Excitement for this year’s Winter Classic is as high as any year, and arguably higher given that it’s the first year the home team plays in ‘HockeyTown.’ It's also the first time that a team from HockeyCountry, aka, Canada is in the game. Despite all that, the price is the lowest it’s been in three years and likely the lowest ever. At an average price on the secondary market of $264, the game is 55% less than the last game in 2012 and 48% less than the 2011 game. What’s driving down price this year, however, is not demand but supply. This years game is being played in the largest non-motor sports venue in America, also known as the Big House. Home to the Michigan Wolverines, Michigan Stadium seats 109,000, almost 37,000 more than the next largest winter classic venue--Buffalo’s Ralph Wilson Stadium; and 70,000 seats larger than the smallest Winter Classic venue--Fenway Park.
While the average price may be down for this year’s classic, there are plenty of other outdoor hockey games that signal the continued success and growth of the outdoor model. With five other games being played outdoors in the NHL, 2014 marks a watershed in the history of outdoor hockey. The average price is $332 across the five games this season. The most expensive ticket is $393 for the Blackhawk's game at Soldier Field against the Penguins. For the Blackhawks, that’s familiar territory, as Blackhawks tickets are the most expensive NHL ticket this season. The next most expensive game is in another historic venue at Yankee Stadium. These will be the first hockey games played in the new Yankee Stadium, and despite their sub-.500 start, Rangers fans are paying an average of $357 for the two games, which will take place at the end of January. In addition to Rangers fans, Devils and Islanders fans are also helping make these the most expensive regular season hockey tickets in New York in years. Devils fans, however, seem more excited about the outdoor match-up, as Rangers versus Devils tickets are $50 more expensive than Rangers versus Islanders tickets.
In addition the outdoor games being played in the cold weather, the 2014 outdoor series will feature the first warm weather game, to be played at Dodger Stadium. Of all the outdoor games, it is the least expensive with a current average price of $305. Despite their combined records of 45-15, the game in LA has the most tepid demand, and there are still a lot of tickets left on the primary market. That has not, however, dissuaded other warm weather teams from throwing their hats, and sweaters, into the ring for future outdoor games. In particular, the Coyotes have made clear that they are looking for a game next year. While the Kings recent Stanley Cup has done a tremendous amount for hockey in Los Angeles, for a city like Phoenix that has never been to a Stanley Cup, an outdoor game may be the biggest opportunity to showcase the sport to casual fans.
Since 1999, five warm-weather teams have won the Stanley Cup: Los Angeles, Anaheim, Carolina, Tampa Bay and Dallas. In each of those years, hockey took its respective cities by storm. As any true hockey fans knows, the Stanley Cup Finals are a winding, exhilarating and unpredictable road and once you’ve traveled it, there’s nothing in sports that quite matches up. At 18-9 the Coyotes are having a strong 2013-14 campaign, and are in a good position to reach the post-season tournament this year, and hopefully next. What better way to showcase the team to prospective fans than a winter game in the one the climates least associated with winter: the desert.
