It remains to be seen if the Edmonton Oilers will be a playoff contender by the time they move into Rogers Place in 2016-17. It looks like Oilers season ticket holders will be paying as if they’re a high-end team either way.
The good news for Edmonton Oilers fans is that the “Connor McDavid tax” won’t be that costly for next season. Season tickets in their new arena fall in the cost range of “arm and a leg,” though.
The Oilers released a “season seat relocation guide” for the opening of Rogers Place in 2016-17, and the options are both more expensive and a little more complicated than what fans will experience at Rexall Place. It’s a little tough to compare and contrast when ticket pricing options just from eight different structures to 38, as Global Edmonton points out.
Copper & Blue’s Ryan Batty probably summarizes the more modest jump in prices - relatively speaking - between 2014-15 and next season versus the leap between 2015-16 and the new building’s opening campaign in 2016-17.
Looks like Oilers season ticket prices jumped 6-8% this season. I sort of thought the McDavid tax would be higher. pic.twitter.com/t3wXFddtU6
— Ryan Batty (@ryan_batty) May 21, 2015
Looks to me like a comparable seat to what I have today, goal line back of the second level, goes from $2430 to $3875. A mere 60% increase.
— Ryan Batty (@ryan_batty) July 24, 2015
Yikes. To little surprise, Oilers fans seem a little stunned by the spike in prices, especially since Batty points out that the team is asking for some cash early:
Maybe my favourite part of this is that the #Oilers want a 10% deposit for 2016/17 in October of THIS year.
— Ryan Batty (@ryan_batty) July 24, 2015
Here are some choice reactions from fans and media members on Twitter:
#Oilers fans are upset with increased season-ticket prices at the new arena? Wait until they unveil the new prices for hotdogs and beer...
— Derek Van Diest (@DerekVanDiest) July 25, 2015
#Oilers fans reacting to new season ticket prices be like: pic.twitter.com/5yG2scFH3P
— Alicja Siekierska (@alicjawithaj) July 24, 2015
I'm... I'm shell shocked. #Oilers ticket prices are real spicy. #DidntNeedLeftArmOrRightLegAnyway pic.twitter.com/AAWXJ47FJq
— Alan Smithee (@Oiler_Country) July 24, 2015
Well, they better improve by the time they move then, right?