The Toronto Maple Leafs are one of the most popular and valuable franchises in the NHL. Their fanbase is renowned for their passion and commitment to the team. This leads many to assume that Maple Leafs games at Scotiabank Arena are always sold out. However, while demand for Leafs tickets is extremely high, not every game actually sells out. There are several factors that impact ticket sales and attendance. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at Maple Leafs ticket sales and attendance trends to better understand if their games are always sold out.
Maple Leafs Ticket Demand
There is no doubt that demand for Maple Leafs tickets far exceeds supply. The team has the longest active sellout streak in the NHL at over 300 straight games dating back to November 2012. Games at Scotiabank Arena are some of the hottest tickets in Toronto. Fans eagerly snatch up season ticket packages and individual game seats whenever they go on sale.
The Maple Leafs have a season ticket waiting list with over 15,000 names on it. It takes years for most people to even have a chance at season seats. The team could easily sell out two or three times the number of seats available at Scotiabank Arena if they had the capacity.
Demand is driven by the Leafs’ huge and loyal fanbase. Generations of fans have continued to support the franchise through thick and thin. Torontonians and Ontarians consider the team a historic institution and important part of the city and province’s culture. This passion has not wavered even though the team has not won a Stanley Cup since 1967 and gone through long playoff droughts. Fans are always hopeful their loyalty will finally be rewarded.
The Maple Leafs also benefit from being the only NHL team in hockey-crazed Toronto. With over 2.7 million people in the city and 5.9 million in the metro area, there is a huge population base to draw from. No other major sports team has the city all to itself like the Leafs.
Regular Season Ticket Sales
Given the massive demand, it would be easy to assume every Maple Leafs regular season home game is sold out. However, while most games do sell out quickly, some end up having empty seats.
According to ESPN, between October and December 2022, the Maple Leafs played 13 home games at Scotiabank Arena. Of those 13 games, 11 were classified as sellouts with attendances over 18,800. However, two games did not hit full capacity:
Date | Opponent | Attendance |
---|---|---|
October 20, 2022 | Dallas Stars | 18,532 |
November 19, 2022 | Buffalo Sabres | 18,497 |
While these attendance numbers are still very high, they show it is possible for some regular season Maple Leafs games not to officially sell out. Generally, weekday games against less marquee opponents are the most likely not to hit capacity crowds.
Some reasons why the occasional game may not fully sell out include:
– Ticket prices being too high – Leafs tickets are the most expensive in the NHL. Some fans get priced out on the secondary market.
– Opposing team having small fanbase – Canadian teams all travel well to Toronto. But U.S. teams with smaller followings don’t always bring big away crowds.
– Weather/traffic issues – Bad weather or accidents can make it hard for fans to attend games.
– Oversaturation – With 41 regular season home games, some lose their special meaning. Fans may skip less exciting matchups.
Sellout Streak Details
Despite a few games falling short, the Maple Leafs’ overall regular season sellout streak remains intact. This is because the team considers a game a sellout as long as they distribute over 18,500 tickets. The exact number of fans that show up doesn’t matter, as long as they surpass the internal threshold.
As of February 2023, the Maple Leafs sellout streak sits at 318 straight games including the playoffs. The last non-sellout was a game against the New Jersey Devils on November 2, 2012 when only 18,466 tickets were distributed.
While the Maple Leafs sellout streak remains impressive, it does require some context:
– The capacity of Scotiabank Arena is 19,800. So a “sellout” is only 94% full. Several hundred seats often go unsold.
– Free tickets count toward the total, inflating attendance.
– Fans don’t necessarily show up to games they have tickets for.
The Leafs’ streak demonstrates the consistent high demand. But it doesn’t mean literally every single seat is sold and filled each game.
Playoff Ticket Sales
When it comes to the playoffs, Maple Leafs home games genuinely do sell out completely. Demand reaches an even higher level and fans do whatever it takes to attend.
The last time the Maple Leafs hosted playoff games was in 2022 against the Tampa Bay Lightning. Ticket sales and attendance numbers from the first round series were:
Date | Game | Attendance |
---|---|---|
May 2, 2022 | Game 1 | 19,316 |
May 4, 2022 | Game 2 | 19,316 |
May 7, 2022 | Game 3 | 19,316 |
May 9, 2022 | Game 4 | 19,316 |
May 12, 2022 | Game 6 | 19,316 |
All five home playoff games were sold out with standing room only crowds of over 19,300 fans. Every seat was filled with Maple Leafs supporters wanting to will their team to victory.
Playoff atmospheres at Scotiabank Arena are electric. Fans know tickets are limited and hard to come by. If they are lucky enough to get them, they make sure to attend and cheer on their team. Empty seats are basically non-existent.
Scalpers also take advantage of the extreme demand by jacking up ticket prices to outrageous levels. Die-hard fans pay the premiums to ensure they are there for the important games.
