The Grey Cup is the championship game of the Canadian Football League (CFL) and is one of the biggest annual sporting events in Canada. It’s a highly anticipated event that draws tens of thousands of passionate football fans each year. With the excitement and demand for Grey Cup tickets, prices can rise significantly, especially as the game draws near. So how much does it cost on average to attend the big game? Let’s take a closer look.
Background on the Grey Cup
The Grey Cup game is the culmination of the CFL season and determines the league’s champion for the year. The first Grey Cup game was played in 1909 between the University of Toronto Varsity Blues and the Toronto Parkdale Canoe Club. Over the decades, the Grey Cup has grown tremendously in popularity and is now televised nationally every year.
The game itself is hosted at a neutral site determined ahead of time, with recent host cities including Vancouver, Edmonton, Calgary, Winnipeg, Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal, and Hamilton. The Grey Cup game typically takes place in late November, often coinciding with the Canadian Thanksgiving weekend.
The current Grey Cup trophy itself has an interesting history, having been lost during a fire in 1947 and later rediscovered as a lampshade in a Toronto home. The recovered trophy was restored and continues to be handed to each year’s CFL champion.
Average Ticket Prices
So what can football fans expect to pay if they want to attend the Grey Cup game in person? Ticket prices can vary significantly depending on the specific teams playing, the host city, the venue capacity, and secondary market factors. However, in recent years, Grey Cup tickets have averaged in the range of $150-$400 per seat.
Some key factors that influence Grey Cup ticket prices include:
Team Popularity
Games featuring perennially popular teams like the Saskatchewan Roughriders, Winnipeg Blue Bombers, and Edmonton Eskimos tend to drive up demand and prices for tickets. When these fervent fanbases travel en masse to the Grey Cup, ticket costs inevitably get bid up.
Venue Size
The capacity of the Grey Cup host stadium also impacts ticket availability and demand. Smaller venues lead to limited ticket inventory and typically higher prices. Meanwhile, games held in larger stadiums like Edmonton’s Commonwealth Stadium (56,000+ capacity) may have more ticket supply and therefore lower costs on average.
Location
The host city itself is a factor in ticket prices. Games held in big cities like Toronto and Vancouver where ticket demand is high among local fans tend to be more expensive. Meanwhile, Grey Cup games in smaller CFL markets often have lower ticket costs on average.
Secondary Market Trends
As the Grey Cup nears, ticket prices on secondary resale sites like StubHub can skyrocket depending on matchups and circumstances. For marquee teams or championship rematches, last-minute limited ticket inventory drives exponential price increases. Diehard fans may pay 2-3X typical prices if supply shrinks leading up to game day.
Ticket Price History
Looking deeper into history, we can see the ebb and flow of Grey Cup ticket costs over the past 15+ years:
| Year | Host City | Average Ticket Price |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Hamilton | $375 |
| 2019 | Calgary | $325 |
| 2018 | Edmonton | $275 |
| 2017 | Ottawa | $450 |
| 2016 | Toronto | $350 |
| 2015 | Winnipeg | $225 |
| 2014 | Vancouver | $500 |
| 2013 | Regina | $375 |
| 2012 | Toronto | $275 |
| 2011 | Vancouver | $300 |
| 2010 | Edmonton | $150 |
| 2009 | Calgary | $200 |
| 2008 | Montreal | $350 |
| 2007 | Toronto | $250 |
A few things stand out from this historical data:
– The average ticket price has ranged from a low of $150 in 2010 to a staggering $500 in 2014 when demand went through the roof.
– Games in Canada’s biggest cities like Toronto, Vancouver, and Montreal have tended to drive up prices, along with small venues like Ottawa in 2017.
– Edmonton has had some of the best deals historically thanks to its large Commonwealth Stadium capacity.
– The last 8 Grey Cups since 2014 have all averaged over $200 per ticket, demonstrating the game’s immense popularity.
Factors Influencing Price Trends
In reviewing the numbers, we can point to some key factors behind the Grey Cup’s ticket price trends over the past decade and a half:
Surging Demand
The Grey Cup has grown more popular than ever in recent years, with demand from rabid CFL fans outpacing supply for the championship game. This basic economic principle is driving prices higher.
Limited Venue Capacities
Many CFL stadiums max out at around 30,000-40,000 seats. For the Grey Cup, this scarcity of supply and inventory squeezed prices upward.
Major Market Locations
Games held in major cities like Toronto, Calgary, and Vancouver have meant large local fan bases bid up ticket costs.
Marquee Matchups
Compelling Grey Cup games like Saskatchewan vs. Hamilton or rematches of close finals induce big demand spikes.
Booming Secondary Market
Resellers pounce when supply tightens near game day, amplifying costs. Dieshard fans have shown willingness to pay almost any price.
Conclusion
Based on our analysis, the average ticket price for the Grey Cup has trended upwards significantly in recent years as demand intensified. Fans can expect to pay anywhere from $200 to $500 per seat depending on the specific teams, host city, and secondary market factors.
Smaller host venues, games in major CFL cities, star-powered matchups, and last-minute reseller dynamics tend to push Grey Cup ticket costs to the higher end of the spectrum. But devoted football fans have demonstrated their willingness to dig deep for the chance to see their team crowned champion live and in person.
While the Grey Cup remains a coveted ticket, historical pricing trends and an understanding of demand factors provide insights into costs. For CFL fans, the memories made watching the big game live often make the ticket price well worth it in the end.
