The Edmonton Oilers Lead the League!

by Jonathan Willis on May 30, 2008 9:28 AM MDT

... in how closely their announced attendance matches their paid attendance! Certainly a category to strive for.

According to an internal NHL report, the Edmonton Oilers give away the fewest tickets, at 200 a game. At the other end of the spectrum are the Dallas Stars, giving away 2500 tickets a game. Looking back at an entry on attendance figures over at Copper Blue Dreams, we can see what this actually means. Dallas is ranked 12th in attendance at 18,038 people/game. Edmonton ranks 18th, at 16,828 people/game. Compare that to paid attendance.

Dallas - 18038-2500 = 15538
Edmonton - 16828-200 = 16628

Interesting, yes?

From another Toronto Star article, based on the same report:

In fact, eight U.S. teams – the Coyotes, the Florida Panthers, Chicago Blackhawks, New York Islanders, Atlanta Thrashers, Washington Capitals, Nashville Predators and St. Louis Blues – generated less than half the amount of ticket revenue this season of the Edmonton Oilers and Ottawa Senators. At $1.2 million in ticket revenue per game, the Oilers and Senators garnered the least amount of ticket money among Canadian clubs.

To recap: the Oilers have more than double the ticket revenue of nine different American teams. More than double. This isn't exactly news, but the Oilers don't qualify as a small market franchise any more- this is a team with absolutely no financial excuses for failing to ice a contending team.

Slightly off-topic, from the same article:

The increase in the value of the Canadian dollar may be responsible for as much as half of the league's revenue gains since the NHL went through the lockout of 2004-05, say several sources familiar with NHL finances.

I'll leave it to people with more credible economics backgrounds to explain what all of this means, but one thing seems inescapable: Canadian teams, at present, have an incredible advantage over their southern counterparts.

Update: Somehow I missed the complete chart of ticket revenue per team. The Oilers rank 6th in the league, tied with Ottawa. Hat tip to Mirtle.

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Comments

With a new rink, our "advantage" would be even higher. Except as Stauffer points out, Oilers give Washington/St Louis revenue sharing then lose out on the bidding on Kariya and Nylander (not that I'd want either of them).

by Sean on May 30, 2008 10:17 AM MDT reply actions

Stauffer points out, Oilers give Washington/St Louis revenue sharing then lose out on the bidding on Kariya and Nylander

I think complaining about revenue sharing is an awfully funny thing coming from an Oilers fan. We've received the benefit of it more than once in the past.

by Jonathan Willis on May 30, 2008 10:32 AM MDT reply actions

Ya I'm right at the age (26) where I don't really remember any cups and my first real memory was Gretzky getting traded. I've seen too many players move on for financial reasons from Messier, Ranford, Guerin, Weight, Cujo to lesser players like Marchant and Richardson. Now I spend my time complaining that Souray and Penner are overpaid (Penner so far). I like the position we are in now, except the team is no better (yet).

by Sean on May 30, 2008 11:39 AM MDT reply actions

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Northwest Standings

	GP	W	L	OTL	PT
Vancouver Nucks Misconduct	54	34	15	5	73
Colorado Mile High Hockey	56	28	25	3	59
Minnesota Hockey Wilderness	54	25	21	8	58
Calgary Matchsticks and Gasoline	55	25	22	8	58
Edmonton The Copper & Blue	54	21	28	5	47

(updated 2.11.2012 at 1:04 AM MST)

21 - 28 - 5

Streak: Lost 2

Oilers Schedule

Next 5 Games

@ Ottawa Silver Seven	Sat 02/11	12:00 PM MST
Toronto Pension Plan Puppets	Wed 02/15	8:00 PM MST
Colorado Mile High Hockey	Fri 02/17	7:30 PM MST
Vancouver Nucks Misconduct	Sun 02/19	7:00 PM MST
@ Calgary Matchsticks and Gasoline	Tue 02/21	7:00 PM MST

Last 5 Games

@ Detroit Winging It In Motown	Wed 02/08	L 2 - 4
@ Toronto Pension Plan Puppets	Mon 02/06	L 3 - 6
Detroit Winging It In Motown	Sat 02/04	SO - W 5 - 4
Chicago Second City Hockey	Thu 02/02	W 8 - 4
Colorado Mile High Hockey	Tue 01/31	W 3 - 2