The National Hockey League lockout is finally close to ending and clubs will need to lure back fans. Here's a look at what all 30 clubs plan to do in terms of ticket prices:
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ANAHEIM MIGHTY DUCKS: Season-ticket prices have been rolled back an average of 5.28 per cent. The biggest cut is on about 1,500 seats that drop to $9.50 (U.S.) from $25 a game. Prices have been frozen through 2006-07. Subscribers will get free parking, food and non-alcoholic beverages for the first three home games. A new 2-for-1 scheme allows a family of four to buy four seats (buy two and get two) for a total of $47 a game. "We believe our new pricing structure combined with our price rollback will keep NHL hockey affordable in Southern California," said Bob Wagner, the senior vice-president and chief marketing officer.
ATLANTA THRASHERS: No change. The Thrashers did not raise ticket prices during their first four years, and many price categories were lowered. Price increases were introduced before what would have been the start of the 2004-05 season, and "our plan is to carry those same prices over to the new season once the CBA [collective bargaining agreement] gets resolved," a club spokesman said.
BOSTON BRUINS: "Boston has committed to at least maintaining the 2003-2004 price levels, but a decision on decreasing any prices for next season has not yet been made," a club spokesman said.
BUFFALO SABRES: The Sabres have yet to release details of 2005-06 prices, but they're already the lowest in the league. In 2003, the club cut season-ticket prices by 6 to 8 per cent to combat falling attendance. Seats were $29 a game at the 100 level, and $10 a game at the 300 level. Also, the Sabres will introduce packages pegging seat prices to the lure of the opponent.
CALGARY FLAMES: Flames president Ken King says the club isn't expecting to reduce prices. "We have indicated we will certainly not be increasing prices on seats," King told The Calgary Sun. "The likely scenario, because our ticket prices are among the lowest in the league, is that they'll remain the same."
CAROLINA HURRICANES: Season-ticket holders, who got a reduction of 20 per cent if they paid in full by last April, are getting a further 10-per-cent reduction. A further decrease of 15 per cent will be applied for 2006-07 renewals, and 20 per cent more will be lopped off for 2007-08 renewals. "Returning season-ticket holders will see significant reductions in price as a result of their loyalty to the team," a club statement said. Game-day prices in specific seating areas will be lowered, but "with some of the lowest gate prices in the NHL already, there probably will not be across-the-board reductions in general gate prices," a club spokesman said.
CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS: The Blackhawks were 28th among the 30 clubs in average ticket price in 2003-04. Their average ticket price was 22.8-per-cent lower than the NHL average. "I know we will give our season-ticket holders a 10-per-cent discount and we are talking about doing some other things as well, but have not yet decided," a spokesman said. "We will still be offering a student discount which will allow students showing their IDs to be able to purchase a ticket for as little as $8. There are not too many professional sporting events where you can get a ticket for $8."
COLORADO AVALANCHE: "We're waiting to see what the exact terms of the CBA are before we make a decision on that," a club spokesman said. "But we will definitely do what's fair for our fans."
COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS: The Blue Jackets confirm that they will be reducing prices. Details will be announced once a new labour agreement is in place.
DALLAS STARS: Price reductions confirmed, but no details yet.
DETROIT RED WINGS: Prices are to be determined once a new agreement is in place.
EDMONTON OILERS: The Oilers declined to comment "until we have been presented with a new CBA, which will then allow us to determine the business environment [costs versus revenues] in which we will operate," a spokesman said.
FLORIDA PANTHERS: The Panthers lowered season-seat prices in six of 10 categories before what would have been the 2004-05 season. In addition, a limited number of upper-level seats previously priced at $430 will be reduced to $365 ($8.50 a game). "We have not raised ticket prices in several years," a club spokesman said. "We have also increased the value of privileges, such as exclusive meet-and-greets with the team, autograph sessions, concert purchasing priority et cetera. The Panthers' season-ticket prices are in the bottom half of the league."
LOS ANGELES KINGS: "We've decided what we're going to do, but we're not going to announce it until after [the lockout ends]," a club spokesman said.
MINNESOTA WILD: "We will not be announcing ticket prices until a new CBA is reached," a spokesman said.
MONTREAL CANADIENS: Prices are to be determined.
NASHVILLE PREDATORS: "The Predators are not going to make a final decision on 2005-2006 ticket prices until after the new CBA is introduced," a club spokesman said.
NEW JERSEY DEVILS: Prices are to be determined.
