With more and more people priced out of major sporting arenas, the idea of going to a game always feels like it’ll cost a fortune. And if you’re a hockey fan, is it worth catching your favorite team at home or away? Which arenas are the cheapest?
Good thing Free Bets put out a report calculating the most and least expensive NHL stadiums. Here’s what Free Bets had to say about what a night at the game costs, with the “total” based on the price of four tickets, four hot dogs, two beers, two soft drinks, two souvenir hats, and parking.
10th Most Affordable: Prudential Center | New Jersey Devils
- Price of a Ticket: $75.25
- Price of a Hot Dog: $6.50
- Price of a Beer: $11
- Price of a Soft Drink: $6
- Price of a Parking: $19.55
- Price of a Team Hat: $19.99
- Total: $420.53
Ticket prices might be higher than others in the Top 10, but the cheapest hats in the country should make up for it.
9th Most Affordable: Rogers Arena | Vancouver Canucks
- Price of a Ticket: $78.25
- Price of a Hot Dog: $5.19
- Price of a Beer: $7.78
- Price of a Soft Drink: $4.81
- Price of a Parking: $11.41
- Price of a Team Hat: $22.21
- Total: $4141.77
As one of the most expensive cities in Canada, this is a surprise. Maybe parking is cheap because they know everybody’s taking public transit.
8th Most Affordable: Lenovo Center | Carolina Hurricanes
- Price of a Ticket: $67.60
- Price of a Hot Dog: $6
- Price of a Beer: $10
- Price of a Soft Drink: $6
- Price of a Parking: $20.50
- Price of a Team Hat: $29.99
- Total: $406.88
Based in Raleigh, the Carolina Hurricanes (rough time to be named that) still haven’t topped 10 bucks for a beer in their arena, which is always nice to see.
7th Most Affordable: Honda Center | Anaheim Ducks
- Price of a Ticket: $62.73
- Price of a Hot Dog: $6.50
- Price of a Beer: $12.50
- Price of a Soft Drink: $6.50
- Price of a Parking: $21.25
- Price of a Team Hat: $29.99
- Total: $396.15
Bummer for the Ducks that one of their greatest rivals, The Sharks, rank slightly better. Sharks fans won’t let them live this one down.
6th Most Affordable: SAP Center | San Jose Sharks
- Price of a Ticket: $60.50
- Price of a Hot Dog: $6.50
- Price of a Beer: $10
- Price of a Soft Drink: $6
- Price of a Parking: $28.11
- Price of a Team Hat: $29.99
- Total: $388.09
The fact that one of the cheapest stadiums in the U.S. is anywhere near the Bay Area is a shock; $6.50 hot dogs feel more like it.
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5th Most Affordable: Nationwide Arena | Columbus Blue Jackets
- Price of a Ticket: $63.48
- Price of a Hot Dog: $6.50
- Price of a Beer: $10.50
- Price of a Soft Drink: $7
- Price of a Parking: $11.90
- Price of a Team Hat: $29.99
- Total: $386.80
The only major pro sport in Columbus, Ohio, the Blue Jackets have the fifth cheapest stadium in the country. Less than 12 bucks for parking is beautiful.
4th Most Affordable: Scotiabank Saddledome | Calgary Flames
- Price of a Ticket: $71.94
- Price of a Hot Dog: $4.81
- Price of a Beer: $8.15
- Price of a Soft Drink: $4.63
- Price of a Parking: $5.26
- Price of a Team Hat: $22.21
- Total: $382.24
$5 parking? Is that real? My research indicates it isn’t, but this is Free Bet’s world. They claim it’s $5. I hope they’re right.
3rd Most Affordable: KeyBank Center | Buffalo Sabres
- Price of a Ticket: $58.20
- Price of a Hot Dog: $5.50
- Price of a Beer: $12
- Price of a Soft Drink: $6
- Price of a Parking: $17.78
- Price of a Team Hat: $29.99
- Total: $368.56
The First Niagara Center became the KeyBank Center in 2016, and Buffalo fans already know it’s one of the cheapest hockey experiences you can get these days. Now you do, too.
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2nd Most Affordable: Amerant Bank Arena | Florida Panthers
- Price of a Ticket: $48.64
- Price of a Hot Dog: $8
- Price of a Beer: $13
- Price of a Soft Drink: $7
- Price of a Parking: $32.35
- Price of a Team Hat: $29.99
- Total: $358.89
$13 for a beer? $7 for a soda? That should be illegal. Somehow, this still shakes out as the second most affordable spot in the country.
