Player salaries don't affect ticket prices one way or another.
The team owners are, first and foremost, businessmen. They set their ticket prices to maximize their revenues based on supply (arena capacity) and demand. Player salaries are part of the cost of doing business -- it's no different than the cost of running a beer stand or paying the zamboni drivers.
The only thing player salaries affect is whether a team can remain viable in a given market. If the cost of business becomes too high and revenues can't keep up to generate a profit, the team will be forced to either relocate or fold.
If the salary cap went back down to ~40 million, but fans in Calgary were still willing to pack the Dome with seats costing $100 or more, do you think Ken King would lower ticket prices out of the goodness of his heart, or would the Flames organization pocket the extra money as additional profits?
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