When it comes to affordable NHL tickets, fans have a lot of options depending on which team they want to see and where the game is being played. Overall ticket prices can vary widely across the league, but some teams consistently offer lower average ticket prices than others. Understanding the cheapest NHL tickets can help hockey fans find great deals on live games.
What are the factors that influence NHL ticket prices?
There are several key factors that impact how much NHL teams charge for tickets:
- Team popularity – More popular teams that draw bigger crowds can charge higher prices.
- Market size – Teams in huge markets like Toronto can charge more than those in smaller cities.
- Opposing team – Games against rivals or top teams often have more expensive tickets.
- Seat location – Lower bowl and club seats carry bigger price tags than upper levels.
- Day and time – Weekend and evening games are more in demand than weekday matinees.
Knowing these factors can help explain the range of NHL ticket prices and why some games are cheaper than others. The most affordable options are typically for less popular teams, smaller markets, weekday games, and upper deck seats.
Which NHL teams have the cheapest average ticket prices?
Looking at the average ticket prices across an entire season, these five NHL teams consistently have the most affordable ticket costs:
- Florida Panthers – The Panthers have the lowest average ticket price ($46) in the NHL for the 2021-22 season. They offer great deals playing in the lower capacity BB&T Center in Sunrise, Florida.
- Arizona Coyotes – After relocating to a smaller arena, the Coyotes average ticket price dropped to $48 for 2021-22. Cheap Coyotes tickets are plentiful.
- Columbus Blue Jackets – With average ticket prices of $50 and $52 in their past two seasons, the Blue Jackets offer their Ohio fans really low prices.
- Carolina Hurricanes – In another smaller Southern market, Hurricanes tickets average just above $50 per game.
- Buffalo Sabres – Sabres tickets average around $50 at their downtown Buffalo arena, some of the NHL’s cheapest prices.
Other teams like the Avalanche, Devils, Jets, Predators, and Ducks also have average ticket costs less than $60 per game.
Which NHL teams have the most expensive average ticket prices?
At the other end of the spectrum, these five NHL teams have the highest average ticket prices for the 2021-22 season:
- Toronto Maple Leafs – The popular Leafs have by far the highest average ticket price in the league at $123. Games at Scotiabank Arena are very expensive.
- New York Rangers – Playing at Madison Square Garden, Rangers tickets average $110 for 2021-22.
- Boston Bruins – Bruins tickets at TD Garden average $97 this season, third-highest in the NHL.
- Chicago Blackhawks – Blackhawks games at United Center average around $94 as demand remains high.
- Vancouver Canucks – Canucks tickets average $92 thanks to high prices charged at Rogers Arena.
Other Original Six teams like the Canadiens, Red Wings, and Rangers also have average prices over $80 per game along with the Oilers, Flames, and Jets (when they play in Winnipeg).
How to find the cheapest NHL tickets
While those average prices give a good basis for the low and high-end of NHL tickets, fans don’t necessarily have to pay those prices for every game. There are several ways to find cheaper NHL tickets, even for the popular teams:
- Purchase upper deck or corner seats – The cheapest seats in any arena are always in the highest sections farthest from the ice. Corner seats in the upper decks can sometimes be had for as low as $20-30 per ticket.
- Look for weekday games – Avoiding prime weekend dates and targeting weekday matchups, especially early in the week, can save a lot.
- Shop preseason games – Before the regular season starts, preseason tickets can be found for as low as $15-20 per seat.
- Buy group packages – Many teams offer group discounts for parties of 10 or more. The more tickets bought, the cheaper they get.
- Purchase last minute – Waiting until the last minute on game day to buy often allows fans to scoop up unused inventory at a discount.
- Use ticket reseller sites – Sites like VividSeats.com, StubHub.com, and SeatGeek.com are great resources to compare prices and find deals.
Taking advantage of these tips above allows fans get into NHL games at the lowest prices.
