The Calgary Flames Foundation "postponed online 50/50 raffle ticket sales" before Game 1 of the Flames’ first-round playoff series with the Stars, according to Brodie Thomas of the CALGARY HERALD. The foundation in a tweet said that it "needs to work with its software partner to enhance the ticket purchasing system." Calgary Flames Foundation Exec Dir Candice Goudie said that she "isn't sure when ticket sales will resume." Thomas notes demand for NHL 50/50 tickets "exploded in Alberta" after the Alberta Gaming, Liquor & Cannabis Commission "made allowances for online ticket sales during the pandemic." Goudie: "No one anticipated that the appetite for online raffles would be this significant." The foundation's last raffle on Aug. 6 saw the prize pot grow to more than $895,000, with $1.79M in ticket sales. The Oilers' last raffle grew to more than $15M, but its prize value has been "called into question." Goudie "confirmed the Flames have been working with Ascend Fundraising Solutions, the same company that provided the online ticket sales infrastructure for the Oilers' 50/50 draw" (CALGARY HERALD, 8/12).
