Canucks fans are not the only people devastated by the team's early playoff exit.
Tri-City businesses that depend on the popularity of Vancouver's NHL team will be feeling the financial pinch after the club lost its first-round series against the L.A. Kings in Game 5 Sunday night.
Cheryl Semenuik, managing partner of the Golden Spike Pub in Port Moody, said a seven-game playoff round can represent from $50,000 to $100,000 in extra sales for her business.
"A Tuesday night is $2,000 in sales on a regular night," she said. "On a hockey game night, I can do $8,000 to $10,000."
Less business means a loss of hours for bar staff and security personnel, Semenuik said. She will also be delaying several building and maintenance repairs, which are usually scheduled during playoff time, when her revenues are up.
Woody's Pub manager Victoria Cartwright said game days can lead to a 25% increase in sales at her bar, particularly during the week, when business is usually a bit slower.
"We are sorry to see them lose but we are going to keep plugging along with our other promotions," she said. "We still have the [MLS Vancouver] Whitecaps and all other promo stuff."
It is not just bars and restaurants that will suffer thanks to the Canucks' early playoff exit.
Jersey sales have dropped dramatically at Jason Van Bergen's Corner Sports in Port Coquitlam and a section of the store dedicated to the team will be taken down this week.
"It has been bad," he said. "The unfortunate start to the series did not bode well for sales."
Canucks apparel is an important part of Van Bergen's spring and summer budget planning. The problem is compounded if the team decides to make major personnel changes in the off-season, which could make much of his player jersey stock obsolete.
"If you got Luongo or one of those players that may be on their way out, then definitely there is a loss for sure," he said. "For most of the players, we just put them in a box and wait for next year."
Van Bergen is hoping for a silver lining with the early playoff exit, believing it could lead to increased sales on the sporting goods end of his business.
With hockey fans now able to unglue themselves from their television sets, he believes more people will get outside and enjoy playing sports, rather than watching them.
