Keeping tabs on 2009-10 ticket prices

by James Mirtle on Mar 24, 2009 3:14 PM CDT Comment 29 comments

On the heels of talking about ticket prices across the NHL recently, I figured I might as well keep track of every team in one place. Here's a look at which teams are raising, lowering or freezing their ticket prices for next season.

Help me fill in the blanks if you know what those seven teams are up to:

	Teams	Avg. price 2008-09	Rank	Raising	Lowering	Freeze
1	Anaheim	$43.50	21			Yes
2	Atlanta	$48.51	16		Some	Yes
3	Boston	$61.40	4			Yes
4	Buffalo	$36.43	29	5%
5	Calgary	$55.81	8			Yes
6	Carolina	$38.38	26			Yes
7	Chicago	$52.22	13			Yes
8	Colorado	$40.62	25			Yes
9	Columbus	$47.76	17			Yes
10	Dallas	$37.80	27		Yes
11	Detroit	$46.60	20
12	Edmonton	$54.17	11	Yes
13	Florida	$52.61	12			Yes
14	Los Angeles	$47.20	19			Yes
15	Minnesota	$61.28	5			Yes
16	Montreal	$64.26	2
17	Nashville	$47.22	18	Yes
18	New Jersey	$57.15	7		Yes
19	NY Islanders	$48.84	14			Yes
20	NY Rangers	$54.96	9	5-9%
21	Ottawa	$48.82	15			Yes
22	Philadelphia	$60.25	6			Yes
23	Phoenix	$37.45	28			Yes
24	Pittsburgh	$54.45	10	Yes
25	San Jose	$43.07	22			Yes
26	St. Louis	$29.94	30	10%
27	Tampa Bay	$42.41	23		Yes
28	Toronto	$76.15	1	3.5%
29	Vancouver	$62.05	3	2%
30	Washington	$41.66	24	7.3%

A couple ticket price resources here:

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Comments

Oh man, Buffalo raising prices? I guess someone has to pay for Tim Connolly’ s salary.

The population of Pominville keeps rising!

by Blackcapricorn on Mar 24, 2009 3:28 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Mostly as expected

The two cheapest tickets are increasing, as are two of the most expensive and Pittsburgh who is getting a new arena…

Blue and Gold (of Buffalo)

by Ebscer on Mar 24, 2009 3:29 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Pittsburgh who is getting a new arena…

In 2009-10 the Pens will still be in Mellon Arena, it’s scheduled to be the final year in the old digs.

Attribute the raise to 100+ sellouts and the fact they’ve got a season ticket waiting list of 2,500+, not to a new building that’s mainly being paid by the slots.

by Hooks Orpik on Mar 24, 2009 4:19 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yes, but...

…as Hooks pointed out, the new arena construction is being funded primarily by slots and government money. I don’t remember the specifics of the Pens ownership deal with the revenue streams for the new arena, but they had local government pretty much over a barrel and they knew it, so they’re very favorable.

My season tickets are getting a nearly 10% bump next season (9.3, to be exact). They got pretty much the same raise last season, so that’s approximately 20 in two years. And I can only assume that we’ll see something similar again next season when they move into the CEC.

I’m not really complaining because the prices are still relatively reasonable, the owners are spending to the cap, and we’ll soon have a new state of the art arena, but supply and demand is killing my bank account.

by dying alive on Mar 24, 2009 6:41 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

While there are opportunities for some to freeze their season-ticket prices for two years (full and half-season packages that commit for two seasons), the rest I believe are looking at a small increase in Nashville.

More fun than a stick to the face!
On the Forecheck is SB Nation's blog covering the Nashville Predators.

by Dirk Hoag on Mar 24, 2009 3:33 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Are you just counting season ticket plans in this? I know Chicago has said season tickets are staying the same price but I have a feeling they’re going to up the price of single-game or partial season tickets…

www.SecondCityHockey.com

by Matthew Dirt on Mar 24, 2009 3:52 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Yes. Single game ticket prices won’t be known for ages, but all of the season ticket renewal plans are coming out now.

by James Mirtle on Mar 24, 2009 4:09 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I’m surprised Atlanta is freezing their prices instead of announcing cuts in tickets. I would think they’d have to pull a St. Louis here until the crowd/team justifies itself.

