Orange Surge explained: How Oilers fans made wearing the same color a home game tradition

Bryan Murphy

Orange Surge explained: How Oilers fans made wearing the same color a home game tradition image

There's the "C of Red" in Calgary. There's the "Winnipeg White Out." And then there's the "Orange Surge" in Edmonton. 

If you're watching any Oilers games on TV, it's impossible not to notice the sea of orange spread out throughout the arena at Rogers Place. The Edmonton fans don't mess around when supporting their hometown team. 

Supporters of the team have been donning orange apparel at games for a few years, separating themselves from other fan bases and wearing all one color to the games. 

That especially has been prevalent during the 2022 Stanley Cup playoffs, as the Oilers have made it to the Western Conference Final, where they are taking on the Avalanche. It's the first time they've made it this far in the postseason since 2006. 

With Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl at the helm, it's made for entertaining hockey. The fans in the stands will get their first opportunity in the conference finals to go all out in orange on Saturday, when the Oilers host the Avs for Game 3 of their series. 

Here is a look at why Edmonton fans all wear orange to Oilers games. 

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Why do Oilers fans wear orange at home games?

Fans wearing orange to games isn't anything new. It's been one of the team's primary colors since the organization was established in 1972 in the WHA. 

While the team originally had orange jerseys during its team in the WHA from 1972 to 1979, there was an orange jersey for the team in the NHL until 2015. That season, they introduced the team's Reebok alternate option. 

With the option for fans to buy and wear the jerseys, the "surge" of orange began to flood into the arena at Oilers games, filling the stadium with the bright color. 

After wearing it on occasion, the team ultimately decided to make the orange its primary home jersey in 2017 when Adidas took over as the makers of the sweaters. It's still the home option for Edmonton. 

Why aren't the Oilers wearing orange at home during the 2022 playoffs?

It's unclear exactly why the Oilers elected to go away from wearing their normal home jerseys, opting instead to don their navy blue alternate uniforms when playing at Rogers Place. 

Still, despite the change in jersey on the ice, it hasn't stopped the Oilers faithful from donning the orange in the stands. 

Bryan Murphy

Bryan Murphy Photo

Bryan Murphy joined The Sporting News in 2022 as the NHL/Canada content producer. Previously he worked for NBC Sports on their national news desk reporting on breaking news for the NFL, MLB, NBA and NHL, in addition to covering the 2020 and 2022 Olympic Games. A graduate of Quinnipiac University, he spent time in college as a beat reporter covering the men’s ice hockey team.