The Florida Panthers may have taken the Stanley Cup in 2025, but Edmonton walked away with something else: a $266.7 million reminder that Canada’s game still fuels this country’s economy, even in defeat.
The Oilers’ playoff run electrified the nation. Mosh pit-sized crowds lined up six hours before puck drop. Downtown streets swelled with fans waving flags and chanting “Go Oilers Go.” It was loud, it was proud, and for one more spring, Canada believed.
We didn’t win the Cup. But we came together and poured hundreds of millions into Edmonton’s economy doing it.
A $266.7 million power play for Edmonton
Explore Edmonton pegged the total economic impact of the 2025 playoff run at $266.7 million, calling the result “pretty incredible,” especially given the Oilers’ loss in Game 6 on the road.
That figure includes dramatic increases in downtown activity during the playoff stretch. According to Explore Edmonton, spending near Rogers Place surged by 200% and hotel occupancy reached about 45% during the final, reflecting the intensity of fan turnout and local business engagement.
Michael Paruby, general manager at Campio Brewing Co., told CTV News: “Each game we’ve just felt the energy more and more.”
Hockey’s economic impact reaches far beyond edmonton
Last month, Money.ca reported that the 2024 NHL playoffs triggered a wave of fan spending across the country. Bar and restaurant sales jumped 12% nationally, with Ontario alone seeing a 16% increase, even in cities with no team left on the ice.
This year, Edmonton’s playoff surge added another chapter to that story. The Oilers once again came close, and while the Cup stayed in the U.S., Canadians across the country filled patios, bars and living rooms, proving that hockey’s influence stretches far beyond the arena.
The game isn’t just a pastime. It’s a seasonal event economy that gives businesses a boost and brings communities together, coast to coast.
National pride scores big on and off the ice
This year’s Stanley Cup Final was more than a series. It was a clash of identities: a traditional Canadian franchise rich in history and northern grit, facing off against a rising U.S. Sun Belt powerhouse in Florida. It was legacy versus expansion. Snow versus sun.
In a time when Canada’s cultural confidence feels shaken — politically, economically, even existentially — hockey became a stand-in for national pride. For many fans, the Oilers’ run symbolized more than sport. It was a reminder of who we are.
And Canadians showed up, loud and loyal and ready to spend. As Paruby put it: “You’d think we were hosting the games.”
What playoff passion means for your wallet
We all feel it: the rush of game day, the last-minute dinner plan, the sudden urge to buy a new jersey. But playoff passion isn’t just good for cities, it positively impacts our personal finances too.
Cities cash in: Edmonton’s $266.7 million windfall shows how one playoff run can drive real economic impact, create jobs and support small businesses.
But fans feel the costs: Tickets, gear, rides, takeout — it all adds up. Experts recommend setting a spending limit or playoff budget to stay in control.
You can still celebrate smart: Share streaming accounts. Host potluck watch parties. Wait until post-season sales for merch. You don’t need to overspend to be all in.
A loss on the ice but a win for community
The Stanley Cup slipped through Canada’s fingers once again. But the passion didn’t.
We gathered. We believed. We backed our team with our voices and our dollars. And in a year when unity felt hard to come by, hockey reminded us of what we still share.
As former NHL goalie and broadcaster, Kelly Hrudey, told CBC News during the playoffs: “Hockey is more than a game in Canada. It’s part of who we are.”
No, it didn’t fix everything. But this season, it gave us something to rally around — and that matters.
Sources
1. CTV News: Stanley Cup Playoffs brought big bucks to Edmonton, despite loss: Explore Edmonton (June 24, 2025)
This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
