Tickets Anyone?
According to an annual survey by a sports marketing firm, the average price of an NHL ticket rose 4.4% to US$54.25 for the 2010-11 season. Prior to this year, average ticket prices had risen 0.1% (2009-10), 5.1% (2008-2009), 7.7% (2007-2008) and 3.7% (2006-2007).
The league average included increases of 24.2% by the Washington Capitals and 18.4% by defending Stanley Cup champion Chicago Blackhawks, New York Islanders up 19.7%, the Detroit Red Wings and Florida Panthers, both up 11%. Eight teams kept average prices flat, while three teams cut them. Last year, fourteen teams had left prices the same and five cut them.
The Toronto Maple Leafs remained the team with the highest average ticket price at $115.96. Rounding out the top five teams with the highest average prices were the Montreal Canadiens ($86.44), Calgary Flames ($66.68), Vancouver Canucks ($65.20) and Edmonton Oilers ($64.87). The U.S. team with the highest average ticket price was the Minnesota Wild ($62.53). The Dallas Stars had the lowest average price at $29.68. The Atlanta Thrashers had the biggest decline in average ticket price, down 10.1% to $43.59.
FYI… Average ticket prices rose 1.5% for Major League Baseball and 4.5% for the National Football League this season.