Chicago hockey fans are spending thousands of dollars for the once-in-a-lifetime chance to see the Blackhawks raise the Stanley Cup on home ice.
The secondary market for tickets to Game 6 of the Cup final against the Tampa Bay Lightning has exploded. StubHub spokesman Cameron Papp said the most expensive ticket so far went for US$10,000.
As of noon Monday, the cheapest ticket available was standing-room only for over US$800 and others were listed for upwards of $25,000.
"You can compare this to something like the Super Bowl or even the Manny Pacquiao-Floyd Mayweather fight," Papp said. "It's a chance to be a part of history, and if people have the money they're going to spend it."
Fans paid an average of just under C$3,000 for tickets to Game 7 of the 2011 Cup final in Vancouver, according to CNBC. Papp said there was a similarly strong market for the New York Rangers in last year's final at Madison Square Garden.
Game 6 is expected to be the highest-selling Blackhawks game in StubHub history, which is understandable because the team hasn't had an opportunity to lift the Cup on home ice since 1971. It last happened in 1938.
"There's only a few (U.S.) markets that I think it can possibly happen," Papp said. "Usually it's one of the Original Six. I know last year the New York Rangers this was similar. Prices were going crazy for Madison Square Garden. There's only a few markets: New York, Chicago, Boston, that would probably have this kind of demand for hockey."
