Take a closer look at how last year’s playoff season impacted the On Premise and examine how current performance is shaping up in comparison.
Last year’s momentum
In 2024, playoff games drove measurable spikes in On Premise sales:
- Toronto saw velocity uplifts of up to 24% week-on-week during Maple Leafs games on April 24th and 27th.
- Edmonton experienced a 42% jump in sales velocity vs the same days of the week preceding the games during the Oilers’ Game 6 on June 21st, with a 19% increase across Alberta.
- Winnipeg Jets games on April 21st and 23rd led to an 18% uplift in sales.
2025 Playoffs: Early impact already visible
This year’s playoffs are already generating strong results:
- Quebec saw a 19% increase in sales velocity in the week ending April 27th, with the highest bill counts recorded since 2023.
- Alberta posted a +9% increase, and Edmonton surged +15% in the same week. Alberta has now seen 10 consecutive weeks of year-over-year growth.
- Toronto and Ontario saw +16% and +10% increases respectively, as the Leafs faced off against the Senators.
Consumer engagement
- 30% of consumers say they’ve visited or plan to visit bars and restaurants to watch the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs.
- 57% of visitors are choosing beer, making it the top beverage of choice.
- 83% of visitors say they are very likely to engage with promotions from brands during playoff games.
With the Stanley Cup Final expected to begin in early-to-mid June, and Canadian teams still in contention, the momentum is likely to continue.
CGA by NIQ continues to monitor sales performance across Canada’s bars and restaurants, offering a geographically balanced view of On Premise trends. The data tracks minute-by-minute sales across thousands of venues, from chains to independents, in every major province. For more information, get in touch with Mitch Stefani, Director – On Premise, here.