Devils in my heart! Devils in my mind! Devils in my eyes! Devils until I die!

by John Fischer on Mar 24, 2009 4:02 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Canadian Teams = $$$

TOR = 1st
MTL = 2nd
VAN = 3rd
CGY = 8th
EDM = 11th
OTT = 15th

All Canadian teams are in the top half of the league, including the top 3 and 4 of the top 8… that IS including exchanging Canadian Dollars into USD (though they converted at 87 cents not the current 81)

Also aside from OTT and EDM the other 4 have sold out every game for years and years (I bet since the lockout) .

Does Commissioner Gary understand how profitable the Canadian teams are??

Methinks Jim Balsille does.

"It's a great day for hockey" - BBJ

by jealous broadcaster on Mar 24, 2009 4:18 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

EDM’s missed one sellout since the lockout due to a snafu in publicising game-day singles. I’d throw them in the bin with the others.

SNN Sports - A theoretical Oilers blog (i.e. theoretically, I write stuff there)

by Doogie2K on Mar 24, 2009 5:04 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Balsille also understood how profitable backdating stock options is, and look where that got him.

Hoesntly, I don’t why everyone can bash Boots Del Biaggio for faking his finances, and yet turn a blind eye to Balsillie doing something just as crooked.

Bay Area born and bred.

by Nael M. on Mar 25, 2009 1:50 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I’m not immensely familiar with advanced finances but my understanding of the differences between those 2 is this:

Del Baggio had no money nor any holding of any value and falsified statements that were fraudulently stolen from an investment firm in order to acquire loans for his various ventures.

Balsilie has a legally verified 1.7 billion dollars worth in holdings and companies, making him the 7th richest man in Canada.

Maybe both committed illegal financial dealings, but I think there’s a major difference.

by Habs on Mar 25, 2009 7:28 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

It is false to say “Del Baggio had no money nor any holding of any value”. His assets were well north of $50 million, even after the huge hit that his holdings took during the financial downturn. he owed a lot more, and he clearly engaged in shenanigans, but he owned tons of stuff.

by Gerald on Mar 26, 2009 12:40 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Who knows what Dolan will do. He lowered the prices after the seven-year playoff drought, but there’s still a very high demand for Rangers season tix. I tried to upgrade last year and couldn’t, and there were very few single-game tickets that went on sale this year. It hasn’t been as much of a factor this season, but I used to look at those prices tickets would go for on StubHub and imagine that it was absolutely killing him.

Rangers, Royals, Raiders, Knicks...the man loves a winner.

by self loather on Mar 24, 2009 5:27 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I guarantee they will increase. There is no reason for him to drop them whatsoever. Sure there are a slew of empty seats each night but every one is bought and paid for. And now that the team appears headed for the playoffs, he can charge even more! He has never cared for what the everyman has to go through; it is New York City and if you don’t buy your tix, someone else will. It sucks, but Dolan is a heartless prig of a bastard and if he can line his pockets further, he will. Plus he has a renovation to pay for …

I have a blog too! www.scottyhockey.com
Let's Go Rangers!

by Scotty Hockey on Mar 25, 2009 12:02 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Of course, how could I forget about the renovation. No way in h-e-double hockey sticks he freezes prices.

Rangers, Royals, Raiders, Knicks...the man loves a winner.

by self loather on Mar 25, 2009 11:46 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Oilers tickets are going up

I renewed my seats last month. My seats went up 4%.

by kassam on Mar 24, 2009 5:54 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Nice work, owners

Any Sabres fan out there know if that $36.43 factors in their variable pricing scheme or not? If so, that’s only around 27 or 28 million in ticket revenue for the season…I know the site doesn’t count take into account luxury boxes (can’t imagine Buffalo makes much off those), and revenue derived from concessions, parking, revenue sharing, etc. That’s pretty scary- what’s the salary floor this year, 43 or 44 million? I don’t even remember. Hard to turn a profit either way.

