Policing at NHL playoffs cost EPS nearly $1M in resources

Edmontonians can expect to see more police officers at major events throughout 2026. CTV News Edmonton's Miriam Valdes-Carletti explains.

Edmonton police were busy during the Oilers’ Stanley Cup Playoffs run last year, with 60 to 150 officers at the Ice District per game.

That came with a hefty price tag to the Edmonton Police Service (EPS) of $979,096 in unrecovered costs over 28 games.

“It costs EPS $1 million in resources, (but) it brings in millions of dollars in revenue to the city and different private institutions and public agencies,” said Dan Jones, chair of justice studies and Norquest College. “But the money doesn’t necessarily get back to the police, so it’s a cost to police and a benefit to everyone else.”

EPS attended 139 major policing events including 35 concerts, 80 sport events, nine festivals and seven protests.

Insp. Brad Stiksma said the number of major policing events is going up by about 10 per cent every year.

“The city is getting bigger,” said Stiksma. “When the crowds increase, we want to make sure that we have proper police dedicated to those events so that we can respond to whatever eventualities might happen during that event.”

He said the goal for police is to be a visible public presence.

“Not only is it a deterrent to crime or suspicious or unacceptable criminal behaviour, but it also shows that we’re there to engage with the community,” said Stiksma.

With files from CTV News Edmonton’s Miriam Valdes-Carletti