This really has nothing to do with a good or bad "hockey market" rather a good team in a city desperate for a winner.
Both points here are true. I watched Game 5 of the Carolina series at a theatre in Lockport. The place was absolutely packed.
According to today's Buffalo News, this year the Sabres will not have any playoff tickets available for sale to the general public.
Correct me if I'm wrong but NHL rules says that they have to have a minimum amount of tickets available to the general public. Has this rule changed?
That would be correct. My playoff seats were an average of $25 dollars last playoffs for being a STH in Section 320.I beleive it was the cost for STH, not box office. Maybe it was $27 or something people told me they got tickets for and no doubt, they were upstairs. Maybe I am wrong, but it sounded like a good deal for STH to remain fans.
Wait, a team really sold out their home playoff games? Oh my God, this clearly is so extraordinary! The Sabres are a pioneer of playoff marketing!
Before going on sale to the general public?
Sigh. Obviously, you didn't read my previous post.
The point isn't that they are selling-out playoff games. The Sabres have always sold-out all their playoff games anyway, as most teams do.
The point is that they have sold out all their playoff tickets before they even go on sale and no playoff tickets will be sold to the general public, which is a new thing for Buffalo at least (although I know it is common in larger markets such as Toronto).
That's not the point. They sold out before they even got to the general public, and most of the STHs who thought they could cash in by grabbing extra seats weren't even able to do that.
And the eBay prices are insane. Pairs of tickets on eBay with almost 9 days left are already over $150 (I saw one 100 level pair that was $405), and with the only pair I was even able to get a high bid on (round 2, lol) I was outbid in 10 minutes.