If making the playoffs wasn’t enough for Edmonton Oilers fans, those who buy in to 50/50 are in for a real treat come Wednesday.
The Edmonton Oilers Foundation announced Monday the 50/50 jackpot went unclaimed on Saturday, March 25, 2017. The $76,125 jackpot will carry forward to the Oilers first home playoff game this Wednesday.
“It’s exciting for Oilers fans,” said Natalie Minckler, executive director of the Edmonton Oilers Community Foundation.
“I have a sense that our building is going to be vibrating on Wednesday night. It’s been a long time since our Oiler fans have experienced playoffs and this is just one more reason to celebrate.”
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Fans at Wednesday’s game will be able to buy 50/50 tickets with the jackpot starting at $76,125. Minckler said people can buy up to $100 worth of tickets per transaction.
“You can get your $100 worth of 50/50 tickets and then go to the back of the line and line up again and get $100 more. We just want to make sure that we try and keep it fair and equitable for all the fans in attendance.”
Minckler said there will more ticket sellers on the floor and the equipment has been tested to keep up with the anticipated demand.
Half of the jackpot will go to the lucky winner, with the rest going towards the Edmonton Oilers Community Foundation and Ronald McDonald House Charities of Northern Alberta.
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This is just the second time in Oilers’ history the 50/50 prize has gone unclaimed. The last time was at Rexall Place when the carry over amount was more than $48,000.
Back in July 2014, the Edmonton Eskimos went through a similar situation when a jackpot of more than $70,000 went unclaimed.
A total of $71,732 was carried over to a future game, drawing a huge crowd of buyers. A 20-year-old man named Connor Croken went on to win the $348,534 jackpot.
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The puck drops at 8 p.m. Wednesday at Rogers Place.