If you search Ticketmaster’s website for Games 3 and 4 of the Edmonton Oilers’ first round playoff series against the Ducks, you’ll see many sections at Anaheim’s Honda Center highlighted in blue, a sign that there’s still decent seat availability.

But will Oilers fans swoop in from north of the border and snap up those seats?

Early indications are that they won’t. It’s not that they don’t love their Oilers enough. It’s just that there are so many other factors at play that are keeping them away from Southern California.

NewWest Travel offers Oilers travel packages, but interest in Anaheim has been low.

“It’s surprising,” said associate manager Kari-Lynn Stanners. “We didn’t get a lot of calls for Anaheim travel. I mean, we got a few, but not like in the past years, that’s for sure.”

Stanners believes that there are a lot of factors at play. Some of it may come from the fact that the Oilers have been on two extended playoff runs over the past two seasons, and fans are simply tapped out. Some of it comes from the rising cost of flights, and the weakness of the Canadian dollar. And then there’s the movement to not support American business as long as President Donald Trump threatens tariffs and refers to Canada as a potential 51st state.

“With the extra costs and the dollar and everything combined, I think it’s probably factoring into people’s decisions,” she said. “And maybe there’s a little bit of playoff fatigue, I don’t know. It’s been a lot of travel and a lot of rounds in the last few years. So, that plays into it, too.

“And maybe people just waiting to see the Oilers go further.”

Let’s face it, in Oil Country, round one can sort of feel a bit like a dress rehearsal now. And, yes, with big fish like the Colorado Avalanche potentially lurking in the later rounds, it might be easy for fans to look past the Ducks, despite the Honda Center being a stone’s throw from Space Mountain.

We punched in a travel search for Anaheim, leaving Edmonton on April 24, returning April 27. Expedia shows cheapest options at just under $2,000 Canadian for flights and hotel. That doesn’t include price of tickets; the cheapest ones in Anaheim will set you back about $240 US each.

Tim Macdonell, the CEO of Elite Sports Tours, said interest in hockey travel is down, but there’s still a significant number of Oilers fans who will be heading to Anaheim.

“We have seen some softening in cross-border travel interest among Canadian hockey fans compared to previous playoff runs,” Macdonell wrote in an email. “Political tensions and the exchange rate are factors some fans are weighing, but the core of the Oilers’ travelling fanbase remains passionate about following the team on the road.

“For Games 3 and 4 in Anaheim, we’re still seeing meaningful interest in packages. Oilers fans have consistently been among the most dedicated travelling supporters in the league, and a playoff series with this much on the line tends to bring out the die-hards regardless of broader travel trends.”

He said he expects demand to grow as the Oilers progress in the playoffs.

Mike Waterman, the president and CEO of Visit Anaheim, said he’s optimistic that the playoff series will bring Oilers fans south.

“Canada remains one of Anaheim’s top two international markets and we know firsthand that fans will travel and plan entire trips around moments like the Stanley Cup playoffs,” Waterman wrote in an email.

“While broader economic factors are always part of the equation, the passion of hockey fans, especially in markets like Edmonton, continues to drive strong interest in once-in-a-lifetime experiences. This series is a great opportunity to welcome Canadian visitors and showcase everything Anaheim has to offer beyond the rink.”

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