Most Affordable: Canadian Tire Centre | Ottawa Senators
- Price of a Ticket: $59.38
- Price of a Hot Dog: $4.81
- Price of a Beer: $8.89
- Price of a Soft Drink: $4.44
- Price of a Parking: $23.46
- Price of a Team Hat: $20.73
- Total: $348.34
Despite 16 playoff appearances, the Senators have never won it. This adds up.
10th Least Affordable: Bell Centre | Montréal Canadiens
- Price of a Ticket: $105.30
- Price of a Hot Dog: $5.19
- Price of a Beer: $8.89
- Price of a Soft Drink: $5.19
- Price of a Parking: $12.74
- Price of a Team Hat: $22.21
- Total: $527.28
How did Canada end up back over here? Why are the other Canadian teams so much cheaper? Love those beer prices, though.
9th Least Affordable: Capital One Arena | Washington Capitals
- Price of a Ticket: $109.64
- Price of a Hot Dog: $7
- Price of a Beer: $11
- Price of a Soft Drink: $6
- Price of a Parking: $16.10
- Price of a Team Hat: $24.99
- Total: $566.64
The Caps are a nice escape from DC’s overwhelming world of politics, even if you’re paying $11 for your beers.
8th Least Affordable: Climate Pledge Arena | Seattle Kraken
- Price of a Ticket: $110.69
- Price of a Hot Dog: $8
- Price of a Beer: $9
- Price of a Soft Drink: $8
- Price of a Parking: $19.77
- Price of a Team Hat: $27.99
- Total: $584.51
Eight! Dollars! For! A! Hot! Dog!
7th Least Affordable: United Center | Chicago Blackhawks
- Price of a Ticket: $115
- Price of a Hot Dog: $7
- Price of a Beer: $11
- Price of a Soft Drink: $7
- Price of a Parking: $19.90
- Price of a Team Hat: $24.99
- Total: $593.88
Chicago is among the cheaper major cities, so it’s interesting to see it in the bottom 10 arenas. It’s not easy to shell out over $400 for some tickets.
6th Least Affordable: TD Garden | Boston Bruins
- Price of a Ticket: $118.12
- Price of a Hot Dog: $7
- Price of a Beer: $12.50
- Price of a Soft Drink: $6.50
- Price of a Parking: $22.60
- Price of a Team Hat: $27.99
- Total: $617.06
Asking $12.50 for a beer makes my blood boil. They’re certainly not trying to re-create the horrors of 10 Cent Beer Night, that’s for sure.
5th Least Affordable: Bridgestone Arena | Nashville Predators
- Price of a Ticket: $130.88
- Price of a Hot Dog: $5.50
- Price of a Beer: $10
- Price of a Soft Drink: $5
- Price of a Parking: $14.76
- Price of a Team Hat: $24.99
- Total: $640.26
With tickets that expensive, it turns out that you are the Predators’ prey.
4th Least Affordable: Madison Square Garden | New York Rangers
- Price of a Ticket: $131.31
- Price of a Hot Dog: $5
- Price of a Beer: $15
- Price of a Soft Drink: $5.50
- Price of a Parking: $30.94
- Price of a Team Hat: $27.99
- Total: $673.16
New York isn’t known for its ability to help you save money; certainly not that close to the Empire State Building, at least. $131 per ticket is incredibly steep.
3rd Least Affordable: Delta Center | Utah Hockey Club
- Price of a Ticket: $146.38
- Price of a Hot Dog: $3
- Price of a Beer: $15
- Price of a Soft Drink: $5
- Price of a Parking: $17
- Price of a Team Hat: $35
- Total: $724.52
We’ve got ourselves a brand new team here at the Delta center, which, if it’s anything like the airline, is overpriced in nearly every way.
2nd Least Affordable: T-Mobile Arena | Vegas Golden Knights
- Price of a Ticket: $144.89
- Price of a Hot Dog: $7.50
- Price of a Beer: $14
- Price of a Soft Drink: $7
- Price of a Parking: $25
- Price of a Team Hat: $25.99
- Total: $728.54
The Knights were actually the first-ever professional sports team in Las Vegas, and let’s be honest: Nothing in Vegas is cheap. Nothing.
Least Affordable: Scotiabank Arena | Toronto Maple Leafs
- Price of a Ticket: $159.33
- Price of a Hot Dog: $5.56
- Price of a Beer: $10.37
- Price of a Soft Drink: $5.56
- Price of a Parking: $12.46
- Price of a Team Hat: $22.21
- Total: $748.30
You’d expect to see the Canucks here, but Toronto is just as (if not more) expensive. But again, look at those cheap hats!
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