While the Edmonton Oilers await their first Stanley Cup final victory, the city’s tourism board reports that the playoff run has already been a significant win for Edmonton.
According to Explore Edmonton, the first three rounds of the Oilers’ post-season play have injected $179 million into the city’s economy. This boost has benefited hotels, restaurants, and other businesses, especially those in the downtown area.
The tourism board derived this figure using data from The Oilers Entertainment Group, which tracks out-of-town fans, a complex economic formula, and investments in watch parties and spending at nearby establishments.
“The tip that the server gets, and then they go out and they spend it in local shops as well,” explained Janelle Janis, with events and business development at Explore Edmonton. “So this total economic impact of $179 million takes into full account every benefit that comes from that single outside dollar into Edmonton.”
It’s not just local businesses capitalizing on the playoff run. Former Oiler and five-time Stanley Cup champion Esa Tikkanen is auctioning four of his Stanley Cup rings, with the highest bid for his 1987-88 ring reaching just over $15,000 by Wednesday evening. \
Meanwhile, Explore Edmonton has leveraged the Oilers’ Cup run to promote the city, even taking a playful jab at Florida Panthers fans. The agency placed ads outside Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise, Florida, highlighting Edmonton as the “home of five Stanley Cups and zero rats.” This references the tradition of Florida fans throwing plastic rats on the ice, in honor of a 1990s player Scott Mellanby, who once killed a dressing room rodent with his stick before scoring two goals in a game.
