Report: Edmonton hub proposal includes Olympic Village-style setup

Oilers Entertainment Group is making a strong push for Edmonton to be selected as one of the NHL's hub cities.

The company provided details Monday about its proposal, including those related to the player experience and safety measures it plans to implement, according to TSN's Ryan Rishaug.

All players will stay at the JW Marriott hotel, which is across from Rogers Place. A village-style setup - similar to that used during the Olympics - will provide players with outdoor and indoor activities, including golf simulators, basketball courts, movie nights, video games, live entertainment, ping pong, pool tables, lounge areas, and rooftop patios.

Arrangements will be made with more than a dozen of the city's top-end restaurants to provide players with a wide variety of food delivery options. Local golf courses will also have days dedicated to hosting only the participants living in the bubble.

The players are unlikely to be joined by their families immediately upon arrival, but OEG is working with Alberta Tourism to create vacation experiences across the province for family members to take part in as the season resumes.

Safety and testing protocols will be strengthened for all players, staff, and employees. Edmonton police will also help plan dedicated routes for players to use when traveling to and from the arena.

The league is expected to announce by the end of this week its choice of the two hub cities. After reportedly cutting down the list from 10 cities to six on Saturday, Edmonton remains in the mix alongside Vancouver, Toronto, Las Vegas. Chicago is also still being considered, according to The Athletic's Pierre LeBrun.

The NHL is reportedly not considering delaying its tentative July 10 start date for training camps despite 11 players testing positive for COVID-19 during Phase 2 of its return-to-play plan.

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