Major Junior Prices in NHL Cities

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I thought I'd do a cross-Canada comparison of ticket prices for Major Junior teams that are located in NHL markets. There are 6 NHL teams in the country but 7 CHL clubs with two being based in the greater Toronto region. I explored all of the team websites, called a few for clarification on prices. I now have a solid comparison for what it would cost to get a single game ticket in a few different areas in each rink. Who is the cheapest or the most expensive? The answers may (or may not) surprise you.

I chose to go with individual tickets because in Mississauga, one of the "Toronto" teams, they're hosting the Memorial Cup this year so much of their season ticket packages are driven with that event in mind. Also, mini-packs and other discount packs are just too many to mention. So a single seat for a single game seems to make the most sense for a broad comparison like this.

First, the teams in question are all in NHL cities (or near one) but do not share their rink with the NHL team, aside from the two Alberta clubs. There is the first difference and you'll notice that is reflected in ticket prices.

I looked at prices for 3 basic areas in a rink: center ice, a corner and behind the net. I also made note of the most expensive ticket available and the cheapest, just in case those were some how different than the other three zones.

Center Ice

Mississauga has the least expensive center ice seat. If you pay in advance and pick up your ticket there is no service charge so you can plunk down at the red line for a measly 14.95 (+ HST).

The Montreal Juniors, who don't list ticket prices on their site, tell me that you can sit anywhere in the rink, (except for the cordoned off areas between the bluelines reserved for corporate seats), for $15. They sent me a seating chart which indicates there are two rows at center, behind the corporate seats so you can sit at center albeit in the top of the section.

In Brampton you'll pay $18.50 to sit 10 rows up at the red line. At an Ottawa 67s game, an adult will pay 21.50 but it's a bit cheaper if you are under 21.

Prices are higher in the WHL. The Calgary Hitmen have center ice seats available that cost $23 including a $3 charge from Ticketmaster. In Vancouver you'll pay $24 including Ticketmaster charges for the same seat. Edmonton has the most expensive center ice seat coming in at $29 + $3.50 for Ticketmaster. (Why Ticketmaster in Edmonton is $3.50 but $3 even in Calgary is a good question).

Mississauga - $14.95
Montreal - $15
Brampton - $18.50
Ottawa - $21.50
Calgary - $20
Vancouver - $20
Edmonton - $29

In The Corners

Once again the St. Mike Majors were the cheapest with advanced tickets in the corner costing just $12.95. Brampton comes next with $14 followed by Montreal's flat rate of $15. The Giants ask for $18 to sit in the corner while Ottawa's corner seats cost an adult $19. Calgary's sides, corners and ends are all the same cost on the lower level so $20. In Edmonton the corner seats are still the most expensive of these CHL teams at $25.

Mississauga - $12.95
Brampton - $14
Montreal - $15
Vancouver - $18
Ottawa - $19
Calgary - $20
Edmonton - $25

Sitting behind the net is the exact same price as sitting in the corner, with a couple of exceptions which I'll touch on later.

Most Expensive

Mississauga's most expensive ticket comes in at $27.30 and that's with waiting until game day to purchase and then only if you do so online. The same tickets on game day at the box office are $21.95 and that includes access to the "Platinum Lounge".

The Montreal Juniors tell me that $45 is their most expensive ticket but those are the sections reserved for corporate seats in lieu of luxury suites that most arenas now have. Not generally available to the public and not as a single ticket option so... back to the $15 tickets here.

Brampton's club seats are $19.50 while in Ottawa you'll pay $21.50. Vancouver tops out at $20 while in Calgary you can pay as high as $35. Edmonton's most expensive single seat is $29.

Montreal - $15
Brampton - $19.50
Vancouver - $20
Ottawa - $21.50
Mississauga - $21.95
Edmonton - $29
Calgary - $35

Cheapest in the House

3 of these 7 teams have the luxury of having a second deck in their arena so they have the ability to offer another assortment of ticket prices. However, only two of the teams actually make use of this advantage.

In Ottawa, an adult can sit anywhere in the second level for just $16 and it will cost you $18 to sit anywhere in the Saddledome's 2nd level.

The Oil Kings don't use the second level of Rexall Place except for a small number of rows at center ice and they are still the same $29 as the lower level. That said, Edmonton does offer a single section, behind the home team's net, where single seats are just $15. On top of that, the team does offer a "No Frills" season ticket on their website for $299 which comes out to $8.30/game. Until I had begun this project I was not aware of that particular option so I'm not sure how aggressive they are in marketing the "No Frills" seat.

Mississauga - $12.95
Brampton - $14 (but they also have $10 Thursdays)
Edmonton - $15 (or $8.30)
Montreal - $15
Ottawa - $16
Calgary - $18
Vancouver - $18

Argument

There are obviously some different circumstances between all of these teams. Geography, size of market, size of building, relationship with the NHL team.. all might play a role in setting of ticket prices.

I haven't been to most of the buildings in question so I can't say what they have to offer. However, you know when you go to a Calgary Hitmen or Edmonton Oil Kings game that you will be sitting in a NHL quality arena and that includes all of the perks - scoreboard with video replays, mostly comfortable seating, quality P.A. sound, etc. I know the Oil Kings argued early on that the NHL building was a reason their prices could not be reasonably compared to what tickets cost in Moose Jaw, Kamloops or Lethbridge.

On the downside, there are people who believe that junior hockey is best viewed in an arena made for junior hockey (and I'm one of them). I would much rather watch a WHL game at the Centrium in Red Deer than one at Rexall Place or the Saddledome because the atmosphere is so much better. If the Oil Kings played in a 6500 seat facility instead of one meant for 16,500... it would be a way better experience for fans.

Attendance in these rinks is surprising considering the ticket prices. As best as I can tell, with the most recent updates, the following appears to be the average attendance so far this year:

Calgary - 7748
Ottawa - 6084
Vancouver - 5810
Edmonton - 3570
Mississauga - 2955
Montreal - 2657
Brampton - 1700

We'd really like to hear your thoughts on all of this. If you've been to any of these rinks, what do you think of the facilities and the atmosphere in them? Are there video scoreboards in Brampton and Montreal? Do you get replays in Mississauga and Ottawa? What do you pay for parking at those various rinks? Did I omit a factor you think should be noted?

If you're in those markets and are not attending games... why not? Let us know!