Why do the Canucks only have one sellout this season despite ongoing success? Look at the cost of going to a game, fans say.
Despite their success over the past season-plus, the Vancouver Canucks aren’t selling out regularly.
A large segment of fans say its because ticket prices are too high. Has Canucks ownership turned away from regular fans who just want some popcorn, a beer and fair price for a seat (30 years old or otherwise)?
For this week’s mailbag, we offer a selection of those opinions:
Jag Gill, via email:
I just wanted to chime in on the cost of tickets being out of reach these days. Around 10 years ago we used to take our son to a couple of games a year. His first game was when he was only two. There used to be real fans in the seats. You know, the kind that actually watched the game and were fully invested in the team.
My youngest just went to his first game last month, he is six years old and the cost is just too much.
To spend about as much as a monthly car payment for a few hours of fun is hard to justify.
Stu Dale, via email:
I was in Detroit recently and caught the Canucks versus Wings game at Little Caesars Arena.
Yes, our seats were high above ice level but they offered an excellent view for $35.
John Skidmore, via email, a longtime season ticket holder, says he also struggles to resell his tickets when he can’t go:
They charged a 20 per cent Increase for the reds this year and the reason was we were getting new seats.
When the tickets were reasonable, the place was sold out. If they keep going up it will never get sold out. Did I mention the price of the food? We are tending to eat before we go to the arena.
Matt Fisher, via email:
I’m almost 60 and I’ve been a Canucks fan all my life. We live in Anmore and so getting to a game isn’t an issue. The ticket prices are out of control though. The past four seasons, I’ve gone to one game each season. That’s all I can afford! And yet, I’m a huge fan — I watch every game on Sportsnet, which is super expensive too.
If you ask me, that is the reason for the empty seats. Twenty years ago, I went to five to 10 games per season. Not any more!
Oh yeah: I went to the Columbus game last week and I wanted a drink of water. I went looking for a water fountain. Nope, none of those! But they sell bottled water for $8! No thank you. It’s a ripoff from start to finish.
Hans Friedrich, via email, who lives in Tappen, in the Shuswap:
The prices feel out of reach when you have to get an overpriced hotel room in Vancouver as well.
Unfortunately, Vancouver has become too expensive to visit. We live in Salmon Arm and it would cost us around $1,000 to see a home game.
Greg Bonkowski, via email:
Tickets do not seem like they’re within reach. In fact it’s an insult.
What I’ve always been upset about is the pre-season and how they charge the same price instead of giving an opportunity with lower prices for families to bring kids and introduce them to the game. They continuously gouge.
If it weren’t for TV, I would never see the Canucks again.
Robert Matthew, via email:
I love my Canucks but the lower bowel ticket prices are outrageous.
The resale tickets go down in the last few minutes before game time but Ticketmaster prices never go down.
There are too many people who buy the season tickets as an investment and count on overpriced resale to make money.
I am from six hours away. I can afford an upper bowl ticket once a year. Gas, food and hotels just add up. No package deals to be had.