NEW YORK ISLANDERS: There was no mention of any cuts in invoices recently mailed to season subscribers, and the club did not to respond to the Canadian Press survey.
NEW YORK RANGERS: The club will have an across-the-board reduction of 10 per cent from 2003-04 prices.
OTTAWA SENATORS: The Senators froze ticket prices for two years in a row before the lockout and are providing a rebate of 5 per cent for the 2005-06 season. Ticket holders who left the entire amount of their 2004-05 money on account will receive 7.5-per-cent interest. "As well, the Senators will also be announcing additional initiatives for fans, but that information will only be released at a news conference post-NHL-NHLPA CBA announcement," a club spokesman said.
PHILADELPHIA FLYERS: "Our ticket prices depend on the CBA resolution, so they are still to be determined," a club spokesman said.
PHOENIX COYOTES: No across-the-board reductions are planned, but season subscribers who renew can get free tickets: renew two tickets and get an additional two tickets free for the entire season. "It's a very aggressive and generous offer," a club spokesman said.
PITTSBURGH PENGUINS: The Penguins announced late in 2003-04 that they would be cutting prices of every seat and season-ticket plan. Details will be released before the start of a new season.
ST. LOUIS BLUES: As announced on June 11, Club section season tickets will drop to $79 a game from $83, and Plaza section seats will fall to $72 from $77. Less expensive seats are unchanged. This will be the fourth consecutive year the Blues have frozen or lowered prices.
SAN JOSE SHARKS: An average reduction of 10 per cent throughout the arena will be applied. the last increase was in 2002. An interest rate of 7 per cent being paid to subscribers who have paid-up accounts.
TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING: "Our situation is still undecided and we likely will not announce anything until after a [CBA] is reached," a club spokesman said.
TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS: "The Leafs do not know what the price structure is going to be yet," a club spokesman said.
VANCOUVER CANUCKS: "Until the agreement is finalized and we have the opportunity to completely understand how the CBA impacts our team as a whole, we will not be making a final decision on ticket prices," a club spokesman said. "In addition, our season-ticket holders will receive a two-year prices freeze, and the overall feedback from our clients has been that our current pricing is fair. But we will review this again in the near future."
WASHINGTON CAPITALS: The Capitals reduced prices by an average of 11 per cent in April of 2004 and will continue with that discount for 2005-06. Individual game prices for 2005-06 have yet to be set.
_____________
ANAHEIM MIGHTY DUCKS: Season-ticket prices have been rolled back an average of 5.28 per cent. The biggest cut is on about 1,500 seats that drop to $9.50 (U.S.) from $25 a game. Prices have been frozen through 2006-07. Subscribers will get free parking, food and non-alcoholic beverages for the first three home games. A new 2-for-1 scheme allows a family of four to buy four seats (buy two and get two) for a total of $47 a game. "We believe our new pricing structure combined with our price rollback will keep NHL hockey affordable in Southern California," said Bob Wagner, the senior vice-president and chief marketing officer.
ATLANTA THRASHERS: No change. The Thrashers did not raise ticket prices during their first four years, and many price categories were lowered. Price increases were introduced before what would have been the start of the 2004-05 season, and "our plan is to carry those same prices over to the new season once the CBA [collective bargaining agreement] gets resolved," a club spokesman said.
BOSTON BRUINS: "Boston has committed to at least maintaining the 2003-2004 price levels, but a decision on decreasing any prices for next season has not yet been made," a club spokesman said.
BUFFALO SABRES: The Sabres have yet to release details of 2005-06 prices, but they're already the lowest in the league. In 2003, the club cut season-ticket prices by 6 to 8 per cent to combat falling attendance. Seats were $29 a game at the 100 level, and $10 a game at the 300 level. Also, the Sabres will introduce packages pegging seat prices to the lure of the opponent.
CALGARY FLAMES: Flames president Ken King says the club isn't expecting to reduce prices. "We have indicated we will certainly not be increasing prices on seats," King told The Calgary Sun. "The likely scenario, because our ticket prices are among the lowest in the league, is that they'll remain the same."
CAROLINA HURRICANES: Season-ticket holders, who got a reduction of 20 per cent if they paid in full by last April, are getting a further 10-per-cent reduction. A further decrease of 15 per cent will be applied for 2006-07 renewals, and 20 per cent more will be lopped off for 2007-08 renewals. "Returning season-ticket holders will see significant reductions in price as a result of their loyalty to the team," a club statement said. Game-day prices in specific seating areas will be lowered, but "with some of the lowest gate prices in the NHL already, there probably will not be across-the-board reductions in general gate prices," a club spokesman said.
CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS: The Blackhawks were 28th among the 30 clubs in average ticket price in 2003-04. Their average ticket price was 22.8-per-cent lower than the NHL average. "I know we will give our season-ticket holders a 10-per-cent discount and we are talking about doing some other things as well, but have not yet decided," a spokesman said. "We will still be offering a student discount which will allow students showing their IDs to be able to purchase a ticket for as little as $8. There are not too many professional sporting events where you can get a ticket for $8."
COLORADO AVALANCHE: "We're waiting to see what the exact terms of the CBA are before we make a decision on that," a club spokesman said. "But we will definitely do what's fair for our fans."
COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS: The Blue Jackets confirm that they will be reducing prices. Details will be announced once a new labour agreement is in place.
DALLAS STARS: Price reductions confirmed, but no details yet.
DETROIT RED WINGS: Prices are to be determined once a new agreement is in place.
EDMONTON OILERS: The Oilers declined to comment "until we have been presented with a new CBA, which will then allow us to determine the business environment [costs versus revenues] in which we will operate," a spokesman said.
FLORIDA PANTHERS: The Panthers lowered season-seat prices in six of 10 categories before what would have been the 2004-05 season. In addition, a limited number of upper-level seats previously priced at $430 will be reduced to $365 ($8.50 a game). "We have not raised ticket prices in several years," a club spokesman said. "We have also increased the value of privileges, such as exclusive meet-and-greets with the team, autograph sessions, concert purchasing priority et cetera. The Panthers' season-ticket prices are in the bottom half of the league."
LOS ANGELES KINGS: "We've decided what we're going to do, but we're not going to announce it until after [the lockout ends]," a club spokesman said.
MINNESOTA WILD: "We will not be announcing ticket prices until a new CBA is reached," a spokesman said.
MONTREAL CANADIENS: Prices are to be determined.
NASHVILLE PREDATORS: "The Predators are not going to make a final decision on 2005-2006 ticket prices until after the new CBA is introduced," a club spokesman said.
NEW JERSEY DEVILS: Prices are to be determined.
NEW YORK ISLANDERS: There was no mention of any cuts in invoices recently mailed to season subscribers, and the club did not to respond to the Canadian Press survey.
NEW YORK RANGERS: The club will have an across-the-board reduction of 10 per cent from 2003-04 prices.
OTTAWA SENATORS: The Senators froze ticket prices for two years in a row before the lockout and are providing a rebate of 5 per cent for the 2005-06 season. Ticket holders who left the entire amount of their 2004-05 money on account will receive 7.5-per-cent interest. "As well, the Senators will also be announcing additional initiatives for fans, but that information will only be released at a news conference post-NHL-NHLPA CBA announcement," a club spokesman said.
PHILADELPHIA FLYERS: "Our ticket prices depend on the CBA resolution, so they are still to be determined," a club spokesman said.
PHOENIX COYOTES: No across-the-board reductions are planned, but season subscribers who renew can get free tickets: renew two tickets and get an additional two tickets free for the entire season. "It's a very aggressive and generous offer," a club spokesman said.
PITTSBURGH PENGUINS: The Penguins announced late in 2003-04 that they would be cutting prices of every seat and season-ticket plan. Details will be released before the start of a new season.
ST. LOUIS BLUES: As announced on June 11, Club section season tickets will drop to $79 a game from $83, and Plaza section seats will fall to $72 from $77. Less expensive seats are unchanged. This will be the fourth consecutive year the Blues have frozen or lowered prices.
SAN JOSE SHARKS: An average reduction of 10 per cent throughout the arena will be applied. the last increase was in 2002. An interest rate of 7 per cent being paid to subscribers who have paid-up accounts.
TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING: "Our situation is still undecided and we likely will not announce anything until after a [CBA] is reached," a club spokesman said.
TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS: "The Leafs do not know what the price structure is going to be yet," a club spokesman said.
VANCOUVER CANUCKS: "Until the agreement is finalized and we have the opportunity to completely understand how the CBA impacts our team as a whole, we will not be making a final decision on ticket prices," a club spokesman said. "In addition, our season-ticket holders will receive a two-year prices freeze, and the overall feedback from our clients has been that our current pricing is fair. But we will review this again in the near future."
WASHINGTON CAPITALS: The Capitals reduced prices by an average of 11 per cent in April of 2004 and will continue with that discount for 2005-06. Individual game prices for 2005-06 have yet to be set.
