Edmonton Oilers: A Financial Success Story - From Rags to Riches

[TheDoldrums]

The true Mecca of Hockey

put the 5pm start time in the bag bro

 

[The Panther]

It's because of one first overall draft pick. The 4th one the Oilers made in a 5 year span because they were such a poorly run joke of a franchise. You know it, I know it, everybody knows it.

My post was nothing to do with how the franchise is run. My post was about the city and the hockey culture in the city.

 

[MrHeiskanen]

It is a fluff piece by a local paper

I just hate how Forbes puts out these valuations and revenue numbers and people take them as fact when it isn't.

 

[Ratsreign]

Who knew all it takes is getting the GOAT with their 7th 1st OA that decade

And people still think Bettman does nothing at all to support a “small” Canadian market.

 

[HugginThePost]

Of course the city supports the team in a cultish manner......

..........what else is there to do in Edmonton during the winter?

Same can be said of many teams, but those teams don't have a McDavid.

Let's not pretend the front office is some amazing juggernaut.

 

[Greatzsky 99]

It said that the Oilers

I just hate how Forbes puts out these valuations and revenue numbers and people take them as fact when it isn't.

Then show us what the facts are since you seem to know them.

 

[La Bamba]

put the 5pm start time in the bag bro

It’s okay, those stop after the 1st round anyways

 

[MrHeiskanen]

It said that the Oilers

Then show us what the facts are since you seem to know them.

How do you want me to show revenue of private businesses? Numbers are not public.

 

[MessierThanThou]

Of course the city supports the team in a cultish manner......

..........what else is there to do in Edmonton during the winter?

Same can be said of many teams, but those teams don't have a McDavid.

Let's not pretend the front office is some amazing juggernaut.

The Oilers landed McDavid and Draisaitl because the front office was so incompetent for so long that the team lucked into being able to draft those players. Unfortunately, the front office has remained incompetent for most of their tenure, hence the lack of cups despite their immense talent.

 

[Spawn]

relatively new arena and 2 of the top players in the world. When you win the fans turn out. But when the team starts to lose? Ask the Blackhawks fans. At least the Hawks won some cups before the dip. Oilers have the oldest team in the league and the duo are starting nudge towards 30. They have do not have any real legit prospects coming up, so they need rely on UFA and cast offs. And that is before we talk about their goalies. Until the oilers get a goalie? There is a massive cliff coming up

Edmonton sold out every single game during a 10 season long playoff drought. This city and fanbase is no stranger to losing.

 

[John Mandalorian]

Happy Edmonton managed to keep the Oilers, and is a successful business.

The article mentions that Oilers revenue was tops due to playoff success. Going to the Finals means that the revenue number is the peak to be expected. What's the bottom (no playoffs)? Would it be half (same as Calgary last year mentioned in the article)?

Houston Oilers does have a nice ring to it.

 

[Soundwave]

It's actually really the 2006 Finals run that did (well before McDavid). After that they were a regular sell-out even with high ticket prices and a losing record. Getting the new arena obviously helps, and then you land McDavid and are in the Finals things will go through the roof.

The large boom in population in Alberta plays a big part too, it isn't the 90s anymore where Edmonton's metro population was like 850k. It's now like over 1.6 million and NHL hockey is the no.1, no.2, and no.3 ticket in town.

Edmonton is now the population base right around what Vancouver had in the mid-90s.

 

[McFlash97]

you clearly can not recognize a PR puff piece when you see . Lets see where we are in 5 to 6 years when McDavid and Leon are on their last legs and the Oilers are a top of players no trade lists. I took in a game at their new arena. The prices are insane across the board. Like with all teams, lets see how well off they are when they sucking wind in the bottom of the league.

McDavid will only be 33/34 in 5 to 6 years still dunking on bums. Draisaitl seems to be getting better in his late 20s. So even if they regress, they still dunk on 80 % of the league. Imagine a 2nd line of McDrai instead of first line, which would consist of some new young guns willing to come here to play alongside greatness. Thats like Seguin and Benn... except much better. League's better.

Oilers arent hitting the gutter anytime soon. Deal with it.

 

[HuGort]

They also sitting on

I thought this was worth sharing. A financial success story of a small market team. The Oilers were the highest revenue team in the NHL in 2023/24… astounding, when considering their competitors and currency differential.

I know some will point out to the lottery wins, which undoubtedly helped them get to where they are today but I think it speaks more to the loyalty of the die hard hockey fans of Northern Alberta. Let’s not forget they were selling out the old barn during the decade of darkness.

All of that said. I wish there was more balance with Katz overcharging in many areas… almost all… but I guess that’s business… “if they will pay it, we will charge it”.

Edmonton Journal Article

They also sitting on top of one of the largest oil deposits in the world.

 

[KeithIsActuallyBad]

Easy to forget that the team was quote, "Wandering in the desert" prior to McDavid's arrival. The team still can't scout for shit. McDavid has far more to do with the Oilers' success than the billionaire fanboy who keeps relics of the decade of darkness around.

 

[Toby91ca]

I haven't read through this much or did any side research on it either, what is driving the high revenue? Why is it they had more revenue than Toronto for example? Is it simply because they went to game 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals....so extra playoff money....that must be it right? I know TV money is probably going to be mostly even as they would share the larger contract. Toronto would get more gate revenue I'm sure per game....EDM has slightly higher capacity, but only a few hundred and ticket prices in Toronto are surely higher.

 

[TheFinalWord]

I haven't read through this much or did any side research on it either, what is driving the high revenue? Why is it they had more revenue than Toronto for example? Is it simply because they went to game 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals....so extra playoff money....that must be it right? I know TV money is probably going to be mostly even as they would share the larger contract. Toronto would get more gate revenue I'm sure per game....EDM has slightly higher capacity, but only a few hundred and ticket prices in Toronto are surely higher.

Yes. But that's not anything to take lightly. Edmonton loves hockey and will do well regardless. If Toronto made it to Game 7, I don't think there is a team in the league that would have higher revenue. The prices would be insane. But that doesn't invalidate the success in Edmonton in any way. I remember those dark days where it looked like they were gone. I'm glad they're not.

 

[Toby91ca]

Yes. But that's not anything to take lightly. Edmonton loves hockey and will do well regardless. If Toronto made it to Game 7, I don't think there is a team in the league that would have higher revenue. The prices would be insane. But that doesn't invalidate the success in Edmonton in any way. I remember those dark days where it looked like they were gone. I'm glad they're not.

Absolutely not....was just surprising to see they had the highest....well, looks like they shared the lead with Toronto....but still...surprising....as you suggest, they had a very dark period....which I guess is what this thread is all about...coming back from that. I'll say I was surprised about their dark period as well.