Ice District watch parties return for Oilers playoffs

Oilers preparing to host fans for playoffs The next time fans cheer on the Oilers at Rogers Place will be during the playoffs.

The Edmonton Oilers are bringing back watch parties inside and outside Rogers Place when the Stanley Cup Playoffs begin in the coming days.

Oilers fans will once again be able to watch home and away games at Ice District Plaza and Scotiabank Fan Park.

"If it's not broke, don't fix it," Oilers Entertainment Group president Stew MacDonald told CTV News Edmonton. "We probably got one of the greatest places to attend a sporting event in North America. It's really what our fans have created here both inside and outside Rogers Place. We're picking up where we left off last year."

The watch parties are for all ages and free but space is limited. Doors open 90 minutes before puck drop.

For away games, Rogers Place will host watch parties for $5 and net proceeds will go to the team's community foundation.

"If someone's coming in, whether it's from the west end of the city or driving down from Grande Prairie for a game, whether inside the building or in Ice District watching from outside, we want them to have a great Oilers experience and make a lifetime memory," MacDonald said.

The regular season ends on Thursday and the playoffs begin as early as Saturday.

It's unclear when the Oilers, who have home-ice advantage in the first round, will play their first playoff game.

Single-game tickets for the first round went on sale Tuesday morning.

Tickets for Rogers Place watch parties go on sale next Monday at noon online.

The Oilers have two more regular season games on Wednesday and Thursday.