The price of playoff tickets is too damn high

[Poster]

Originally Posted by Jay Random

This is the exact opposite of the facts. The salary cap prevents the Rangers, Flyers, Red Wings, and three or four other teams (depending on which owner is willing to lose money for his ego) from buying up all the talent, as they used to do during the Dead Puck Era. Before the cap came in, Calgary was basically a farm team for the big markets for a solid decade. They made the '04 finals on smoke and mirrors.

Yes that's the narrative fans seems to think but the historical facts prove otherwise.

[smiggy77]

Originally Posted by Poster

Yes that's the narrative fans seems to think but the historical facts prove otherwise.

What historical facts?

The salary cap completely created a level playing field, otherwise teams who can spend more money on salaries would continue to overpay players to bring them to their market.

Your argument makes zero sense. There is a reason why there are 5 playoff teams this year, or why Florida is much more competitive than their history, or why Columbus is as strong as they are.

[Poster]

Originally Posted by smiggy77

What historical facts?

The salary cap completely created a level playing field, otherwise teams who can spend more money on salaries would continue to overpay players to bring them to their market.

Your argument makes zero sense. There is a reason why there are 5 playoff teams this year, or why Florida is much more competitive than their history, or why Columbus is as strong as they are.

Well before the cap to save small markets, BOS, CHI and LAK as 3 examples barely sniffed playoffs. When NYR had a blank check, they signed guys like Holik to 9m per season. In a cap they get the Jimmy Vesey free agents instead.

Teams like EDM, ANA, BUF, CRL, CGY actually went to finals.

What has happened since?

[smiggy77]

Originally Posted by Poster

Well before the cap to save small markets, BOS, CHI and LAK as 3 examples barely sniffed playoffs. When NYR had a blank check, they signed guys like Holik to 9m per season. In a cap they get the Jimmy Vesey free agents instead.

Teams like EDM, ANA, BUF, CRL, CGY actually went to finals.

What has happened since?

Boston, Chicago, LA didn't have good teams.

Those teams all drafted and developed strong players, has nothing to do with the salary cap. Also, presalary cap era is when Boston, Chicago teams all had high draft picks and the transition happened to post cap, where they developed Toews, Kane, flipped Seguin, etc.

Pre cap era you had the Rangers who would fill up their rosters and salaries would be over $120mil whereas small markets would be half of that to spend.

You're attributing one factor to the other but they not correlated at all.

[Sainters7]

Pre-lockout was horrible for Canadian and small market teams. Yeah there were some good one and done (one playoff run I mean) small market teams, but then they'd be promptly dismantled right after, as one of Detroit, Colorado, New Jersey, Toronto, Dallas or the NY Rangers would buy their UFAs at prices those teams couldn't compete with.

The only Canadian team who could consistently afford to stay in the hunt was Toronto, the rest of us just had to hope to catch lightning in a bottle. Only reason Ottawa was consistently good in the final years before that lockout was because they were reaping the rewards of being terrible in the early/mid 90s and stockpiling all those Top 5 picks into a strong team. But as a small market team, that roster was very much on the clock.

Things are night and day better for small market teams now. Unless you enjoy the constant threat of having your team possibly move to the States, and being able to narrow down the same dang 5-6 teams every year you knew your high-priced UFA was going to bolt to. Classic "rich get richer" situation.

[MoneyGuy]

Originally Posted by flylock shox

I'm honestly surprised people are willing to pay what NHL teams in Canada are asking, particularly since HD TV came along.

It's hard to beat going to a great game where the hockey is meaningful and your team comes out with a win, but paying a couple hundred bucks - much more if you are paying for a family - to watch fat and sassy millionaires go for a leisurely skate and lose in glorious fashion (which happens a fair bit of the regular season at least) seems pretty crazy to me. Especially when you can put that a few games' worth of money into a nice TV, fridge full of beer, delivery pizza, and you get full authority to screen the other patrons.

But that's just me.

It's not just you.

[HappyGilmore]

Originally Posted by troutman

Skiing at Sunshine is $100.

18 holes at Banff Springs is $250.

Plus, gas, lunch and beer.

How dare they do that fo Calgary Folks in such tough economic times!

[PepsiFree]

I pay for one game a year and otherwise never go (especially in the playoffs) unless I'm invited by someone who has tickets. It's expensive, but not too expensive as a general statement, just too expensive for me to be worth more than a great night out once per year.

