Where to Buy NHL Tickets
Choose Between Team Websites, Ticket Distributors and Exchanges
Aug 27, 2009
Hockey tickets are a hot commodity in a number of NHL cities. Once the schedule is released in mid-July, fans circle the game dates they most want to be at and anxiously await on-sale information. When that day eventually comes, with the phone in one hand and the other manning the keyboard and mouse, the fan dubiously tries all means possible to get the tickets he/she wants. Sometimes they’re successful; other times, they’re left looking to other avenues.
For fans of certain teams, buying tickets is easier said than done. Toronto Maple Leafs tickets have been as hard to come by as championship runs. Montreal’s Bell Centre has been sold out since January 2004 and demand for Canadiens tickets is so high that Habs fans have only a few categories to choose from on the team’s season ticket waiting list.
Those are two teams that have had middling success on the ice over the last few years. A resurgent Boston squad will make Bruins tickets a tougher buy as the team continues to rise. And what about Chicago hockey fans? Just a few short years ago, Blackhawks tickets were about as desirable as the plague. Now, the United Center is routinely packed with standing room the only option, if that’s even available.
Though it can be hard finding tickets, it’s not impossible and there are options.
Official Team Websites and Their Ticket Distributors
First and foremost, the best and most secure place any fan can buy tickets is through the desired team’s official site. Each team has a “Tickets” section that offers information on the different purchasing opportunities available, whether the interest is in individual games, season tickets or mini-plans featuring a select number of games. The section should also provide details on on-sale dates, times and procedures.
Most NHL teams sell individual game tickets through a ticket distributor, though some do handle the load internally. Ticketmaster is the most popular among the 30 clubs, with a select few opting for another distributor.
Ticket Re-sellers and Exchanges
Not every season ticket holder is able to attend every one of a team’s 41 regular season home games and it does happen that they may not have a client, friend or relative to whom they can pass along the available tickets. Thanks to the NHL and Ticketmaster, a new (legal) outlet was introduced, providing fans with new means to buy tickets.
In November 2008, the league and the ticket distributor announced a partnership that would see Ticketmaster become the official re-sale partner of the NHL. Through the union, ticket holders could sell to interested buyers via NHL.com or Ticketmaster.com, thus offering fans a safe way to buy hockey tickets online.
There are other online re-sellers that have proven to be popular as well. StubHub is one of several and up until the NHL's new deal, had been a ticket re-sale sponsor of the Washington Capitals.
Buying Tickets on EBay and Craigslist
Often, fans will turn to eBay or Craigslist to get their tickets and while yes, both sites are options, it’s a risk entirely at the buyer’s expense. In essence, it’s not much different from buying tickets from a scalper on the street corner. In this instance, though, those doing the purchasing still face the same risks but don’t have the added benefit of dealing with the seller face-to-face.
The major problem that arises in dealing with these sites is that the buyer has no way of knowing if the tickets that he/she will receive are in fact legitimate and will be accepted at the arena on game day. Those hoping to get confirmation from a team’s tickets department will likely be out of luck; teams don't generally endorse ticket purchases from either site.
Other Ticket Options
Some fans are happy to get tickets to a single game. Others want to get to as many possible but may not be able to afford a full set of season tickets. For those among the latter, one alternative is to consider a mini-plan. Another is to get a group of friends and/or family together, and chip in for season tickets.
And finally, for those who don’t or can’t buy tickets when they go on sale, it’s not entirely impossible to make a purchase closer to the desired game. Teams will sometimes release new tickets either on game-day itself or possibly a day or two ahead. Call the arena’s box office or check out the distributor’s website. If all else fails, contact the team to get more information on possible last-minute tickets.
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