NHL Playoff Premium

The NHL Playoff Premium: What Families Really Pay During the Stanley Cup Playoffs

To show the true cost of attending an NHL playoff game, we calculated the total outlay for a family of four across seven NHL teams — combining ticket prices with food, drinks, and parking at each arena.

Most Expensive Total Outing $38,783.29 Montreal Canadiens at Bell Centre
Widest Ticket Price Range $127,420.51 Montreal Canadiens (low to high spread)
Best Value Total Outing $5,334.78 Carolina Hurricanes at PNC Arena

The data captures what a family of four can expect to spend across tickets, food and drink, and parking at each playoff arena. Ticket prices span a wide range — from budget-conscious seats to premium experiences — making the average price a useful barometer of the typical outlay.

The average four-ticket playoff total is used as the main ranking metric, so the table reflects the most typical family-of-four ticket outlay. The low and high figures are shown separately as context, helping readers understand the available price range without confusing the ranking.

Key Findings
1

Montreal Sets the Pace

Montreal Canadiens fans face the highest average NHL playoff family outing at $38,783.29, once four average-priced tickets, food, drinks, and parking are included.

Highest Cost
2

Buffalo Jumps in the Playoffs

Buffalo Sabres rank third by average NHL playoff family outing at $10,056.33, despite KeyBank Center being the cheapest regular-season NHL arena for families in the baseline data.

Rank: 3rd
3

Vegas Remains Premium

Vegas Golden Knights sit fourth for average playoff family cost, with an estimated $8,015.78 total outing at T-Mobile Arena.

Rank: 4th
4

Colorado Has a Wide Range

Colorado Avalanche show one of the widest playoff ticket ranges, with a $58,677.48 gap between the low and high four-ticket totals.

Range: $58.7K
5

Carolina Is the Lowest Cost

Carolina Hurricanes fans see the lowest average NHL playoff family outing at $5,334.78 at PNC Arena.

Lowest Cost
Note: The main ranking uses the average four-ticket playoff total for a family of four. Low and high ticket figures are shown separately as range context, not as the primary ranking metric.

NHL Playoff Family Cost Rankings

Switch between value, average and premium four-ticket views. Each view is ranked from highest to lowest by total family outing cost, with food, drink, and parking included.

