Fans of the Vancouver Canucks aren’t the only ones trying to come to terms with the team’s playoff dreams being dashed on Monday night, following a Game 7 loss to the Edmonton Oilers.
The local restaurant industry is also reeling because they were making money over the past month.
“Games on the weekend weren’t ideal for us because we’re typically busy on the weekends anyway and people watching hockey tend to hang out and don’t spend like you would if you were turning your tables,” explained Ian Tostenson, president and CEO of the British Columbia Restaurant and Food Services Association (BCRFA).
“But games like last night are incredible because it’s a Monday night and a game on a Thursday, would be great.”
He says the playoff run was welcomed by eateries who’ve been struggling for a while.
“It was a nice bridge between winter and patio season, and having the Canucks on a tear like this has been really, really good. We are going to miss it. No question.”
Tostenson quantifies how much money they made.
“The industry … it does $50 million a day in sales, that’s an average day for the restaurant industry in B.C. I think a game would probably add a couple of million dollars to that. It’s cash flow, it’s not necessarily putting a lot on the bottom line of restaurants right now because of all the costs.
“Hopefully, we get some pick-up with the Edmonton Oilers series and some people hang in there for a while but it’s not going to be like having the home team.”
Those figures include in-house food and alcohol sales, as well as delivery and take-out orders.
“Before the pandemic, delivery/take-out was about 11 per cent of our industry, now it’s about 30 per cent.”
Tostenson stresses most restaurants benefitted, but likely none more than restaurants near Rogers Arena in Downtown Vancouver.
“Their business would increase a couple hundred per cent.”
With the Canucks out, he says the focus is on preparing to usher in summer patio season, once it stops raining.
“Around Mother’s Day, we had a good long weekend weather-wise, so we’re seeing patios re-emerging. They make a big difference. A patio will increase your revenues by about 30 per cent.”
Tostenson maintains there continues to be a labour shortage across the industry, predominantly in kitchens, not serving staff.
“It’s probably going to be another year of about 60 per cent of the industry not making any money right now, but it’s creating cashflow with patios and hockey. We’ll have other sports coming up and concerts — that all makes a big difference for us.”