Green isn’t just the colour of the jerseys and scarves Oilers fans are buying during Okotoks’ Junior A team’s playoff drive.
It’s also the colour of money and the Okotoks Oilers’ playoff run in the Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL) will help fill the team’s coffers.
The Oilers had three straight sellouts of 2,000 fans for Games 3, 4 and 6 of their South Division final last week. It was the first time the club had a full house three games in a row at the Pason Centennial Arena, said Oilers president Wayne Lauinger.
“To sum it up: ‘It’s Awesome,’” Lauinger said after the Game 4 sell out. “We are selling more tickets, more souvenirs and more beer. I think the best thing is the public is being exposed to a really high quality hockey and they see how good the hockey is.”
The Bandits went into the AJHL playoffs at the top of the national rankings. The Oilers battling the number one team in Canada in front of 2,000 screaming hockey fans has done nothing but bolster interest in the product.
Lauinger said there has already been considerable interest in Oilers season tickets for the 2013-14 season.
Although the Oilers have earned their playoff success, the extra cash is almost like found money.
After all, trying to set a team’s yearly budget on how well it will do in the playoffs is like trying to set the province’s budget on $100 a barrel for oil — and Albertans all know how that worked out.
Lauinger would have used a totally different word than awesome if Okotoks had lost the deciding Game 5 in the opening round of the playoff against Olds on March 12 in Okotoks.
Had they lost, the Oilers’ season would have been over. Since that time, the team has played another five playoff games in Okotoks and has averaged 1,601 fans a game.
That’s a lot of extra fannies in the seats.
“Playoff hockey is part of our annual budget that is difficult to calculate and at the same time important to overall financial success,” Lauinger said.
“The success of our post season play has brought the community together with the team in pursuit of a national championship. We are thankful to the record number of fans in the community who have bonded with Oilers in record breaking support that will take this relationship deep into the playoffs this year, and continue into the future.”
As well, during their playoff run, the opposition has been reasonably close by. The Oilers didn’t have any overnight stays against either Brooks or Olds. They did have an overnighter during the Camrose series.
“We haven’t had too many extra costs other than busing and the odd meal,” Lauinger said.
If the Oilers do get by the Bandits, Okotoks’ playoff expenses will go up as they will have to travel to northern Alberta. If they can win the AJHL title, Okotoks will be likely flying off to seaside Nanaimo, B.C. for the Western Canada Cup.
However, it’s an expense Lauinger and the Oilers would love to take on.
“Oh, we would find a way to pay for it,” he said with a laugh.
He could not speculate as to how much money the Oilers made from their playoff at this time.
Town benefits
The Oilers’ playoff run also provides positive economic spinoff for the Okotoks community.
“Obviously, it benefits the drinking and bar establishments the most — the fans could be going there after the game,” said Shane Olson, Okotoks economic development team leader.
Rob Bolton of Rylie’s Cattle Barn Cook House and Saloon has been showing road games on the establishment’s large TV’s during the Oilers’ road games.
“It’s been wicked,” said Rob Bolton, owner of Rylie’s.
“The first night we got 12 or 15 people but on Friday (a 5-3 victory over Brooks in Brooks) we had about 100 people.
“We expect even more for Tuesday night (April 9).”
He said he does not wish to broadcast the Oilers’ games during their home games so as not to interfere with the team’s attendance at the Centennial Arena.
The George, which is located just northwest of the Centennial Arena, has seen a boon in business thanks to the playoff run.
“Huge,” said Tony Nicastro, owner of The George. “I would say it’s been an increase of 50 per cent (of regular season games).”
He said the patrons are coming in before and after the games.
Olson added even those fans who attend the game and leave shortly thereafter bring dividends for the Okotoks area.
“It helps showcase the community,” Olson said. “If they are coming in from different communities to take in the playoffs, we could see some residual tourism impact from that.”
He added every time the Okotoks Oilers are mentioned on social media, radio, television and community newspapers it gives the community some added exposure.
