Canucks fans brace for high prices as playoff tickets go on sale

Tickets for the first Vancouver Canucks home playoff games in nearly a decade went on sale to the general public on Monday,with resale prices quickly rising to hundreds of dollars.

Kingsley Bailey, who re-sells event tickets through his business, Vancouver Ticket, says the cheapest tickets for the Canucks' upcoming opening round gamewere in the range of $250, but those disappearedquickly.

The cheapest Game 1 tickets available on Ticketmaster via verified resaleas of Monday afternooncost more than $400, including fees.

Standard tickets were still available for more expensive seats, starting in the $700 range.

But Bailey says the prices he's seeing now on resale sites are high and he wouldn't be surprised to see a market correction.

"Iwould say probably within 48 hours of the game, if there's a lot of inventory, prices,Ithink, willcorrect ... These prices are high."

The Canucks became the first Canadian team to book their spot in the NHL post-season after the San Jose Sharks defeated the St. Louis Blues 4-0 on Saturday night.

The team last made it to the playoffsin 2020, when games were closed to the public due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Canucks last played home playoff games in front of fans atVancouver's Rogers Arena in 2015, when the club lost itsbest-of-seven opening-round series against the Calgary Flames four games to two.

WATCH| Hockey fans in Vancouver react to the Canucks clinching a playoff spot:

Canucks fans react as team clinches NHL playoff spot

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The Vancouver Canucks have secured their first chance to play for the Stanley Cup since 2020. CBC spoke to fans about their feelings and expectations for the upcoming playoff run.

Bailey says prices were more reasonable in 2015 because the Canucks had "limped" into the playoffs. Tickets ahead of the matchup with the Flames werearound $80 to $300, according to a Vancouver Sun article at the time.

Bailey said he's still seeing a lot of interest among fans,but concerns about rising ticket prices mean fans are buying fewer tickets each.

He says in past yearshe would often see fans purchasetickets for two games in a playoff round. Now, fans may be looking at attending fewer games.

"It's going to affect discretionary spending on events like this," Bailey said of rising costs. "So when they used to go to two or three games, they're nowmaybe going to pick one."

Canucks fanKevin Danchella, who visited Bailey's downtown Vancouver storefront on Monday,said tickets are expensive and he may attendonly one playoff game.

"I'll probably just watch the rest on TV," Danchellasaid.

Dates and times forthe Canucks' opening-round games have not been determined, nor has their opponent.