Canadiens' families price tag rose over $100 in past 10 years to go to games, Leafs fans paying even
It is costing more and more for Habs fans to enjoy a game at the Bell Centre -- a regular season game at that.
In the past 10 years, the Montreal Canadiens' "fan experience" increased by $111.89 (up 25 per cent) to $552.57. It is the seventh-highest increase in the NHL, as compiled by the US betting report.
All numbers are in U.S. dollars.
The price includes four average-priced tickets, two small beers, four small soft drinks, four regular-size hot dogs, parking for one hour, two game programs and the two least-expensive adjustable-size caps.
Toronto's fan experience is the highest at $697.75 (up 11 per cent), followed by recent expansion teams the Seattle Kraken ($672.89) and Vegas Golden Knights ($649.72).
Fellow Original Six teams New York Rangers (up 55 per cent to $545.42), Chicago Blackhawks (up 45 per cent to $573.76) and Boston Bruins (up 51 per cent to $569.96) also saw substantial costs increase since 2012.
Of the top seven teams, just the Blackhawks (2013 and 2015) and the Golden Knights (2022) have rewarded those high-paying fans with Stanley Cup wins.
The highest increase since 2012 was the two-time Stanley Cup-winning Tampa Bay Lightning, whose FCI increased 70 per cent over that time from $256.48 to $434.74.
The highest decrease was Canadian franchises Vancouver Canucks (down 6 per cent to $432.13) and the Winnipeg Jets (down 15 per cent to $418.39).
The cheapest deal in the NHL is, unsurprisingly, the Arizona Coyotes at $314.70.
Across the league, the average fan pays about $460 to attend a game, which is on par with the NBA.
If Habs or Leafs fans are feeling depressed at the cost to see their teams play, it might help to look at other leagues.
The Golden State Warriors' FCI increased 183.8 per cent to $740.08 over their decade of domination in the NBA and the Las Vegas Raiders NFL experience costs an average of $738.36 (up 93.3 per cent).
An average NFL fan pays about $600 to attend a game. This number is only expected to rise.
The cheapest fan experience of the four major sports is in Major League Baseball. The most expensive fan experience in the MLB is the Boston Red Sox at $385.37. That is a dollar less than the 22nd most expensive NHL team - The Anaheim Ducks ($386.54).
The average cost to see an MLB game is $204.76.
Arizona sports fans again were at the bottom of the list in baseball, with a family of Diamondbacks fans expected to pay $126.34.