The other thing I noticed about the data James cited was that 18 of the 30 teams were below the mean ticket price of $49.66. Doubt the PA would ever go for it, but wouldn’t it make more sense to base the salary cap around the median revenue for each team in the league instead of total revenue?

It just seems like massive revenues from 6 or 8 teams in the league can compensate for 15 or 20 teams struggling to the point where the cap stays stagnant or even goes up. Bad situation.

by Make a play Whitner on Mar 24, 2009 5:56 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

The season ticket level is at the “value” level, which is MUCH lower than all but 3 or 4 games a year. The “gold” and “platinum” games are at least 3 to 4 times that season ticket price.

The Sabres season ticket base is around 14,000 if I recall. The other 4,690 seats are sold through mini-pack renewals (they dont currently sell them, only current holders can renew) and individual sales at as much as 3-5 times that sticker price. So the revenue is a lot greater than you think.

Shut up when you're talking to me!

by Afino on Mar 24, 2009 7:50 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

But to actually answer your question

Yes, that includes the variable pricing scheme since so many of the tickets are so cheap (STH’ers can sit in the upper bowl for ~$20 per game)

How they’re able to turn around and get significant revenue is the non-STH’ers.

Shut up when you're talking to me!

by Afino on Mar 24, 2009 7:52 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

OIlers

Oilers up 5 percent.

Trouble in Paradise

by Andrew Smith on Mar 24, 2009 7:08 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

St Louis is offering

to freeze Season Ticket packages at this year’s prices with an early renewal of current packages. I’m assuming that new packages will be at the increased rate.

.... formerly "Tim" of StLouisGameTime.com

by CrossCheckRaise on Mar 24, 2009 11:01 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Correlation

Mr. Mirtle,

Is there any correlation between attendance and ticket prices. Wondering if it’s along the lines of teams that are giving away tickets also being the lowest attended. ie not true hockey markets. And if not, why doesn’t cities like St.Louis raise their ticket price. Not to second guess the team, but the lowest ticket price in the league with what seems like an established market base should not be able to apply for revenue sharing. Get that market to the game at the price that they will pay.

Sincerely,

Leopard37

by Leopard37 on Mar 25, 2009 10:23 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

the lowest attended. ie not true hockey markets

Edmonton wasn’t a true hockey market during the mid-90s? Boston wasn’t a true hockey market during the 2000s? Chicago wasn’t a true hockey market during the last 10 years of Dollar Bill’s life?

Shit teams get shit attendance. Unless you’re the Leafs and suits buy up all your tickets regardless.

SNN Sports - A theoretical Oilers blog (i.e. theoretically, I write stuff there)

by Doogie2K on Mar 25, 2009 3:07 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Was thinking about the correlation between prices not necessarily strength of team and attendance. I agree it’s harder to get people to watch crap. Wondering if making tickets so cheap that it devalues the product as well. Fans expect less because they paid less?

by Leopard37 on Mar 25, 2009 4:55 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Joke

The Avs $40 number is an absolute joke (not Mirtle’s fault). That number doesn’t include one ticket from the lower bowl. That’s the Average of upper-deck tickets.

The Avs classify all their lower deck tickets as “Club” or “Premium” so they aren’t included in the FPI or Average Price.

The 2008-2009 Colorado Avalanche: Slumpbusters

by Jibblescribbits on Mar 25, 2009 2:49 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Atlanta Freeze with selected reductions

They made a few rows in the defend end $23 per game and they’re sold out already.
Also created mid price rows halfway up the upper bowl.

by The Falconer on Mar 25, 2009 7:40 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Pens season tix

I renewed my Penguins season tickets for next season earlier this month—a 9% increase from 2008-09, following a 10% increase this year from 2007-08. I would imagine a similar increase is in the works for 2010-11 (the first season in the Consol Energy Center), though I’ll be curious to see how my seats in Mellon Arena “translate” into the ones I’m assigned in the new building?

by davepol on Mar 26, 2009 1:40 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

My Caps season tickets went up; 7.3% sounds about right. Still not horrible – the Caps arena makes all their money in disgustingly overpriced concessions.

"It is better to die on your feet than to live on your knees." - Delores Ibarruri

by gotsparkly on Mar 26, 2009 6:15 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs