The so-called passion that unites Maple Leafs fans continues to be put to the test.
While supporters of the biggest franchise in the NHL are used to seeing the price of their season-ticket renewals creep up every year, the latest increase has many outraged.
According to a report by the Athletic, prices for 2025-26 season tickets have jumped by as much as 20% in some sections with the so-called cheap seats being hammered the most.
One section with the largest increase was near the top of the building, in the purple section, where two season tickets went from $8,522 this season to $10,396 for next year.
To make matters worse, the team also sent out the invoice at the same time for this season’s playoff tickets – for all four rounds and for four potential home games in each round.
Of course, should the team’s playoff history repeat itself — the Leafs have advanced past the first round just once since 2004 – refunds will be in order, but in the way of credit on the ticket holders’ accounts.
A playoff ticket package in the aforementioned upper-bowl section is priced at $14,360 for two tickets, which is nearly double the cost of the 41-game regular season package and is nearly a 13% increase.
Meanwhile, the high-rollers in the gold sections of the lower bowl are seeing their season-ticket prices rise more than $2,000 to $28,240 for a pair of tickets – which equates to $344 per ticket per game.
Playoff tickets in those seats are priced at a total of $36,152 for 16 potential games, with Stanley Cup Final games ducats going for a total of $14,848 – nearly $2,000 per seat per game.
In a statement to the outlet, an MLSE spokesperson said that Scotiabank Arena has more than 30 sections and each is priced differently every season, depending on “historical data and market factors.”
MLSE said that the average increase for season tickets across the arena is 9% but the more-affordable upper bowl sections were hit with larger year-over-year increases than those in the lower bowl – much to fans’ chagrin.
The team chalked the big raise on the seats in the nosebleeds as a “market correction.”
According to MLSE, the seats that have a 20% increase or higher were “determined to be historically underpriced as it relates to value of these tickets and market demand and this season’s increase in this area represents a market correction.”
Fans of the team took to social media to voice their outrage over the price hikes, with many noting how the atmosphere at Scotiabank Arena has died.
“I guess the fans will be even quieter. Stadium will soon be filled with corporate mutes,” one user posted on X. “Sad, make no wonder they haven’t won a cup since ’67. 10% true hardcore fans in the rink!”
“Dumb decision from the organization, bro their arena sounds like a legit library sometimes,” another X user wrote.
“Leafs putting tariffs on their own fans,” one user commented on Reddit. “Way to go Rogers, you really are for the fans.”
Other users also pointed out how some treat buyers their season tickets as an investment, selling them for a profit.
“Most season ticket holders sell half their tickets at double the price to get half the season for free. The Leafs want a piece of that action,” one user posted on X.
“Definitely tough for the average fan. That being said, you can always scalp whatever you don’t use for a significant profit,” another wrote.
Of course, while the common fan seems to continue to be priced out, there are no shortage of others ready to claim any unrenewed packages, with more than 12,000 people reportedly on a waitlist for season tickets.
MLSE recently announced layoffs affecting approximately 80 workers as part of company-wide restructuring, though none of its various team operations were affected. The team embarked on a $350 million ‘re-imagination’ project of renovations in October of 2023, though a club spokesman told the Sun those costs were not tied to to the ticket increase.