Edmonton businesses near Rogers Place surged over 200% for Game 7

Edmonton Oilers fans might still be feeling the sore sting of the Stanley Cup loss, but Edmonton businesses still managed some big wins.

While the Florida Panthers might be laughing all the way to the beach with the Stanley Cup, Edmonton businesses will be laughing all the way to the bank. As has been reported throughout the playoffs, local businesses have profited from every game, win and loss, for the Oilers in their recent Stanley Cup run, but perhaps none more than Monday’s Game 7.

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On Monday night, while the Edmonton Oilers battled the Panthers in Sunrise, Fla., Edmonton businesses saw a 214 per cent surge near ICE District, according to recent reports from Canadian payment processing company, Moneris.

Moneris measures activity by comparing game-day to non-game-day credit and debit transaction activity to illustrate spending trends.

A jump in business near Rogers Place was a common theme throughout the playoffs, but Monday’s Game 7 was the largest leap for an away game. Game 5 of the finals had the second-highest activity, with an increase of just 39 per cent near the arena, by comparison.

Monday’s game was also unique in that although businesses near ICE District had the largest increase in activity, it wasn’t just limited to that area of the city, province, or even the country. Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals coincided with a nearly 80 per cent increase in activity across the city, a 33 per cent increase throughout Alberta, and even a 16 per cent uptick across the country. Evidently, hockey was good for business.

The playoffs were, of course, particularly good to the service industry and restaurants made significant jumps every time the Oilers played a home game. For example, from the first game of the first round, restaurants near Rogers Place had a 63 per cent increase. In Round 2 against the Vancouver Canucks, games 3 and 4 brought in an extra 71 and 92 per cent, respectively.

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Those numbers only got better as the Oilers played on.

Last Friday’s Game 6 against the Panthers saw business activity up 151 per cent near the arena and 32 per cent across the city.

As the playoffs went on, the increase in activity multiplied, reaching its fever pitch for the final game.

As the businesses bid farewell to a profitable playoff run, one lucky fan has yet to cash in on their 50/50. The Playoff Bonus prize has yet to be claimed, but the lucky winner will get more than $4 million.

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