Cheapest NHL tickets by team
To give fans a better idea of the specific ticket prices and deals around the league, here is a team-by-team breakdown showcasing the cheapest tickets available for upcoming games this season:
Team | Cheapest Ticket Price | Game Details |
---|---|---|
Anaheim Ducks | $17 | October 25 vs. Lightning |
Arizona Coyotes | $16 | November 2 vs. Hurricanes |
Boston Bruins | $35 | November 7 vs. Maple Leafs |
Buffalo Sabres | $22 | October 27 vs. Flames |
Calgary Flames | $40 | December 6 vs. Panthers |
Carolina Hurricanes | $25 | November 17 vs. Avalanche |
Chicago Blackhawks | $30 | November 27 vs. Jets |
Colorado Avalanche | $35 | December 1 vs. Sabres |
Columbus Blue Jackets | $22 | November 15 vs. Flyers |
Dallas Stars | $25 | November 23 vs. Blackhawks |
Detroit Red Wings | $40 | November 24 vs. St.Louis Blues |
Edmonton Oilers | $50 | November 5 vs. Devils |
Florida Panthers | $15 | October 25 vs. Bruins |
Los Angeles Kings | $25 | November 29 vs. Ottawa Senators |
Minnesota Wild | $40 | December 9 vs. Jets |
Montreal Canadiens | $60 | November 27 vs. Penguins |
Nashville Predators | $20 | November 17 vs. Islanders |
New Jersey Devils | $25 | November 28 vs. Capitals |
New York Islanders | $35 | December 3 vs. Blues |
New York Rangers | $75 | November 8 vs. Panthers |
Ottawa Senators | $35 | December 17 vs. Los Angeles |
Philadelphia Flyers | $40 | November 10 vs. Maple Leafs |
Pittsburgh Penguins | $55 | November 26 vs. Islanders |
San Jose Sharks | $40 | December 13 vs. Seattle |
Seattle Kraken | $45 | November 21 vs. Washington |
St. Louis Blues | $45 | January 24 vs. Avalanche |
Tampa Bay Lightning | $50 | December 5 vs. Boston |
Toronto Maple Leafs | $60 | January 15 vs. Blues |
Vancouver Canucks | $40 | December 14 vs. Columbus |
Vegas Golden Knights | $55 | January 24 vs. Washington |
Washington Capitals | $55 | November 7 vs. Sabres |
Winnipeg Jets | $45 | March 10 vs. Anaheim |
Getting cheap tickets to see your favorite team
While the prices above reflect the lowest tickets available for certain games, the best way to find cheap tickets for specific teams you want to see is with these tips:
- Panthers – Sign up for ticket alerts and look for $15-25 seats vs. non-conference opponents during the week.
- Coyotes – Last minute upper deck seats can be had for as low as $10-15 per game.
- Blue Jackets – Check the team’s ‘Last Minute Tickets’ page for upper bowl seats under $20.
- Hurricanes – Monitor resale sites for $20 tickets in the upper corners vs. lesser opponents.
- Sabres – Attend a Friday game with $20-25 seats in the 300-level sections.
- Canadiens – Sort by price on fan resale sites and look for $50 seats in the corners or ends.
- Jets – Purchase standing room only tickets on game day for $30 or less.
- Predators – Join student rush and get upper deck tickets for around $15-20.
- Devils – Opt for Fan Appreciation games in April for tickets as low as $20.
The best deals on any team require staying patient and flexible. With the right timing and seat selection, fans can find inexpensive NHL tickets for even the most popular teams.
Conclusion
While the NHL offers exciting live hockey, it can also come with high ticket prices, especially for marquee teams. However, by considering factors like team popularity, market size, day and time, and seat location, fans can unlock huge savings on tickets around the league. The most affordable prices are available for teams like the Panthers, Coyotes, Blue Jackets and Hurricanes, where upper deck seats can be had for as low as $15-25 each game. Even more popular teams have affordable options by targeting preseason, weekday and less desirable opponents. With the right planning and research, hockey fans can find cheap NHL tickets to enjoy live games all season long without breaking the bank.