Stadiums and Arenas of Canada part 2

[blueandgoldguy]

Woooheeee, I guess it's official. Edmonton's new arena is now Air Canada Centre West judging by those prices in the season ticket pricing chart.

Have to hand it to Katz with the pricing structure - offer a measly few hundred seats at a "reasonable price" to sucker the media and public (even a few posters here on Skyscraper) into believing that he is offering an affordable product to the masses when in reality those cheap seats are so scant that only a few middle income earners will be able to enjoy them.

Old Gallery at Rexall Place
approx. 1200 - 1500 seats
season ticket price per game = approx. $40

Cheap seating at new arena
approx. 500 seats
season ticket pricing = $43 per game

Collonnade seating at Rexall
approx. 3000 seats
season ticket price = $50 - $60 per game

next cheapest seating at new arena
approx. 700 -1000 seats
season ticket price = $58 per game

Katz has drastically reduced the number of cheap seats in the new arena resulting in even less accessibility for the middle class fan.

Also, the additional 2000+ seats which didn't exist in the old arena are insanely expensive loges and nosebleed club seats.

nosebleed club seats
approx. 1000 seats
season ticket price per game = $236 - $246

loges
approx. 1500 seats
season ticket price per game = 350 per game

Very ironic that a heavily taxpayer funded arena is even more inaccessible to the public.

I also love how Katz has turned what would have been the least desirable suites at the one end of the arena into theater boxes, the most expensive tickets in house at a cool $511 per game if you buy a season ticket. Theater style armchair seating with a private bar and restaurant - basically a home away from home.

Even centre ice nosebleeds are ridiculously expensive at $100 per game with a season ticket purchase. Imagine how much premium single game tickets will sell for up there.

Overall, I would have to say Katz has socked it to the good folks in Edmonton twice. First, with the horrible arena deal and second, with the most expensive average ticket price west of Toronto.