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Economy, Brokers Change Market For NBA, NHL Tickets

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Season-ticket holders appear to be putting more tickets on sale for games they are not interested in attending.

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By TED JACKOVICS | The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 31, 2008

TAMPA - In the early 1960s, fans could walk up to a ticket window at Philadelphia's Convention Hall and buy a $3 center-court seat for the National Basketball Association's marquee matchup between Bill Russell of the Boston Celtics and Wilt Chamberlain of the Philadelphia Warriors.

A National Hockey League fan could pay $4.50 for a ticket on the blue line at New York's Madison Square Garden to see Gordie Howe and the Detroit Red Wings tangle with Lou Fontinato and the New York Rangers.

Those days from winter sports' golden era are long gone. So are ticket prices for the best seats, most of which should cost less than $35 today after accounting for inflation. However, top-price tickets today cost $349 for the Tampa Bay Lightning and $225 for the Orlando Magic.

The depressed economy, relaxed scalping laws in many states and the emergence of myriad online ticket brokers have changed the secondary ticket market this basketball and hockey season, says Stephen Cucci, co-founder of online ticket broker RazorGator.com.

Season-ticket holders appear to be putting more tickets on sale for games they are not interested in attending. Some appear to be bargain prices — beyond premium prices paid for opening games.

"We have more NBA and NHL tickets available on our site than at any other time [in RazorGator's 30-year history]," Cucci said.

Here's a look at early trends that RazorGator has tracked, with all prices reflecting online broker sales:

NHL Numbers

• Prices sold through RazorGator for NHL home openers this month averaged $96, 25 percent higher than last year.

• The highest average opening-game purchase was $301 for the Vancouver Canucks and $33 for the Phoenix Coyotes.

• The Tampa Bay Lightning average ticket purchase for the Oct. 11 home opener against the Carolina Hurricanes was $78, compared with $59 a year ago.

• But this week, the average Lightning ticket purchase was $55, down from $78 a year ago. Some Lightning tickets were sold for $13.

NBA Numbers

• Prices sold through RazorGator for NBA home openers this week averaged $89, 27 percent higher than last year.

• The highest average opening-game purchase was $155 for the Los Angeles Lakers and $30 for the Indiana Pacers.

• The Orlando Magic average ticket purchase for Wednesday's home opener against the Atlanta Hawks was $66, compared with $63 a year ago. Some seats sold for $6.

Note: By league order, NBA teams must sell through their ticket office or preferred online sales outlet at least 500 tickets at $10 or less for each game.

Reporter Ted Jackovics can be reached at (813) 259-7817.

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