It’s been almost three months since the Vancouver Canucks lost a heartbreaking Game 7 to the Edmonton Oilers at Rogers Arena and we’re learning how much it cost to police the series.
The Vancouver Police Department (VPD) says it spent $664,391 on policing the seven home games during the playoffs.
Round 1 cost $217,913, while Round 2 cost $446,479. The latter saw a jump, in part, due to the outdoor viewing party at Oak Meadows Park, the VPD says.
The VPD breaks down why it cost more than half a million dollars.
“During the Canucks’ playoff run, we deployed police officers, VPD Traffic Authority, and Community Safety Personnel around the arena and throughout the downtown core, as well as to the live site on the west side. As the team went deeper into the playoffs and more fans came to celebrate, we deployed additional officers to provide added comfort and safety,” said Sgt. Steve Addison in an email to CityNews.
The VPD didn’t confirm whether this amount is typical for a Canucks playoff run, but added policing major sporting or cultural events eats up a lot of resources because the crowds can cause public safety challenges.
Meanwhile, the Canucks will soon be back in action. Training camp runs from Sept. 19 to 22 in Penticton.
The team’s first pre-season game is against the Seattle Kraken on Sept. 24 at home, with puck drop on the regular season getting underway on Oct. 9 against the Calgary Flames at Rogers Arena.