Penguins have NHL's highest average ticket price
(c) 1997 Copyright Nando.net
(c) 1997 Associated Press
NEW YORK (Sep 25, 1997 - 21:39 EDT) -- Even with the retirement of high-priced Mario
Lemieux, the Pittsburgh Penguins will have the highest priced average ticket in the NHL this season
at $56.28.
The financially-troubled Edmonton Oilers, on the other hand, will have the lowest at $25.20.
And the NHL's average ticket price will be $40.78, the first time any major sports league has
eclipsed the $40 mark.
The figures were among those released Thursday by Team Marketing Report, a Chicago--based
survey group.
According to the group, NHL teams with the highest average ticket prices continue to be those in
the sport's established markets.
"Teams in new markets typically must maintain prices that enable them to build their fan bases," Sean
Brenner, editor of Team Marketing Report, said in a statement.
The Carolina Hurricanes, who moved from Hartford, have the 15th-highest average ticket price
among the 26 teams at $38.20
Of the teams with the 10 highest average ticket prices, only the Colorado Avalanche (average price:
$49.28) have moved into a new market in the last 15 years.
Surprisingly, the Penguins are league leaders in the average ticket price category despite subtracting
the salary of Lemieux, the NHL's highest-paid player last season by far at $11,321,429. They are
currently in salary negotiations with Jaromir Jagr, the heir apparent to Lemieux in Pittsburgh.
The Penguins' ticket rise is up 21.1 per cent from last season.
The Oilers, meanwhile, are still up for sale by owner Peter Pocklington, and still down in the average
ticket price. While the Oilers' increased their prices 8.9 per cent, according to Team Marketing
Report, their price represented the lowest average in the league for the third straight season.
Among other teams, the Los Angeles Kings had the greatest average ticket price decline of 12.9 per
cent, dropping to $35.30.
The NHL overall average ticket price rated ahead of the runnerup NFL's $38.09, according to
Team Marketing Report. The NBA was third at $34.08 (in 1996-97) and major league baseball
fourth at $11.98. |
