With the team’s recent losing streak, some believe the organization is charging too much for tickets
Hockey fans in Montreal live with the fact that to see their team live, they have to pay a small fortune.
The price difference from arena to arena around the league can be a little absurd. At the start of this season, I paid $100 to see the Habs play the Blackhawks during a pre-season game. I also paid $17 to see the Blackhawks play in Ottawa in December.
Growing up, hockey games were a luxury that I would get once a year as a gift from my parents. I valued that night like no other. I would even go to sleep those nights with visions of hockey players skating in my head, win or lose.
Now that I’m older and have a job that allows me to support my own hockey addiction, I see five or six games per season. I estimate that I spend about $700 per year on Habs tickets.
Some fans who are upset with the team’s slump have expressed on social media that they want refunds for their tickets. In my opinion, the people arguing for their money back aren’t true Habs fans.
It’s very hard to get tickets to a Canadiens game as most of the tickets sell out in minutes. Fans sit anxiously around their computers in hopes of being lucky enough to snatch a pair and, when they do, they accept the price and hit the “buy” button. At the time, it’s a fair trade. They put down the money and they get to see their team play.
When you buy a ticket, you take a risk. Your team might not win. They might not even score a goal. You might spend $300 to watch them lose 5-0. As a fan, you know and acknowledge this risk at the time of purchase.
Fans in Montreal are passionate about their team and like to see them win. The team rarely goes on losing streaks such as the one they are currently on, and the fans demanding refunds are just mad at themselves for spending so much money on a loss.
Real fans buy a ticket, go to the game and cheer on their team in hopes that they get a win. They will continue to support their team through hard times. I understand being frustrated, but asking for a refund is ridiculous. They’re still watching some of the best hockey players in the world play live. Instead of complaining, they should embrace that experience.
For those who absolutely refuse to pay so much for a hockey game, there’s good news for you: you can still see professional hockey for cheap in Montreal. Les Canadiennes, Montreal’s professional women’s hockey team, sells their tickets for under $20. Arguably as talented as their male counterparts, these women do not get paid a salary despite the revenue generated from thousands of ticket sales. Many of them work other jobs and play the sport simply because they love it. I urge you to give them a chance—they deserve so much more attention than they receive.
After all, you’ll be saving money.
