Sep 23, 2013; Boston, MA, USA; The Boston Bruins celebrate after defeating the Washington Capitals in overtime at TD Banknorth Garden. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports
Somewhere in this story, I’m probably going to have a rant about the Jacobs family, and what a royal pain in the arse it is to love a team that has a history of success, and that I have to pay through the nose to watch it live. Well, I think that actually covers the main part of my anger and disappointment.
I got to sit in the sixth row for a pre-season game against the Washington Capitals. It’s probably going to be the only time this season I get to sit that close to the ice for a game this year. The ticket costs me $70. All in all, I guess it wasn’t that much. I got to watch at ice level, and there were five fights and it went to overtime. Still seventy dollars for a pre-season game when clubs like the Florida Panthers are practically giving away season tickets still tends to hurt those of us who live in the bigger cities and have to cover a higher cost of living and tickets to good hockey teams.
The figures just came out for the median average costs of NHL tickets to purchase from retailers online, and it’s no surprise that the Boston Bruins are in the top ten for average ticket price. What did surprise me is that were only eighth overall. ($164)
The Toronto Maple Leafs are the most expensive tickets to get on average, the average ticket price being an astounding $320US a ticket. Just imagine what Toronto would be charging its fans if it got to see a playoff birth more than once a decade. (I’m guessing Game seven has still got to be hurting, even now.)
The rest of the top five had a few more surprises. The Winnipeg Jets were second at $230US. The rest of the top five were the Chicago Blackhawks($212), Montreal Canadiens ($200), and the Vancouver Canucks($199).
The bottom five also had its share of surprises. The five lowest were perennial playoff contenders St.Louis Blues at $66/game, followed by the Colorado Avalanche ($60), Carolina Hurricanes (they are thinking of changing their name to the Carolina Staals) at $56. The Anaheim Ducks are surprisingly cheap at $54/ticket.
It should be no surprise to see the Phoenix Coyotes at the very bottom at $49/ticket.
So, what will be toughest game for a Bruins fan to get their hands on this year. According to the new roster that has come out, it will cost on average $436/ticket to see the Boston Bruins take on the Maple Leafs in Toronto.
I guess Jack Edwards was right when he said people would have to pony up their rent in order to see the Bruins play.