Hockey Ticket Prices Up For Third Straight Year
ST. PAUL (WCCO) -- Hockey fans far and wide are at the Xcel Energy Center this weekend for the State Hockey Tournament.
But as they arrive, they are likely finding it a little more expensive to get in.
For both students and adults heading to the X, this marks the third straight year that ticket prices have gone up. It is now $17 for adults to be here and $11 for students, and that will get you into two games.
But you will hear very few complaints from these hockey fans.
Lori Swanson and her band of White Bear Lake hockey fans consider the state tournament a Minnesota holiday. Even in their excitement to be here, they still noticed the tickets were a little more expensive.
"Yes, but you can't put a price on the value of this," she said. "It's a culture, you go with friends and occasionally family."
That means Lori is OK with paying $17 to see two games. That's up $4 from 2008 when adults paid $13 to get in. It went up to $15 in 2009, and this year it's up $2.
Student tickets also went up a buck.
"It's a little expensive, I'll be honest," said Jack Maddy, a Duluth East fan.
The State High School League says the increased prices are to off-set the increased costs for renting and cleaning the X, and even reimbursing some of the team expenses.
Many fans say for this kind of entertainment and family traditions, you just can't put a price on it.
The increased ticket prices also go towards security and ticketing.
The High School League said they plan on keeping these prices the same for the next few years at least.
