Achi news desk-
All four Canadian teams in the NHL playoffs have home games coming up and if you’re looking to see one in person, it’s going to cost you a pretty penny.
Vancouver and Winnipeg play at home on Tuesday night, followed by Toronto and Edmonton on Wednesday.
The most expensive tickets, according to Ticketmaster early Tuesday afternoon, were for the Toronto game, followed by Vancouver, then Edmonton and finally Winnipeg.
In Toronto, the most expensive tickets were $2,289.50 for Game 3 of their series against Boston.
Moshe Lander, from Concordia University’s economics department who also specializes in sports economics, said the sky-high prices all depend on supply and demand.
“It’s as simple as that,” he told Global News.
“The arenas have a fixed number of seats available, and all of a sudden, fans of the bandwagoner Leaf are finding their way to get interested in the team and think it’s now time to go to a game. And so all those new fans starting to appear add to the demand. And when demand increases and supply is stable, prices rise.
“The Leafs are only looking to take advantage of him. No different than the Jets, the Canucks, the Oilers, or any other American team in the playoffs.”
Here’s a look at how much tickets cost before Canada’s home games this week:
Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Boston Bruins
Wednesday at 7 pm ET at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto
The cheapest price for a single ticket was listed at $403.68 for the peak in section 322S, row 11. If you buy a pair of two tickets, the cheapest price drops to $315.71 per ticket in section 321S, row 19.
As for the most expensive, for a single ticket in section 107, row 1 (near the glass), it was $1,802.25. For a pair of two tickets, the price jumped to $2,289.50 per ticket in section 108, row 1.
Vancouver Canucks vs Nashville Predators
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Tuesday at 7 pm PT at Rogers Arena in Vancouver
The cheapest single ticket for section 327, row 5 or row 11 was listed for $338.25. If you’re looking to buy a pair of tickets together, the cheapest for each stood at just over $300 in the 300 level.
The most expensive for a single ticket was listed as $1,228.77 for section 107, row 1, which is right on the glass. Two tickets bought together in the same area would set you back $1,357.92 each.
Edmonton Oilers vs. Los Angeles Kings
Wednesday at 8 pm MT at Rogers Place in Edmonton
The cheapest single seat for section 233, row 3 was listed at $233.75, which is a higher level. Two or more of the cheapest tickets bought together will set you back $230+ each.
The most expensive single tickets are listed for level 100 at $755, while the most expensive pair of tickets are listed for section 102, row 12 at $1,457.90 each.
Winnipeg Jets vs. Colorado Avalanche
Tuesday at 8:30pm CT at the Canadian Life Center in Winnipeg
The lowest price for a single ticket was listed as $282.17 for section 121, row 13 which, surprisingly, are lower bowl seats. The cheapest pair of tickets or a group of four will set you back around $200 each and that tops out at the 300 level.
The most expensive single ticket for section 213, row 6 was listed at $946, while the most expensive pair was for section 104, row 1 at $620.81 each.
Canada’s Stanley Cup drought adds to demand: Lander
Part of what could be driving the demand for tickets is that since 1993 a Canadian team has won the Stanley Cup, Lander said.
“So everyone is hoping this will finally be the year,” he said.
“Winning gets old. And so as counterintuitive as it is, if the Leafs or any team had a sustained run of success, you would actually find it harder to raise ticket prices because people will say, ‘been there, done that. ‘”
In today’s social media age, consumers also want to “be seen,” Lander said, and going to a playoff game — especially in the lower bowl where it’s more likely to be seen on TV — is a way to to do
It is also a way for people to fuel conspicuous consumption, he said.
The younger generation also seems to value experiences more than collecting physical goods, and going to an NHL playoff game is one of those unforgettable experiences, Lander added.
There are, of course, the disheartened fans who also have to be at the game, he said.
And given the supply and demand, he said he doesn’t think the prices are unnecessary.
“People are willing to pay it. If you see that the arena is half empty, then that is one thing. But the arena is going to be packed. And so obviously, then these prices are not outrageous,” he said.
Lander said to some extent corporations have bought the tickets, but regardless, they are being distributed to someone.
“Humans still go there. Corporations are not going there,” he said.
And people may long for times when tickets were cheaper, but ultimately times are different, Lander said.
“It’s a different time. And yet, because you have a generation that values experience more than possessions, these are the kinds of experiences that only come about 41 times in the regular season and maybe only 5 to 10 times in the playoffs.”
Lander also said that sports teams are good at their business.
“The reality is that sports are very good at controlling their product and limiting the number of games they offer and that helps put some of that pricing power in,” he said.
And if a team makes it to the next round, ticket prices will do “nothing but go up”.“ and there will be a spillover effect to next year’s tickets, said Lander.
