The Edmonton Oilers are experiencing a significant decline in attendance and ticket sales at Rogers Place, with over 840 unsold tickets for an upcoming game against the Minnesota Wild on Oct. 20, according to the article.
The Oilers drew an announced attendance of 16,167 for a recent home game—the second-lowest total since moving into Rogers Place, which has a listed capacity of 18,347. Outside of an Oct. 24 matchup against the Toronto Maple Leafs that sold out, ticket availability remains high across the upcoming homestand. For the Carolina Hurricanes game, nearly 1,400 tickets are available, and for the Oct. 28 Battle of Alberta against Calgary, more than 1,100 remain unsold.
Former season-ticket holders cite sharply rising prices as a primary reason for abandoning their subscriptions. Shannon Stenson, who held season tickets for four years, stated: “The price increases were crazy each season. You couldn’t sell most games, if you couldn’t go, without taking a loss.” Chris Curtola, another fan, noted that resale platforms like StubHub and SeatGeek have become more attractive options, with second-deck tickets selling for $40 to $50 compared to face-value prices starting at $91.75.
The resale market has fundamentally shifted dynamics. Season-ticket holders now regularly sell at losses, as buyers have learned to wait for price drops closer to game time. The Oilers also raised prices for the 2026 Stanley Cup playoffs and required season-seat holders to reserve spots for a potential Cup run; when the team lost in the first round, the remaining balance was applied to this season’s tickets, further frustrating some holders.
The Edmonton situation mirrors challenges across Canadian NHL markets. According to early season-ticket counts from Kalshi, the Ottawa Senators are selling 80 percent of seats despite reducing arena capacity by about 900 seats. The Calgary Flames sell 90 percent of tickets in their final Saddledome season, while the Winnipeg Jets sell 93 percent despite a strong start.
Beyond pricing, some fans cite the Oilers’ signing of winger Alex Formenton, one of five former Canadian junior national team members accused of sexual assault in 2018 (all were acquitted), as a reason to reduce attendance or avoid games entirely. Formenton was found to have broken Hockey Canada’s code of conduct and has since been reinstated.
Key facts
- Rogers Place attendance reached 16,167 for a recent home game, the second-lowest since the team moved into the arena
- Over 840 unsold tickets remain for the Oct. 20 game against Minnesota Wild, with resale tickets priced well below face value
- The Oct. 28 Calgary Flames game has more than 1,100 available tickets, and the Carolina Hurricanes matchup has nearly 1,400 unsold
- Former season-ticket holders cite sustained price increases as the main reason for cancellations
- Resale platforms have made it easier for fans to buy tickets at lower prices closer to game time
- The Ottawa Senators sell 80 percent of seats, Calgary Flames at 90 percent, and Winnipeg Jets at 93 percent capacity