While hockey fans remain disappointed over the NHL lockout, businesses close to hockey arenas in cities across the country are feeling the pinch from reduced sales.
Data published by credit and debit card processor Moneris Solutions shows that fast food businesses, restaurants, and drinking establishments near NHL hockey arenas have seen an overall decrease of around 11 percent in spending compared to last year.
Drinking establishments closest to the arenas have been hit the hardest, with almost 35 percent loss in sales compared to a game day in 2011. Fast food businesses and restaurants have experienced more moderate losses at around 7 percent and 11 percent respectively.
However, the upside is that businesses outside the arena vicinity are seeing a growth in sales.
According to the Moneris Spending Report, fast food businesses, restaurants, and drinking establishments outside arena vicinities in Winnipeg, Vancouver, Toronto, Montréal, and Calgary have seen an increase of close to 6 percent compared to last year.
“While overall spending at establishments near hockey arenas is down, it would appear that Canadians are simply choosing to stick closer to home,” Jim Baumgartner, president and CEO of Moneris Solutions, said in a press release.
Some experts have suggested that Canadians will spend the money they would normally spend at hockey arenas elsewhere during the lockout, which would balance the loss of spending to some extent.
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