the barn is showing its age. It’s a shame a great hockey city such as this can’t get a new building built. And in a area that offers restaurants close by. Aside from one sports bar and a few gas stations, there was nothing for miles.
Second star: Calgary. The Stampede city had more attractions (Calgary Tower, The Olympic Oval and the Canadian Pacific HQ), and, judging by the vast amount of construction going on, people are taking notice. The facilities at the University of Calgary and the Alberta Children’s hospital appeared top notch. … The Pengrowth Saddledome is an interesting, older building. Situated in the middle of a fairgrounds, it also show its age. It was louder and more entertaining than Edmonton’s venue. It’s close enough to downtown that location is not an issue.
First star: Vancouver. Yes it rained (a lot), and yes it’s not the easiest city to navigate, but the variety it offers and milder climate give it the nod. Like Calgary, it is booming from growth and ecomonic standpoints. It’s also the most beautiful of the three cities, but I’m biased toward coasts. … GM Place is one of the nicest of the NHL’s new buildings, and it has a far superior atmosphere to most of the comparable U.S. venues. The Canucks also have the retail thing down. Their selection and quality of apparel was by far the best of the three clubs. Great move bringing back the retro sweaters for this season, and all of their retro merchandise sells big.
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