Single-game Sabres tickets are now on the market, and the early price tag is already telling the story of a fan base eager to get back inside the building.
Buffalo’s first home game of the season is set for October 3 against the Chicago Blackhawks, and the cheapest seats available are in the nosebleeds at $150. VIPTix President and CEO Nick Giammusso said the opener carries extra weight because of the matchup and the buzz around Patrick Kane returning to Buffalo.
“Last season they played phenomenal, and there’s great excitement in the community for the Sabres,” Giammusso said.
“The home opener is always a little bit bigger than most games, and it’s the Blackhawks, so, and Patrick Kane coming back to Buffalo and all that,” Giammusso said. “So, ticket prices are unfortunately up there.”
The Sabres gave fans plenty to celebrate last season, ending their long playoff drought and putting new life into the team’s following. That surge in interest is part of why Giammusso expects demand to stay strong this year.
“There’s excitement, and so people want to go,” Giammusso said. “People want to go to a live game, take their kids, you know, there’s a generation of fans that haven’t seen the playoffs, and all of a sudden, you know, they’re fans again.”
Two other dates are also drawing heavier prices: the game the day before Thanksgiving and the one the day after Christmas. Giammusso said those holiday windows tend to bring in more buyers, including people coming back to Buffalo from out of state.
“It’s the holiday hype, and there’s all kinds of transplanted Buffalonians that have gone to work in other states and live in other states, and, you know, they come home for the season, and they want to catch a game,” Giammusso said.
For fans trying to get the best deal, Giammusso said patience may pay off.
“They’ll start with higher ticket prices, and as, you know, the market settles down, and usually it’s better to wait,” Giammusso said.
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