ALEXANDER GALLARDO
The Edmonton Oilers may have been the worst team in the NHL this season, but their fans have already forgotten it.
The Oilers announced today they are increasing the cap on their season-tickets sales by 500 to a total of 13,500 due to popular demand
"We have so many passionate fans in Oil Country," Oilers president and CEO Pat LaForge. said in a news release. "The combination of continued sellouts at Rexall Place, high season seat renewal rates and, most recently the excitement over the downtown arena project and this season's first overall pick in the NHL Draft, have all contributed to increased demand for season tickets. As always, season tickets that are made available are distributed in the fairest way possible - in priority order to members of the Oilers Season Seat Registry."
The Oilers will make the additional 500 seats and any non-renewed season tickets available to their Registry members in June.
Aging Rexall Place seats 16,839 fans and has been sold-out for years. Oilers' owner Daryl Katz is spearheading a plan for a new arena as part of a rejuvenation project for downtown Edmonton.
For the first time in franchise history, the Oilers have the first pick overall in the June entry draft and is looking to take either Windsor Spitfires winger Taylor Hall or Plymouth Whalers centre Tyler Seguin.