A day after the Edmonton Oilers secured a spot in the playoffs, hockey fans, business owners, and police are preparing for the playoff season.

At United Cycle in Old Strathcona, they’re preparing for a rush of customers by ordering double the Oilers merchandise than usual.

“There’s a whole new batch of merchandise, everything from tattoos and face paint and streamers, and stuff like this,” Kelly Hodgson at United Cycle said.

Nearby, fans can watch the game in bars or restaurants along Whyte Avenue – the same area where celebrations turned chaotic back in 2006.

Edmonton police are busy preparing for the celebrations, and said it will cost between $50,000 and $60,000 per night to patrol the streets – but the playoff season is expected to be calmer.

“Experience is a good teacher, and we definitely know where we have to prepare and what we have to look at and those plans have been underway for some time,” Deputy EPS Chief Brian Simpson said.

Police wouldn’t say exactly where the extra resources will be deployed, but they’re reminding fans they will be cracking down on public drinking and jaywalking during the playoffs.

Eleven years ago, more than $2 million was spent on police resources and 900 people were arrested.

This time around, police have brought in crowd control experts from the United Kingdom for insight on how to handle those situations.

Meanwhile, those not quite lucky enough to get a ticket to a playoff game at Rogers Place can watch it across the street at The Mercer Tavern – where managers plan to bring in a DJ and extra staff on game nights.

Work is still underway in much of the Ice District surrounding Rogers Place – and the Oilers are working to find a way to engage with fans outside the new arena.

“Obviously, like everything else in this industry, we’re very superstitious about jumping too far ahead until it’s locked down, but after last night our whole organization is busy in meetings around the city today just finalizing plans,” Stew MacDonald with the Oilers Entertainment Group said.

Tickets for home playoff games mostly spoken for

At this point, the Oilers are guaranteed at least two playoff games at home, and the team says tickets will be hard to get, as the majority have already been spoken for by season ticket holders.

Those season ticket holders were given the first chance to reserve playoff tickets, and it’s an opportunity most took.

“I can tell you the percentage is the highest we’ve ever seen, well over 90 percent,” MacDonald said.

Season ticket holders also have the option of entering a draw to buy more tickets next week – and whatever is left will go on sale Monday, April 10 at 10 a.m.

Oilers officials said the number of tickets will be in the hundreds, not thousands, and they’re expected to be sold “within minutes”.

However, on game days, the team is expected to release more tickets and alert fans through email – a service thousands of people have signed up for.

Starting on Friday, season ticket holders will be able to sell their playoff tickets to other fans at a price they set through the NHL ticket exchange – proposed exchanges are already taking place on Kijiji – up to $500 and $600 a seat.

The Oilers wouldn’t say what tickets will cost; only confirming the price will be comparable to what season ticket holders are paying. Round 1 ranges from an average of $125 per seat in the upper bowl, to about $213 per seat in the lower bowl, plus more than $300 for club seats.

In addition, tickets will not be issued in a hard copy – only digital. Oilers officials said they decided to go digital to avoid ticket fraud.

With files from Shanelle Kaul and Dan Grummett