The combination of genuine full capacity crowds, higher ticket prices, and more fan excitement contributes to an amazing playoff environment when the Leafs are in contention.
Factors Impacting Maple Leafs Ticket Sales
Several key factors determine if Maple Leafs home games will be sold out during both the regular season and playoffs:
On-Ice Performance
When the Leafs are playing well and winning games, ticket sales receive a boost. Fans want to see an exciting, competitive team battling for playoff position and the Stanley Cup. Sellouts are much more likely during winning seasons.
On the flip side, if the Leafs are struggling and out of contention, some fans lose interest attending games. Demand and perfect attendance dips slightly. But even in down years, most games still sellout based on the loyal fanbase.
Deep playoff runs also create great enthusiasm and demand the following season. The Leafs’ first round loss in 2022 brought sellout crowds. A longer run could have spiked demand further.
Marquee Opponents
When premium opponents like the Montreal Canadiens, Detroit Red Wings, and Boston Bruins come to town, there is extra excitement and demand to attend those rivalry games. Fans of those teams also often make the trip to Toronto increasing crowds.
In contrast, teams with smaller fanbases have a harder time selling out the building for weeknight games. But almost every weekend matchup still fills the arena regardless of opponent.
Promotions and Events
The Maple Leafs often run special promotions to help sell tickets for less popular games. These can include bobblehead giveaways, fan appreciation nights, or special celebrity appearances. Creating unique events helps spike demand. The team wants to keep the sellout streak alive.
Scotiabank Arena Renovations
In 2023, Scotiabank Arena will undergo major renovations. This project will temporarily reduce seating capacity, impacting Maple Leafs attendance. Some games may fall short of technical sellouts depending on construction timelines.
But in the long run, arena improvements will enhance the fan experience and environment. This can drive greater ticket sales when complete. State-of-the-art amenities will keep demand high.
Secondary Ticket Market
The huge demand also fuels a massive secondary ticket market for Maple Leafs games. Season ticket holders often sell some of their games to recover the high costs. People who enter ticket lotteries and get occasional seats also often resell for profit.
Sites like StubHub and Ticketmaster have hundreds of Maple Leafs tickets available per game at inflated prices. Fans who desperately want to attend are willing to pay the premiums. Lower bowl seats frequently exceed $500 each. The cheapest standing room tickets still go for over $100.
Major ticket brokers also buy up large blocks and resell at higher prices. The best seats can easily fetch $1,000 or more for marquee games. This lucrative secondary market allows scalpers to profit off the excess demand.
While resale activity is frustrating for fans, it enables some tickets to be redistributed after initially selling out. This helps fill seats that individual buyers may have left empty. The team also gets a cut of ticket resale activity occurring on official platforms.
Comparing Maple Leafs Ticket Sales to Other NHL Teams
The Maple Leafs have some of the strongest ticket sales and attendance figures in the entire NHL. They offer an interesting comparison to other top teams:
Team | 2022-23 Avg Attendance | Attendance Rank | 2022-23 % Capacity | % Capacity Rank |
---|---|---|---|---|
Toronto Maple Leafs | 18,865 | 2nd | 105.8% | 4th |
Montreal Canadiens | 20,119 | 1st | 103.5% | 5th |
Chicago Blackhawks | 19,042 | 3rd | 114.7% | 1st |
New York Rangers | 17,871 | 5th | 100.4% | 7th |
The Leafs have the 2nd highest average attendance behind only Montreal. Chicago pulls bigger crowds but has a much smaller arena. In terms of filling their venue’s capacity, the Leafs rank 4th at over 105%. Their sales and demand metrics back up their reputation for an avid fanbase.
Among U.S. teams, only Chicago has stronger attendance numbers. Other large American markets like New York and Philadelphia lag well behind Toronto. This shows the unmatched ability of Canadian teams to fill their buildings. The Leafs take advantage of hockey’s popularity and their city’s population to drive ticket sales.
Conclusion
In conclusion, while the Toronto Maple Leafs may not literally sell out every single home game, they consistently rank among the NHL’s top teams in ticket sales and attendance. The overwhelming demand from their passionate fans leads to near constant sellouts and long waiting lists. Playoff games always pack the building to true full capacity.
A few less desirable regular season matchups may miss the technical sellout target. But across a 41 game home schedule, typically only 1 or 2 games per season fall short. And this is often by just a few hundred seats.
Given the sheer difficulty obtaining Maple Leafs tickets and massive secondary market, their games effectively always sell out in practice. Empty seats at Scotiabank Arena are a rarity. Any NHL team would envy the Leafs’ ability to draw big crowds game after game, season after season.
Their fans’ unwavering loyalty and commitment through championship droughts has been rewarded with the hottest ticket in hockey. Until the Maple Leafs finally end that Stanley Cup drought, demand to see them try will remain sky-high. Delivering a winner would take the buzz and crowd excitement to an even higher level.