RIP Northlands: Edmonton mourns, mocks closure of old arena

Some Edmontonians are wondering if Northlands Coliseum could be slapped on the back of a transport truck and hauled south to Calgary.

It could save the city an estimated $8 million in demolition fees.

The former home of the Edmonton Oilers, replaced as the home ice by the city's new downtown arena Rogers Place which opened a year ago,will be shuttered for good at the end of year. The announcement from city hall Wednesday triggered a flurry of reaction on social media.

• Northlands Coliseum will close permanently at end of this year

More than one hockey fan suggested that Calgary could make use of the old cement relic, given that the Calgary Flames continue to have theirdreams of a new arena denied.

One social-media savvy fan even brought the fanciful idea to life with some impressive video editing techniques.

Check out this video of the Coliseumspeeding down the QEIIlike a wide load.

We are such generous neighbours.

While some were ready to ship the big arena south like someold scrapmany more were nostalgic about the old barn, and its place in Oilers history.

Built in 1974, the arena served as home ice during the team's heyday.

It was in thatarena that the Edmonton Oilers won four of their five Stanley Cups andwhere hockey legend Wayne Gretzky shattered longstanding records and set a new standard of hockey superstardom.