# Team / Arena Value Family Outing Value Four-Ticket Total Food & Drink Parking Child Admission Policy
1 Montreal CanadiensBell Centre $3,792.23 $3,734.69 $43.51 $14.03 Under 2 For Free
2 Buffalo SabresKeyBank Center $2,838.45 $2,756.97 $62.37 $19.11 Under 3 For Free
3 Minnesota WildXcel Energy Center $1,962.26 $1,889.70 $61.35 $11.21 Under 2 For Free
4 Colorado AvalancheBall Arena $1,652.25 $1,563.30 $71.04 $17.91 Under 2 For Free
5 Vegas Golden KnightsT-Mobile Arena $1,546.71 $1,442.34 $77.49 $26.88 Under 2 For Free
6 Anaheim DucksHonda Center $1,129.40 $1,037.69 $68.87 $22.84 Under 2 For Free
7 Carolina HurricanesPNC Arena $1,007.76 $925.43 $60.29 $22.04 Under 2 For Free
Value Seats uses the average low four-ticket total, then adds food, drink, and parking to show a lower-cost family outing estimate. Food & drink includes two beers, two soft drinks, and four hot dogs. All figures shown in U.S. dollars unless otherwise noted.
# Team / Arena Average Family Outing Average Four-Ticket Total Food & Drink Parking Child Admission Policy
1 Montreal CanadiensBell Centre $38,783.29 $38,725.75 $43.51 $14.03 Under 2 For Free
2 Minnesota WildXcel Energy Center $10,058.46 $9,985.90 $61.35 $11.21 Under 2 For Free
3 Buffalo SabresKeyBank Center $10,056.33 $9,974.85 $62.37 $19.11 Under 3 For Free
4 Vegas Golden KnightsT-Mobile Arena $8,015.78 $7,911.41 $77.49 $26.88 Under 2 For Free
5 Anaheim DucksHonda Center $6,454.72 $6,363.01 $68.87 $22.84 Under 2 For Free
6 Colorado AvalancheBall Arena $6,032.57 $5,943.62 $71.04 $17.91 Under 2 For Free
7 Carolina HurricanesPNC Arena $5,334.78 $5,252.45 $60.29 $22.04 Under 2 For Free
Average Seats is the default view and ranks teams by the average four-ticket playoff total, with food, drink, and parking included. Food & drink includes two beers, two soft drinks, and four hot dogs. All figures shown in U.S. dollars unless otherwise noted.
# Team / Arena Premium Family Outing Premium Four-Ticket Total Food & Drink Parking Child Admission Policy
1 Montreal CanadiensBell Centre $131,212.74 $131,155.20 $43.51 $14.03 Under 2 For Free
2 Colorado AvalancheBall Arena $60,329.73 $60,240.78 $71.04 $17.91 Under 2 For Free
3 Vegas Golden KnightsT-Mobile Arena $28,765.68 $28,661.31 $77.49 $26.88 Under 2 For Free
4 Anaheim DucksHonda Center $27,980.01 $27,888.30 $68.87 $22.84 Under 2 For Free
5 Buffalo SabresKeyBank Center $26,880.60 $26,799.12 $62.37 $19.11 Under 3 For Free
6 Carolina HurricanesPNC Arena $21,401.85 $21,319.52 $60.29 $22.04 Under 2 For Free
7 Minnesota WildXcel Energy Center $19,457.05 $19,384.49 $61.35 $11.21 Under 2 For Free
Premium Seats uses the average high four-ticket total, then adds food, drink, and parking to show the high-end family outing estimate. Food & drink includes two beers, two soft drinks, and four hot dogs. All figures shown in U.S. dollars unless otherwise noted.

NHL Playoff Ticket Surge vs Regular Season

Animated bar chart comparing average four-ticket playoff totals with regular-season four-ticket totals. Bars are ranked by the dollar increase from the regular season to the playoffs.

Team / Arena Ticket price movement Increase
1
Montreal Canadiens Bell Centre
Regular season: $974.52 Playoffs: $38,725.75
+$37,751.23 +3,873.83%
2
Buffalo Sabres KeyBank Center
Regular season: $375.84 Playoffs: $9,974.85
+$9,599.01 +2,554.02%
3
Minnesota Wild Xcel Energy Center
Regular season: $681.00 Playoffs: $9,985.90
+$9,304.90 +1,366.36%
4
Vegas Golden Knights T-Mobile Arena
Regular season: $668.64 Playoffs: $7,911.41
+$7,242.77 +1,083.21%
5
Anaheim Ducks Honda Center
Regular season: $487.76 Playoffs: $6,363.01
+$5,875.25 +1,204.54%
6
Colorado Avalanche Ball Arena
Regular season: $657.04 Playoffs: $5,943.62
+$5,286.58 +804.61%
7
Carolina Hurricanes PNC Arena
Regular season: $691.60 Playoffs: $5,252.45
+$4,560.85 +659.46%
Chart uses average four-ticket playoff totals from StubHub data and compares them with each team's regular-season four-ticket baseline. Bars show the dollar increase versus regular season; percentage increases are shown alongside each team.

Methodology

Total family costs were calculated for a family of four using StubHub NHL playoff ticket data. The family cost table lets readers switch between value, average and premium four-ticket views. Each view is ranked from highest to lowest by total family outing cost. Food and drink covers two beers, two soft drinks, and four hot dogs at arena-listed prices. Parking is the standard rate at each venue. The surge chart compares average four-ticket playoff prices with each team’s regular-season four-ticket baseline and shows both the dollar and percentage increase.