2019-20 TMR report. VGK 5th highest ~$560 for family of 4

LadyStanley

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Sep 22, 2004
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The Team Marketing Report Fan Cost Index compiles prices for four average priced general tickets, parking for one car and the least expensive, in-game pricing for: two draft beers, four soft drinks, four hot dogs and two (adult-size) team caps. Costs are determined through calls, emails and research with teams, venues, concessionaires and season ticket holders. Identical questions are asked of all sources. Not all teams participate, but TMR offers every team and league officials the opportunity to review their numbers for accuracy before publication. TMR reserves the right to update FCI numbers when additional information is presented and verified.

“Average Ticket” represents the weighted average price across each team’s General seating while “AT$ Change” shows the percentage change in the Average Ticket price from the previous season. The average weighted price factors number of seats sold for each category with the cost for each seating category to “weight” pricing by percentage of the total number. Season ticket pricing is used for all seats when offered. This takes into account if a team offers multiple tiers.

VGK tickets average over $100.
 

Fenway

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I always take the TMR results with a grain of salt but you have to tip your hat to Bill Foley as he read the Vegas market perfectly.

upload_2019-11-20_2-14-20.png
 
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Roadrage

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Mar 25, 2010
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I'm quite surprised that the Calgary Flames have the 5th lowest average ticket price in the league. And Florida being the lowest average with the next lowest $12+ above them.
 

kaiser matias

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Mar 22, 2004
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Those amounts are way to high. 560 dollars for a family of 4 to watch a hockey game is way to much. No wonder attendance is going down.

Not every family is paying for parking, buying 2 hats, and a bunch of concession food/drink for each game either, so that cost can easily drop.
 
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TOGuy14

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Dec 30, 2010
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I always take the TMR results with a grain of salt but you have to tip your hat to Bill Foley as he read the Vegas market perfectly.

View attachment 280003

I always wonder what the methodology for these surveys are because I would love to know where anyone is getting these numbers from a TML perspective.

Average ticket price is $130?

Looking on Ticketmaster the cheapest ticket I can find for a non resale ticket is $143 for the Wednesday Dec 4th game against the Avs. That is for a single ticket in the nosebleeds on a midweek game against a non conference opponent. To get four in a row in other other scenario would be exponentially more expensive

Beer for $9 at Scotiabank arena? Please someone show me where this hidden and magical concession stand is located!

Parking for $8 is probably the funniest part. Maybe if you park in Scarborough and take the TTC downtown. Parking in the area costs at least $15-20 during the business day and shoots up to $30-40 for anywhere within a couple blocks of the rink on any event night.
 

Fenway

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Sponsor
Sep 26, 2007
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Cambridge, MA
I always wonder what the methodology for these surveys are because I would love to know where anyone is getting these numbers from a TML perspective.

Average ticket price is $130?

Looking on Ticketmaster the cheapest ticket I can find for a non resale ticket is $143 for the Wednesday Dec 4th game against the Avs. That is for a single ticket in the nosebleeds on a midweek game against a non conference opponent. To get four in a row in other other scenario would be exponentially more expensive

Beer for $9 at Scotiabank arena? Please someone show me where this hidden and magical concession stand is located!

Parking for $8 is probably the funniest part. Maybe if you park in Scarborough and take the TTC downtown. Parking in the area costs at least $15-20 during the business day and shoots up to $30-40 for anywhere within a couple blocks of the rink on any event night.

Parking in Boston is a nightmare - TD Garden's garage charges $54 a game - and several lower-cost options no longer exist as the area around it has exploded.



Parking | TD Garden | Boston | TD Garden
 

Fourier

Registered User
Dec 29, 2006
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There is 0 chance that those ticket prices are accurate. How could the Oilers ticket prices average out to $79US? The lower bowl is much larger than the upper bowl and the cheapest unobstructed ticket in the lower bowl is over $100US. For premium teams there are no tickets in the upper bowl for under $70US. Even for low priced games the cheapest ticket in the upper bowl is around $60US.
 

Fenway

HF Bookie and Bruins Historian
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Sep 26, 2007
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Cambridge, MA
There is 0 chance that those ticket prices are accurate. How could the Oilers ticket prices average out to $79US? The lower bowl is much larger than the upper bowl and the cheapest unobstructed ticket in the lower bowl is over $100US. For premium teams there are no tickets in the upper bowl for under $70US. Even for low priced games the cheapest ticket in the upper bowl is around $60US.

