Thousands working to finish Rogers Place in time for opening

Everywhere you look inRogers Place,someone is doing something.Construction workers are scrambling to get the massive arenaready for Thursday's grand opening.

From window cleaners to street sweepers, it's an all-out effortto tie up as many loose ends as possible.

Calibre Coatings paint supervisor Dave Dupuis normally oversees about 30 painters.

On Wednesday,he had a paint roller in hand to help get the work done.

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"It'sall hands on deck," said Dupuis who was squeezing in a quick smoke break outside the arena's front doors.

"Every single person, including all PCL (staff),right to the supervisors to project managers,are in there cleaning, even doing touchups themselves.PCL is helping everybody at this time. Everybody. All trades on deck."

Dupuis said he loves being a part of the construction of Rogers Place.

"We're all proud to be a part of iteven thoughit's a little stressful," addedDupuiswho's been working on sitefor the last 17 months.

The workers outside the arena werein constant motion Wednesday. Several crews were feverishlyputting on the shiny silversiding that covers the massive building.

The rink,along withthe other relatedconstruction, has transformed the four-block area on the edge of Edmonton's downtown.Some people walking along 104thAvenue stopped to takepictures.

"I'm kind of impressed that they're this far along, " said Neil Chatten, who walked to the arena over lunch to get a look.

The former Torontoniansaidthe changeis exciting to see.

Big hole in the ground

"I moved here 10 years ago from Ontario," he said. "I grew up in the Toronto area, and it's starting to build like a big city."

Othersremember the big hole in the ground before construction started.

Epcor's head office is housedin the tower directly east of Rogers Place. Companyspokesman Timle Riche hashad a daily view ofthe project from the 27th floor.

"I've had this bird's eye view from day one and it sure has been exciting to watch it go from ground level to where it isat now," he said..

Outside one of the arena's entrances, Chris Finch was getting ready to take his son and twolucky friends inside Rogers place for a chance to skate on the brand new ice.

Finch, who works in the area, saidthe construction of the arena has had a huge impact.

"The downtown is completely different from what it used to be. There used to be a lot of empty lots,not much going on, soit's definitely a lot better now,"said Finch.

Jumpstarting the area hasalways part of the plan according to Tim Shipton, vice president of communications for the Oilers Entertainment Group.

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Shipton and the entire Oilers organization can't wait to revealwhat the arena has inside.The opening ceremonies start at 5 p.m. Thursday.

"We're down to crunch time here. We've got over a thousand people working inside" said Shipton.

"It's been a blur. It's been an exciting project for all of us but now that we're on the eve on the opening this building,I think we're all saying, 'we're ready to do it.' "