I didn't get it until I lived in Ottawa for a spell. The arena is in the middle of suburban hell that's hard to access by transit and a longish drive for most fans. There's nothing to do aside from watching the game itself, you just go home right after. And you'll be stuck in the parking lot for as long as half an hour trying to get out of a sold out game. Similar reason as to why Panthers have historically struggled so much with attendance.
What is the 3rd most popular Canadian team?
- Thread starter Kshahdoo
- Start date
- Oct 9, 2012
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Along with all this, the Canucks also win the overseas fans too!
torontosun.com
Go fith!
Toronto Maple Leafs are most popular NHL team overseas: Study
The Toronto Maple Leafs are the most popular NHL team in Europe according to a study by sportsbook comparison site, My Betting Sites Canada.
torontosun.com
Go fith!
ACLEVERNAME
schadenfreude
- Jan 6, 2010
- 6,298
- 4,816
'Overseas' doesn't count because they just latch onto whatever is popular or follow a single player that was born in and or around their area. Fairweather 'fans' IMO.Along with all this, the Canucks also win the overseas fans too!
View attachment 843398
Toronto Maple Leafs are most popular NHL team overseas: Study
The Toronto Maple Leafs are the most popular NHL team in Europe according to a study by sportsbook comparison site, My Betting Sites Canada.
Go fith!
- Oct 9, 2012
- 28,956
- 25,665
Oilers fan here and I'm going to say the Canucks.
And that's simply based on the size of the market. Metro Vancouver has nearly twice the population the Alberta capital region does. And then you have the rest of BC, which itself is larger than Alberta (ca. 5 vs 4 million residents) and doesn't split the fandom among 2 teams.
Now at least in my (personal and very annecdotal) experience, the Oilers have more of a following in other parts of the country - I lived in Winnipeg in the mid 2000s for instance and there were a ton of Oilers fans there before the Jets returned. Surely many switched allegiances since, but juding by Winnipeg home games vs Edmonton, many did not). Also, I'd be willing to bet that a larger percentage of Edmontonians are Oilers fans compared to the percentage of Vancouver residents who actively cheer for the Canucks. Still, the difference in population is too great. If Vancouver stays competitive for a few years, I think we'll see way more of those casuals / current non-hockey fans jump on the wagon of success and the popularity of the team will really baloon. The Oilers are maxed-out in their fandom. Vancouver has a room to expand into.
And that's simply based on the size of the market. Metro Vancouver has nearly twice the population the Alberta capital region does. And then you have the rest of BC, which itself is larger than Alberta (ca. 5 vs 4 million residents) and doesn't split the fandom among 2 teams.
Now at least in my (personal and very annecdotal) experience, the Oilers have more of a following in other parts of the country - I lived in Winnipeg in the mid 2000s for instance and there were a ton of Oilers fans there before the Jets returned. Surely many switched allegiances since, but juding by Winnipeg home games vs Edmonton, many did not). Also, I'd be willing to bet that a larger percentage of Edmontonians are Oilers fans compared to the percentage of Vancouver residents who actively cheer for the Canucks. Still, the difference in population is too great. If Vancouver stays competitive for a few years, I think we'll see way more of those casuals / current non-hockey fans jump on the wagon of success and the popularity of the team will really baloon. The Oilers are maxed-out in their fandom. Vancouver has a room to expand into.
This goes well beyond social media. Vancouver is a ghost town for fans when they suck.
- Oct 13, 2018
- 3,664
- 3,947
It's probably a good thing objectively, what incentive does the team have to improve if fans continue to sell out games for bottom of the barrel seasons?
The league basically forced the Oilers to improve with McDavid, management sure didn't care up until that point.
It amazes me how much fans argue about this 
Caring about how popular your team is means you you don't have anything better to care about
Caring about how popular your team is means you you don't have anything better to care about 
Kimota
ROY DU NORD!!!
I'll say this, we are talking about attraction outside of their local fanbase but inside the fanbase, it's hard to see more dedicated fans than the Flames fans have for their own team. It really feel like a village cheering for their town team "do or die" type of vibe. If only all fanbases would be as in love for their teams than Flames fans...
Teams go through phases. It's a natural cycle.
Despite the DoD, Edmonton was still strongly supported by the fans. Whether that makes sense or not is another discussion. Personally, I think dropping your team because they struggle and jumping back on when they win is pretty lame, but to each their own.
- Oct 9, 2012
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As a lifelong lower mainlander, I disagree. I find it to be a very bandwagon city. Always have.
I also like the Canucks, so I'm not just being a salty Oilers fan
- Oct 13, 2018
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There's just too much to do here and COL is far too high to justify spending $1k+ taking the wife and kids to see the local team get shit kicked.
Personally I strongly support pressuring the team to be better by saving my money. A ten year sellout streak during a ten year playoff drought just emboldens shitty management decisions.
edit for clarity: i don't expect a cup contender every year, just don't be mathematically eliminated by January.
- Oct 9, 2012
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As someone who lived in the lower mainland for over 30 years, I know that it’s wrong. Both have probably an equal amount of loyal fans, the problem is with Vancouver being so big, the “bandwagon” fans are much easier to spot
First of all, gross exaggeration. Secondly, to the extent what you're saying is true, I'm glad that people have better things to do in Vancouver than show up to boo a perennially mismanaged loser. Oilers fans kept showing up to that building in the wake of absolutely gross incompetence and "old boys club-ism" that far exceeded the worst of Benning. Or at least that's what they like to tell you. It makes no sense to me to fill the pockets of people who are actively screwing you and destroying the thing you love for years on end. Many Oilers fans on this board seem to take great pride in it, though they also like to overlook the fact that attendance numbers did decline during the horrible years. In any case, it's bizarre.
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Praetorian Caps
Registered User
- May 15, 2018
- 507
- 647
Edmonton, just by virtue of having Connor McDavid, one of, if not the, best players in The NHL.
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The Oilers weren't just struggling. They were being actively destroyed by horrendous management caused by an owner who was more interested in rubbing elbows with his (idiot) childhood heroes than putting together a solid team for the dedicated fans of your city. Continuing to pay that guy top dollar to go and watch that crap was dumb, not "passionate". Catch a game in person here and there, sure. But season tickets? For that? Unless you're rolling in it or you're a company looking for freebies to hand out to clients, you're signing up to be actively disrespected.
Agree to disagree.
Feel free to get bent out of shape over my opinion. I just call it like I see it.
My friend. I believe I was doing exactly what you claim to be doing. What do you think, I'm sitting over here frothing at the mouth? Lol.
- Oct 9, 2012
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Both fanbases have a bandwagon fan base, all teams do. It’s just more noticeable with larger markets
Bounces R Way
Registered User
- Oct 9, 2012
- 28,956
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Probably one of Vegas or Colorado, both are honorary Canadian teams for outting Edmonton in hilarious fashionsIt's actually the Boston Bruins
Satire
Registered User
- Nov 20, 2016
- 2,979
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Oilers have a very loyal fanbase. Community fought hard in the late 90s and 2000s to keep that team. Generally have a fantastic presence in the community too.
No arguing in terms of raw numbers though Vancouver has the 3rd largest fan base though.
Czechboy
Easy schedules rule!
- Apr 15, 2018
- 23,295
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And yet... No riots after in beautiful Edmonton, Alberta. Much better real estate pricing as well.
I'll see myself out
- Oct 9, 2012
- 28,956
- 25,665
They did, in 06. You need to make the finals in order to riot!
Edmonton also plays second fiddle when it comes to riots
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