Although the Edmonton Oilers fell short in the Stanley Cup Final, their playoff run sparked a major economic boost—particularly near the arena, where spending nearly doubled on game days.
According to a recent report by payment processor Moneris, spending in Edmonton surged throughout the Oilers’ postseason journey. The data, which analyzed debit and credit card transactions on gamedays compared to typical days, highlighted a sharp increase in local spending during the Finals.
During the second home game of the Stanley Cup Final, spending around Rogers Place soared 92% above an average non-gameday night—the second-highest jump during this year’s playoff stretch.
This economic boost isn’t unexpected, given that the Oilers’ consecutive appearances in the Finals over the past two years have generated an estimated \$500 million in local economic activity.
While Moneris’ figures offer a strong snapshot, they don’t reflect all local business activity, as some venues use different payment systems. Still, the general trend was clear: home games drove spending spikes both downtown and citywide.
In earlier playoff rounds, similar patterns emerged. The second home game of the first round saw spending rise 89% near the arena and 24% across Edmonton. In the second round, the biggest arena-area jump—69%—occurred during Game 2, while citywide spending peaked at 13% during Game 1.
However, the most dramatic surge came during the third round, when spending for the second home game spiked by a staggering 143%—the largest single-game increase of the playoffs.
As the Oilers assess their on-ice performance heading into next season, many Edmonton residents may be doing their own evaluations—of their wallets—after yet another thrilling (and costly) playoff run.
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