While the Vancouver Canucks are set to battle in the playoffs starting next week, hockey fans, restaurant owners and police are gearing up for the action.
But after last year's infamous Vancouver riot, how and where many people watch playoff games may change as the city is encouraging smaller neighbourhood celebrations. During this playoff run, there will be no big outdoor screens and TransLink may shutdown SkyTrain stations if crowds grow too large.
Restaurant owners are still pumped about the increased business and cash flow they should profit from during the games.
"It's huge and it's incremental. If we didn't have playoff hockey at this time of year, it would be really bad. It's probably about a million dollars a game for all restaurants in B.C.," said Ian Tostenson, the president of the British Columbia Restaurant Association.
There will be a heavy police presence downtown before and after playoff games, so restaurant owners hope it's the hooligans who stay away.
"Maybe we'll have real, serious hockey people downtown, instead of people looking for trouble. That could be the difference," Shark Club owner John Teti said.
Even if crowds are smaller this year, downtown restaurants are confident the playoffs will pay off.
"I can't imagine there'll be a seat to be had once the puck drops at 7 o'clock," Kingston Taphouse manager Chase Macleod said.
With a report from CTV British Columbia's Shannon Paterson