This afternoon the publisher of TMR contacted me by e-mail and he would like our help.

Scanned through that Bruins thread last night. And someone from Vegas posted the story link from Las Vegas Sports Biz piece in another thread.

During my fact-checking, that’s where your engaged HFBoards friends have (unknowingly) been so great, especially when it comes to beer. Tons of pricing posts and pictures helps us confirm or even fill in a few blanks big time. Best place on the web BY FAR for that interaction.

As for pricing...Agreed on parking – am now factoring in parking apps/sites because nobody who’s cost-conscious and has half a brain is going to just roll up to the TDG garage and pay $54, right?

On Bruins ST, yeah, there are so many variables and so many side deals (and so much secondary market stuff) that an “average price” can start to be pretty objective!

They have expressed an interest in a relationship with HFBoards and that is something we plan to explore.

What would be a huge help if those of you who attend NHL games post photos of concession prices.
 
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DistantThunderRep

Registered User
Mar 8, 2018
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16,378
I always wonder what the methodology for these surveys are because I would love to know where anyone is getting these numbers from a TML perspective.

Average ticket price is $130?

Looking on Ticketmaster the cheapest ticket I can find for a non resale ticket is $143 for the Wednesday Dec 4th game against the Avs. That is for a single ticket in the nosebleeds on a midweek game against a non conference opponent. To get four in a row in other other scenario would be exponentially more expensive

Beer for $9 at Scotiabank arena? Please someone show me where this hidden and magical concession stand is located!

Parking for $8 is probably the funniest part. Maybe if you park in Scarborough and take the TTC downtown. Parking in the area costs at least $15-20 during the business day and shoots up to $30-40 for anywhere within a couple blocks of the rink on any event night.
Its converted to Amurican Freedom Bucks. So $12 Canadian.
 

ultra63

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Feb 27, 2008
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Parking is fairly cheap now in Tampa but with all the building downtown that they will change. A $5 beer there is entirely mythical however
 
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Fenway

HF Bookie and Bruins Historian
Sponsor
Sep 26, 2007
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Cambridge, MA
$54? That is just highway robbery. Do a lot of people user public transportation to get there?

TD Garden is on 2 subway lines and also has an Amtrak/commuter rail station. Many park elsewhere and then either take transit or ride shares.
 

varsaku

Registered User
Feb 14, 2014
2,561
825
United States
Those parking costs seem off. I know the Devils parking cost should be higher. Everything around the stadium and even a few blocks away range from $25-$35.
Stars can range from $10-$30
 

tarheelhockey

Offside Review Specialist
Feb 12, 2010
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Those amounts are way to high. 560 dollars for a family of 4 to watch a hockey game is way to much. No wonder attendance is going down.

I genuinely wonder where the money comes from.

The other day I looked at TML ticket prices on a whim. You can't get in the door at ANY game for under $110/per, and it's more like $150 for most games. That's just the cheapest option to get in the door... we're talking $300 for a couple and $600 for a family, before adding parking/food/souvenirs. Pushing closer to $200 per person for one normal game, and that's the in-the-door price.

That compares incredibly unfavorably to almost any other entertainment option. Those are prices you expect to see for a major concert tour or a Broadway show that only comes to your city once a year, not for a sporting event that has 41 home dates. You can literally go to the Toronto Opera for half the price of going to a Leafs game... think about that discrepancy. They have entered a price tier that isn't even supported by an upper-class target market. The only way the pricing structure can make sense, is for corporations to buy the expensive tickets and for the rest to be treated as a re-sale investment by people with a lot of capital on their hands. Otherwise I can't see where a consistent market could exist for $200/person entry level pricing on seasonal entertainment.

IMO they are severely outrunning the market, as we have seen in other sports in recent years. The NHL has some cushion because of its affluent demographics, but I look at what happened to NASCAR and what is currently happening to the NFL where the presumption of infinite growth is grinding to a halt. The Rogers TV deal is a canary in the coal mine, as is the end of sellouts in formerly bulletproof markets -- and this is happening during a roaring economy.
 