Going to an NHL game is a privilege, it should not be priced like it's a right. We are not owed affordable tickets for everyone and until such time when they can't sell out the dome, then I don't think there's a problem.

When did some fans get so entitled? TV, live, whatever. Enjoy it how you can and be happy. There are people who can't even afford nosebleeds during the regular season, or have never been to a game, and are still huge fans. Sometimes people take their privilege for granted.

[joejoe3]

[smiggy77]

Originally Posted by PepsiFree

I pay for one game a year and otherwise never go (especially in the playoffs) unless I'm invited by someone who has tickets. It's expensive, but not too expensive as a general statement, just too expensive for me to be worth more than a great night out once per year.

Going to an NHL game is a privilege, it should not be priced like it's a right. We are not owed affordable tickets for everyone and until such time when they can't sell out the dome, then I don't think there's a problem.

When did some fans get so entitled? TV, live, whatever. Enjoy it how you can and be happy. There are people who can't even afford nosebleeds during the regular season, or have never been to a game, and are still huge fans. Sometimes people take their privilege for granted.

Welcome to the Communist NDP Alberta era

[oldschoolcalgary]

not sure i understand...

price are what people are willing to pay for them... the market place balances things out - heard tickets in Anaheim could be had for 40 bucks.... but if they priced them higher, they be only at 75-80% capacity I bet.

This is also where the salary cap figures into things... small market teams simply cannot charge the same amount for tickets, but the cap means they can compete on the ice like any other big team...

definitely happy the NHL has a cap...not sure how any canadian fan wouldn't be happy about the cap... the lack of a cap basically killed hockey in Winnipeg and QC and put it on life support in other small markets

[bizaro86]

I have no issue with the flames charging whatever they can bear. It's a business, and they can charge market prices


I just hope they remember they're a for profit business charging market prices when the chips are down for a new building. If they were a community owned team or a charity my opinion would be different on both factors.

[oldschoolcalgary]

Originally Posted by smiggy77

Welcome to the Communist NDP Alberta era

what does the NDP have to do with Flames ticket prices being high?

[Cleveland Steam Whistle]

Originally Posted by oldschoolcalgary

what does the NDP have to do with Flames ticket prices being high?

I believe the NDP reference was not to ticket prices, but the fans sense of entitlement.

[oldschoolcalgary]

Originally Posted by Cleveland Steam Whistle

I believe the NDP reference was not to ticket prices, but the fans sense of entitlement.

ha... gotcha

[Smartcar]

Originally Posted by oldschoolcalgary

price are what people are willing to pay for them... the market place balances things out - heard tickets in Anaheim could be had for 40 bucks.... but if they priced them higher, they be only at 75-80% capacity I bet.

Was anyone else surprised at how many empty lower bowl seats you could see in last night's game? At $200 USD per seat, significantly less than the $366 CAD lower bowl reds and the $525 Club seats here.

[oldschoolcalgary]

Originally Posted by Smartcar

Was anyone else surprised at how many empty lower bowl seats you could see in last night's game? At $200 USD per seat, significantly less than the $366 CAD lower bowl reds and the $525 Club seats here.

Round one game versus a team you've beaten consistently at home for the last decade plus, in California?

No, not really surprised.

i am sure it will pick up as the games progress, but I don't see Anaheim as one of the 'great' fanbases in the US though (i could be wrong)... they're no SJ or Nashville and even Dallas/LA in terms of non-hockey markets that have a hardcore fan base...

[edn88]

Tickets on TicketExchange are going for above face value as well - indicating that perhaps ticket prices are still not high enough (sorry to say).

Imagine if we had a good economy...

[malcolmk14]

The cost of our season tickets for Round 1 is about $219/pair, which I think is pretty great value. Face value is $498/pair, which there is no way I would pay.

There's a single seat available next to our season tickets, and I looked on Ticketmaster to buy it so that I could bring my girlfriend along to Game 3. $255 with fees for a single. No thanks!

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by malcolmk14

The cost of our season tickets for Round 1 is about $219/pair, which I think is pretty great value. Face value is $498/pair, which there is no way I would pay.

There's a single seat available next to our season tickets, and I looked on Ticketmaster to buy it so that I could bring my girlfriend along to Game 3. $255 with fees for a single. No thanks!

Some boyfriend you are!

(ducks)