Toronto bars, restaurants enjoyed sales bump during round 1 of NHL playoffs: data

Muriel Draaisma · CBC News

· Posted: May 13, 2025 5:00 AM EDT | Last Updated: 21 minutes ago

Toronto Maple Leafs fans packed bars and restaurants adjacent Scotiabank Arena during circular 1 of the NHL hockey playoff bid against the Ottawa Senators, according to user spending data.

Spending by customers astatine bars and restaurants adjacent the arena accrued by 5 per cent during Game 1 and peaked with a 30 per cent summation during Game 4, according to information provided by Moneris, a commerce institution that processes payments.

Spending increases tapered disconnected successful circular 1 aft that game, according to Moneris. 

The Maple Leafs could person taken the best-of-seven bid successful Game 4 of circular one, making it a four-game sweep, but the Senators won that crippled 4-3 successful overtime to support their playoff hopes alive. The Senators bushed the Leafs again successful Game 5 by 4-0, but the Leafs bushed the Senators 4-2 successful Game 6 to beforehand to circular 2 of the Eastern Conference finals.

Game 4, however, was pivotal, which added to the excitement, according to David Litwin, manager of outer communications for Moneris.

"When we instrumentality a look astatine the results for circular 1 for the Toronto Maple Leafs, what we spot is immoderate beauteous important increases for section bars and restaurants," Litwin said.

WATCH | Tariff combat doesn't support Leafs fans away: 

'As the stakes get higher, spending gets higher'

While spending information for circular 2 against the Florida Panthers has not been released yet, Litwin said the past clip the Maple Leafs made it to circular 2 of NHL playoffs successful 2023, the spending summation was 126 per cent adjacent Scotiabank Arena and 113 per cent for the metropolis arsenic whole.

"Typically, arsenic the stakes get higher, spending gets higher," helium said. 

"Round 2 occurrence is thing unique. Round 2 occurrence for the Leafs could besides beryllium a batch of occurrence for businesses arsenic well."

Litwin said the information besides shows however important instrumentality zones, specified arsenic Maple Leaf Square, are — not lone arsenic a hub for radical to gather, but besides arsenic a root of section business. 

'Everyone's successful a bully mood'

So far, circular 2 has been bully for astatine slightest 1 edifice downtown.

RendezViews, a ample patio that screens Maple Leafs games, is enjoying its champion twelvemonth successful immoderate time, wide manager Vince Farago said Monday. The edifice has astir 120 tables. 

"The past mates games person been conscionable chaotic with however galore fans are coming out," Farago said.

"Everyone's successful a bully mood, everyone's dressed up," helium said. "The further the Leafs go, it's bully for everyone astir the city, not conscionable for wealth wise, but you know, emotionally — everyone conscionable seems to beryllium close with it."

Game 5 betwixt the Maple Leafs and Panthers volition beryllium held Wednesday successful Toronto and Game 6 is scheduled for Friday successful Sunrise, Fla.