The Montreal Canadiens are setting a new record in the NHL this season with the most expensive tickets for home games, surpassing Toronto. Fans of the historic franchise will need to shell out over $220 on average for the cheapest tickets, more than double the league average, according to research from Bookies.com and TicketData.com.
Montreal, a major NHL market, consistently ranks among the top five for priciest tickets. Sports economist Moshe Lander from Concordia University notes that the team’s recent success is driving up ticket prices as the Canadiens have seen a resurgence in fan interest following their playoff runs in the last two seasons.
Some long-time fans like Melissa Plett, who has been attending games at the Bell Centre for 15 years, are feeling the pinch of rising ticket costs. She reflects on how ticket accessibility has changed over the years and expresses concerns that die-hard fans may be priced out of experiencing live games.
On the other hand, season ticket holder Sunil Peetush sees the premium prices as justified for witnessing the excitement of the Canadiens in action. He points out that securing tickets directly from the organization offers better value compared to the resale market, where prices can soar to $600 to $1,000 per seat.
While the team strives to make games accessible by releasing discounted tickets for families and students, high demand and a flourishing resale market are likely to keep ticket prices elevated. Despite efforts to regulate ticket resales, the secondary market continues to thrive in Quebec, with fans finding tickets through various platforms and social media groups.
As interest remains high and resale markets remain active, it is unlikely that ticket prices for Canadiens’ home games will decrease anytime soon. Nonetheless, fans like Peetush believe that the experience of watching the dynamic and youthful team play at the Bell Centre is worth the investment, promising an exhilarating atmosphere on game nights.
