May 1, 2026; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; Montreal Canadiens fans cheer during the third period against the Tampa Bay Lightning in game six of the first round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Bell Centre. Mandatory Credit: Eric Bolte-Imagn Images
May 1, 2026; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; Montreal Canadiens fans cheer during the third period against the Tampa Bay Lightning in game six of the first round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Bell Centre. Mandatory Credit: Eric Bolte-Imagn Images
The Montreal Canadiens’ playoff run is exciting fans across the city. But many may struggle to book a seat at the Bell Center as ticket prices surge.
A CTVNews.ca report, using data from ticketing company Victory Live, shows that the average Canadiens playoff ticket now costs $988 USD (about $1,365 CAD). This makes Montreal the second most expensive playoff ticket market in North America, behind only the NBA’s New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden.
Victory Live studied ticket sales across eight NBA and NHL playoff markets. New York Knicks home games were the most expensive at $1,315 USD ($1,816 CAD), while the Montreal Canadiens ranked second, much higher than other NHL teams.
Carolina Hurricanes tickets average $342 USD ($472 CAD), Colorado Avalanche tickets cost $337 USD ($465 CAD), and Vegas Golden Knights demand $258 USD ($356 CAD). Notably, NBA teams like the Oklahoma City Thunder and Cleveland Cavaliers were cheaper than Montreal.
The Eastern Conference Final featuring the Montreal Canadiens and the Carolina Hurricanes has further raised ticket prices. Game 3 in Montreal has the highest average price of the first four conference final games at $1,018 USD ($1,406 CAD). Meanwhile, Game 4 at the Bell Center has also crossed $1,000 CAD with an average of $1,322 CAD.
Fans seeking affordable options will find little relief on the secondary market. The cheapest seats for Monday’s game start around $450 CAD, while some lower-bowl seats on Ticketmaster are priced above $4,500 CAD.
The report also shows how expensive Montreal’s playoff market has become compared to away games. Some fans could travel about 1,400 kilometres to Raleigh, North Carolina, watch Game 5 at the Lenovo Center, and still spend less than they would attending a home game at the Bell Center.
Canadiens Playoff Ticket Prices Now Rival Major Global Sporting Events
The Montreal Canadiens’ playoff ticket surge now puts Bell Center games among the most expensive live sports and entertainment events.
According to Victory Live data, last year’s World Series between the Los Angeles Dodgers and Toronto Blue Jays averaged $1,623 USD ($2,242 CAD) per ticket. On the other hand, Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour averaged $1,652 USD ($2,282 CAD) in 2023–24, with Indianapolis shows going over $3,000 USD on average.
The NFL Super Bowl is still the most expensive event. The last three Super Bowls had average ticket prices between $8,700 and $10,600 USD. The Super Bowl LVIII between the Kansas City Chiefs and the San Francisco 49ers had an average ticket price of $10,597 USD ($14,640 CAD).
The playoff atmosphere in Montreal and the strong Canadiens fanbase have helped make Bell Center tickets one of the most expensive in sports right now.
Read more at the NHL Fan Central.
Written by
Kapil Manghnani
Edited by
Sijo Paul