A deep run by the Vancouver Canucks in the National Hockey League playoffs can mean a lot more than simply raising the hopes and dreams of team fans.
It can raise the bottom line of sports-connected business as well.
Dan Kowalenko, owner of Fan Fever in Nanaimo North Town Centre, said 80 per cent of sales in the store comes from the National Hockey League, and 70 per cent of that comes from the Vancouver Canucks.
So to see the team make it to the third round is huge, but it does take some planning. Fortunately, Kowalenko had 16 years to plan for this third round.
Kowalenko bought the store in 1995, one year after the Canucks last made it to the Stanley Cup final.
“I heard stories from the previous owner of customers lined up out the door and jerseys being sold right out of the boxes,” he said. “I’ve had that vision in my head, but have never seen it for obvious reasons.”
Ricky Thind, manager of Game On Sports in Woodgrove Centre, said having the Canucks in the playoffs is like having a second Christmas shopping season.
“We hit our budget last month and look to do so again this month,” he said. “Stock is going out the door as fast as it is coming in. I had a weekend off and on Monday the store looked half empty.”
Ryan Kesler’s No. 17 jersey is the popular choice for Canucks fans, but hats, car flags, player T-shirts, women’s clothing, baby jerseys and sleepers are also moving quickly.
But fans can be fickle and there’s nothing like a losing streak to keep a wallet in the pocket.
“Up to Game 3 of the Chicago series, we were hitting it,” said Thind. “After that we dropped off and Game 7 was our worst day of the playoffs. I think we did $200.”
But the Canucks won Game 7 on a Saturday night and by Sunday the fans were back on the bandwagon and sales were up.
Dave Waugh, owner of the Old City Station Pub, calls himself a huge Canucks fan, but it’s also good for business to see the team advance to the third round.
He said there were some tense moments during the Game 7 overtime against Chicago from both a personal and business point of view.
“Game night is a full house of about 200 people and we see a good 30-per cent jump in sales,” he said.
Louie Telletier, manager of the Wellington Pub, said crowd sizes depend on game times and day of the week, but it always means more people in seats.
“A Monday night might mean 80 people instead of 40, but Saturdays we will be up to 200 people. It’s loud and a sea of blue jerseys. You don’t even have to be watching the game to know who is winning,” he said. “We also see a spike in business a half hour before the game at the liquor store with people heading home to watch.”
Kowalenko said there is some chance involved in business planning for the playoffs and depending how the Canucks do on any given year, he might have a store full of stock that carries over to the next season or is sold out by June.
“You look at the playoff matches and order stock of the popular teams,” he said. “Car flags were big, but today it’s jerseys – men’s, ladies, kids. It reminds me a lot of the Olympics with entire families coming in and buying gear for the playoffs.”