Edmonton Oilers ticket prices cause mayhem ahead of the playoffs

As a result of the Vancouver Canucks' 4-1 win over the Calgary Flames on Tuesday night, the Edmonton Oilers are now locked in as a wild card team. In the first round of the playoffs they will at least have home-ice advantage, where they will face either the Vegas Golden Knights or Los Angeles Kings.

There is likely something unnerving for fans about having to face the Golden Knights, despite winning two of the three meetings this season, including the recent dominating 5-1 win without Connor McDavid. That would be the same Golden Knights team the Oilers were knocked out by in the second round of last season's playoffs, on the way to their first Stanley Cup triumph in franchise history.

Regardless, what we do know is that it will be quite costly for Oilers fans to watch their team play in person at Rogers Place, in the first round of the NHL playoffs. However, even supporters of one of top NHL teams are surprised by just how costly the experience is going to be.

HOW much?!?!

As per Mike Bould of Oilers Nation, the cheapest ticket prices for Game 1 versus the Golden Knights or Kings, will cost $289.71 in the upper bowl, including fees and taxes. To watch the action in the lower bowl, it will set you back $408.75.

For some context of how the other half live, consider that the most expensive tickets for Game 1 are going for a ridiculous $2,956.25. Suffice it to say, the majority of fans are not happy about the eye-popping prices, especially in today's economic climate in Canada.

Now we appreciate that the Oilers can afford to put the prices so high, due to demand, but you have to wonder at what point the fans will collectively say enough is enough? Surely it has to eventually get to a point where the organisation can no longer keep pushing their luck with and taking advantage of one of the most loyal and passionate fan bases in the NHL (and indeed all of North American professional sports).

In this respect, don't forget that this is the same franchise which went to the playoffs just once in 13 seasons, between 2006-07 and 2018-19. The fans still turned out in their droves at the games, so when does loyalty go in the other direction?

Unfortunately this is indicative of professional sports organisations in general, which are run like businesses and where money is king. The only way they will even consider listening, is if fans vote with their feet and stop going to games en masse.

However, we know this is not going to happen any time soon, with more than enough demand from fans who are excited to see if McDavid and the Oilers can finally win their first Stanley Cup since 1990. The crazy thing is, if you want to see them live in a playoff game, you might be better off going to one of their road games, especially if they face the Golden Knights in the first round.

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