October 9, 2015
That long commute to Brooklyn from Long Island to might be worth it after all.
The butting of heads between fans and brass was the biggest offseason story for the New York Islanders, who make the 30-mile move from the beloved confines of Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Uniondale to the modernized, bathroom-friendly Barclays Center on Atlantic Avenue this season. With a new jersey unveiling and goal horn issues now in the rearview, they’ll officially drop the puck in their new home Friday night against the defending Stanley Cup champion Chicago Blackhawks. And interestingly enough, ticket prices are plummeting on the secondary market.
According to TicketIQ the average resale price for Islanders vs Blackhawks tickets is now just $135.80, marking a 72.6% drop from the game’s $497.22 average on July 10, the day after single-game tickets went on sale. Back in early-September, the cheapest ticket available was looming near the current average price at $133. Fans who resisted the temptation to buy big will be rewarded kindly today as the get-in price currently starts at just $61.
Jaroslav Halak, the Islanders’ starting goaltender, will likely miss the home opener and the Isles will instead net Thomas Greiss, a journeyman who last played for the Pittsburgh Penguins last season. With Halak gone for the foreseeable future, the Islanders are already playing wounded before the season even begins, and that certainly has aided the considerable price drop for tonight’s game.
The reasoning behind falling ticket demand also transcends sports. The New York Mets, who will play the Los Angeles Dodgers in their first postseason game in nearly a decade tonight, are keeping fans away from the ice and glued to their television sets instead. Though first pitch is scheduled for 9:45 ET, many fans are likely staying away from Brooklyn to channel surf from the comfort of their couch.
Whatever plans fans make tonight should at least consider the dropping ticket price trend on the secondary market. Whether traveling from Nassau County or hopping on an MTA line from the city, the historical significance behind tonight’s game justifies the price of admission. Even if that means sticking your neck out to see the whole ice.
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