BKIslandersFan

F*** off
Sep 29, 2017
11,447
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Brooklyn
Those parking costs seem off. I know the Devils parking cost should be higher. Everything around the stadium and even a few blocks away range from $25-$35.
Stars can range from $10-$30
I think most Devils fans take trains. Newark Penn Station is about 5 minute walk.
 

LeHab

Registered User
Aug 31, 2005
15,956
6,259
Those amounts are way to high. 560 dollars for a family of 4 to watch a hockey game is way to much. No wonder attendance is going down.

Supply and demand. Honeymoon is still on in Vegas with no trouble filling seats at those rates. Let's see how this trend continues once the team hits a few rough patches and other major leagues join the party there. Early success definitely helps build a loyal fan base.

What I like about Vegas is emphasize on overall experience to make it more like a show. This way even if the team wont be performing well there are other elements to keep fans engaged.
 
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Brick City

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May 21, 2012
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I genuinely wonder where the money comes from.

The other day I looked at TML ticket prices on a whim. You can't get in the door at ANY game for under $110/per, and it's more like $150 for most games. That's just the cheapest option to get in the door... we're talking $300 for a couple and $600 for a family, before adding parking/food/souvenirs. Pushing closer to $200 per person for one normal game, and that's the in-the-door price.

That compares incredibly unfavorably to almost any other entertainment option. Those are prices you expect to see for a major concert tour or a Broadway show that only comes to your city once a year, not for a sporting event that has 41 home dates. You can literally go to the Toronto Opera for half the price of going to a Leafs game... think about that discrepancy. They have entered a price tier that isn't even supported by an upper-class target market. The only way the pricing structure can make sense, is for corporations to buy the expensive tickets and for the rest to be treated as a re-sale investment by people with a lot of capital on their hands. Otherwise I can't see where a consistent market could exist for $200/person entry level pricing on seasonal entertainment.

IMO they are severely outrunning the market, as we have seen in other sports in recent years. The NHL has some cushion because of its affluent demographics, but I look at what happened to NASCAR and what is currently happening to the NFL where the presumption of infinite growth is grinding to a halt. The Rogers TV deal is a canary in the coal mine, as is the end of sellouts in formerly bulletproof markets -- and this is happening during a roaring economy.

I think the misperception of "roaring economy" is a big part of the problem. Sure, the top is doing splendid. The middle class, along with the half of the US not involved with the stock market, not so much. It's unsustainable to expect the average Joe to continue paying this freight, even with the relative affluence of the NHL fan base.

I think most Devils fans take trains. Newark Penn Station is about 5 minute walk.

It's a pretty high percentage, can't recall the number off the top of my head. There's also a fair amount of people like me who park for free on the streets of downtown Newark, so my parking cost is usually zero.
 

tarheelhockey

Offside Review Specialist
Feb 12, 2010
84,982
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I think the misperception of "roaring economy" is a big part of the problem. Sure, the top is doing splendid. The middle class, along with the half of the US not involved with the stock market, not so much. It's unsustainable to expect the average Joe to continue paying this freight, even with the relative affluence of the NHL fan base.

Absolutely, and IMO the dark cloud gathering on the horizon is what happens when the NHL (and other sports) shift so much of their financial model toward reliance on companies and people with huge capital gains... and then the stock market falls off. The first thing that gets cut out of those budgets will be frivolously priced entertainment expenses. So what do they do at that point... start slashing away at ticket prices? I doubt it very much, because the underlying assumption of this business model is infinitely-escalating ticket prices. There does not appear to be any margin of error for the product to lose value.

This ought to be a pretty serious concern for a league which has its payroll hard-pegged to a revenue projection. Another 2008 or god forbid, 1929 type scenario will collapse the model if it keeps going in this direction.
 
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jkrdevil

UnRegistered User
Apr 24, 2006
42,636
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Miami
Supply and demand. Honeymoon is still on in Vegas with no trouble filling seats at those rates. Let's see how this trend continues once the team hits a few rough patches and other major leagues join the party there. Early success definitely helps build a loyal fan base.

What I like about Vegas is emphasize on overall experience to make it more like a show. This way even if the team wont be performing well there are other elements to keep fans engaged.

Vegas fans also probably have a better opportunity than other markets to cash in on the secondary market to claw back some of the season ticket costs.
 

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