Take a closer look at how last year’s playoff season impacted dine-in establishments and see how this year’s numbers compare.
Fallout from last year
In 2024, playoff games led to a sharp increase in sales at on-premises establishments:
- Toronto saw 24% week-over-week velocity increases during the Maple Leafs’ April 24 and 27 games.
- Edmonton saw a 42% increase in sales velocity vs. the same days of the week leading up to the games during the Oilers’ Game 6 on June 21; Alberta saw a 19% increase.
- The Winnipeg Jets’ games on April 21 and 23 resulted in an 18% increase in sales.
2025 Playoffs: Already Significant Repercussions
This year’s playoffs are already having significant repercussions:
- Quebec saw a 19% increase in sales velocity during the week ending April 27 and the highest number of invoices recorded since 2023.
- Alberta saw a 9% increase, and Edmonton saw a 15% increase in the same week. Alberta has so far seen 10 consecutive weeks of year-over-year growth.
- Toronto and Ontario saw an increase of 16% and 10% respectively as the Maple Leafs faced the Senators.
Consumer Engagement
- 30% of consumers say they have been to bars or restaurants to watch 2025 playoff games or plan to do so.
- 57% of visitors order beer, making it the most important drink.
- 83% of visitors say they are very likely to interact with brand promotions during playoff games.
With the Stanley Cup Finals scheduled to begin in June and Canadian teams remaining in contention, this momentum is likely to continue.
NIQ’s CGA continues to track sales at bars and restaurants across Canada and provides a geographically weighted snapshot of on-premise trends. This data tracks minute-by-minute sales at thousands of establishments (both independent and chain) in every major province. For more information, contact Mitch Stefani, Director of On-Premises, here .
