Oilers merchandise sales see spike amid Stanley Cup run
With a sea of orange and blue converging in Downtown Edmonton for the Oilers 2022 Stanley Cup run, local and team retail sales are off the charts.
Jack Cookson, owner of Pro Am Sports, said the playoff excitement has been noticeable with increased foot traffic at the Edmonton store in its 33rd year of operation.
With fans back in the stands at Rogers Place, flooding Ford Hall and now gathering for the new playoff watch party at Ice District Plaza, Cookson said sales are higher than during the last two playoff runs.
“One-hundred per cent there's an absolute spike in interest and demand, based on what we've seen in the past couple of years,” he said. “Last spring, were you getting together with a bunch of people to watch the Oilers game? Probably not with as many people as you can now, and you don't want to be the only person in the room not wearing something with an oil drop on it.”
Cookson said everyone wants to be a part of the team during the playoffs and Pro Am Sports has fans covered from Oilers barbecue scrapers, a signed Connor Mcdavid jersey and more.
“This is the time of year where Oilers fans want to get a little bit closer to their team and we help make that connection with whatever type of merchandise they're interested in,” said Cookson.
Stu Ballantyne, president and COO for Rogers Place and the Ice District, said merchandise sales at the arena have also gone up with one item in particular, the orange Oilers Fanchain, flying off the shelf. He added jersey and hat sales remain strong, and orange clothing is another popular item this playoff season.
“Orange is our colour this year that we're rallying behind, and we definitely see that in the arena and also outside in the plaza and inside at Ford Hall,” said Ballantyne.
“There's always a huge passion in Edmonton for the Oilers and the playoffs just amplify that so much. The decibel level in the arena, the people coming out to Ford Hall and into Ice plaza has been really, really wonderful.”
Official team store sales have been taking place during home games, and will also be offered during the away watch parties at Rogers Place and at the temporary shop outside in the plaza during the home tailgate parties.