Vancouver businesses are bracing themselves for what could be a rough winter as the NHL lockout body-checks their bottom line.
At Malone’s Bar and Grill on Seymour Street in Vancouver staff are preparing for a long drought.
“I suspect if the whole season went by we’d suffer 10 to 25 per cent in softer sales,” said Sam Yehia.
Malone’s isn’t the only restaurant locked out of a busy winter season.
Industry statistics estimate the public spends about $1 million each game night, which means downtown Vancouver could take a $40 million income hit.
Carolyn Bauer of the city’s Yellow Cab company warned if no one is out to watch games, no one is taking cabs home either.
“The loss is going to be horrendous for the taxi industry,” said Bauer, explaining how much business picks up on game night -- $50 per cabbie.
“$50 times 500 taxis in Vancouver over 41 games is a lot of money lost for revenue for the guys.”
All eyes are on the NHL and the players association as their ongoing dispute about how revenues are divided keeps the game on ice.
No one is holding their breath, including the Canucks for Kids fund, which can raise as much as $50,000 for the charity are one game.
For now, fans and charities alike are left to find other ways to raise money during the long winter months.
And during that time, businesses may have to tighten their belts said Yehia.
“You can’t hire people, you can’t grow the business,” he said.
“You lose that atmosphere on game night, which is so special on game night.”
With a report from CTV British Columbia’s Jon Woodward
