How to Buy Tickets for Hockey Game in Toronto

If you want to get to know any Canadian city in depth, you can't miss an ice hockey game to discover the passion that this activity unleashes in the locals. The sport is one of the country's national emblems and Toronto is no exception to the rule, as it is home to the Maple Leafs, one of the most successful teams in the NHL, the league that pits Canadian and U.S. franchises against each other.

While you can attend minor field hockey games throughout the year, the Maple Leafs play in the NHL, which is played from October to April each year. If you plan to visit Ontario's capital in that range of months, you can get tickets to attend a home team game, in what is one of the best things to do in Toronto.

There are several alternatives to buy tickets for ice hockey games in Toronto, one of the main ones being through the official website of the Maple Leafs. There you can find the schedule of games of the franchise and you can select the game you want to attend based on your travel itinerary, although you should keep in mind that the NHL is marketed in season ticket format, so you may have to resort to other options to get a seat.

Buying tickets on online sales platforms

This is the most widespread alternative, since the Maple Leafs' official website often only offers seats that were not previously sold as season tickets, which are also usually the most expensive. Online sales platforms have a stock of tickets in various sectors of the stadium and are usually secure sites for these transactions. However, always check the platform's reputation for peace of mind.

Buying tickets from authorized resellers

This is usually the most expensive option, mainly because these authorized resellers try to get a commission for the marketing of these NHL tickets. In addition, you should check the reputation of these sellers to avoid unpleasant surprises, especially in last minute purchases. However, they can be a good option, especially if you plan to visit Toronto with children and you need to have seats next to each other for all the family members.

Buying tickets at the stadium box office

This is the least common alternative, mainly because risking to get tickets at the box office could put you out of the game, especially since tickets to see the Maple Leafs in the NHL usually sell out quickly. However, some midweek or regular season games against non-conference opponents may leave some seats open that you can get from the box office.

The answer will depend on many factors, including the seat location you choose and the game you plan to attend, as ticket prices are not the same for a regular season game as they are for a playoff defining clash. However, the cheapest seats start at 40 or 50 euros and there are seats close to the perimeter of the game that cost more than 800 euros.

Keep in mind that attending a Maple Leafs Toronto game is as much, if not more, in demand than taking a cruise along the city's waterfront or going on a food tour, so not only will you need to do some market research beforehand to find cheap seats, but you will also need to book well in advance to get tickets.

If you plan to visit Toronto for a few days or you only have availability for a specific game on the calendar and you can't get tickets, a good alternative is to opt for the offers of those tourist service providers that usually combine some of the best tours of the city with tickets to see a Maple Leafs game live.

The different types of tickets depend on the chosen location. The Air Canada Centre is one of the largest in the city and hosts not only Maple Leafs NHL games, but also NBA games for the Raptors, Toronto's basketball franchise.

This stadium has sectors further out on the perimeter, which are the most economical, and also others closer to the playing field, with higher costs. It also has a VIP area, which has a bar and restaurant for attendees and has the most expensive seats in the Air Canada Centre.

The only tickets without queues for the stadium are for the VIP sectors, which have a different entrance than the rest of the attendees.

Tickets to Maple Leafs games are not included in the Toronto CityPASS, which is the tourist card of the city, although this pass does include other attractions near the stadium, such as the popular CN Tower, which was for over 30 years the tallest structure in the world, and the Royal Ontario Museum, one of the best museums in Toronto.

If you are an ice hockey fan you will be interested to know that the Toronto CityPASS includes admission to the Hockey Hall of Fame, which is one of the most popular museums in the city and has a room dedicated to the objects, medals and trophies that enriched the history of the Maple Leafs.

This tourist card also includes the ticket for the Toronto hop on-hop off bus, so it will be useful to get to the stadium in case you choose to combine the pass with a live Maple Leafs game.

The Air Canada Centre stadium is closed to the non-game public on game days, but there are other alternatives that will allow you to get to know this venue, which is one of the largest and most high-tech in Toronto and worth seeing inside during your trip to the city.

Taking a guided tour of the stadium

This is the easiest option and the one that will allow you to know not only the playing field, stands and locker rooms of the Air Canada Centre, but also the secrets of its construction and the reasons that led it to be one of the most famous stadiums in Canada, mainly because of the fame generated by being the home of the Maple Leafs.

Visiting the stadium during a musical concert

The Air Canada Centre is not only a sports venue, which hosted, in addition to the Maple Leafs NHL and Raptors NBA games, several editions of the All-Star Game in ice hockey and basketball, but it is also a regular stage for international stars. U2, Oasis and Lady Gaga, among others, have performed there, so if your visit coincides with an artist's performance here, you'll find a good excuse to visit.

Visit the stadium during a Raptors game

If you don't get to see a live Maple Leafs game or if you are also a basketball fan, you can opt to get tickets for a Raptors NBA game in Toronto and get to know the Air Canada Centre from the inside. What you will have to keep in mind is that, just like on NHL game days, during these days you will not be able to enter the stadium without tickets for the date.

In general there are no discount tickets for Maple Leafs games in the NHL, although there are some strategies you can follow to get better prices on the purchase of tickets. Some of them consist of attending games with lower demand due to the importance of the opponent or the date of the game, and others consist of choosing seats with reduced vision or in sectors of the stadium farther away from the playing field.

Buying tickets for lower demand games

In the NHL prices are dynamic, meaning that tickets for each show change according to demand, so if you opt for Maple Leafs games against rivals that are not direct in the team's goals or in regular season games, you can find cheaper seats than in play-off clashes or against Montreal Canadiens, which is the other strong franchise in Canada.

Buy tickets for games during the week

If you plan to visit Toronto in October or during the first few months of the regular season you will find many weekday games on the schedule, which are less crowded than those played on weekends. These games, which are usually on Wednesdays or Thursdays, offer better prices than those on Saturdays or Sundays.

Buy tickets in upper or side seats

In large stadiums such as the Air Canada Centre, the main difference in ticket prices is usually based on the location of the seats, so if you have no problem watching the game from the farthest seats, you can find the cheapest tickets, which start at about 40 euros.

Attending a Maple Leafs ice hockey game is one of the best things to do with children in Toronto, as not only will they be drawn to the atmosphere of the game itself, but they will also be able to enjoy the opening and halftime shows. However, this does not mean that the little ones will be able to enter the stadium at a differential rate.

While the charging policy for minors is up to each franchise, as a general rule, children under 2 years of age do not pay for tickets when accompanied by a responsible adult. However, the price cut for children over that age will depend on each team and each stadium. Some franchises also offer reduced rates for children under the age of 8.

Please note that if you plan to attend a Maple Leafs game with children and purchase tickets in advance, you will be able to find family group discounts, adjacent seating and the ability to choose better seats than if you book at the last minute.

There are many alternatives to buy tickets to watch an ice hockey game in Toronto, but the most efficient and comfortable, without a doubt, is to do it online in advance, since you will not waste time and you will be able to get better seats, especially if you anticipate enough. In addition, this option will be ideal if you plan to visit Toronto in 3 days or even less, as it will allow you to save time during your visit.

The disadvantage of buying tickets at the box office is that you will have to waste time standing in long lines before the game and, in addition, you will have no guarantee of getting tickets, since NHL games are among the most requested sporting events in the city and Maple Leafs games are usually sold out at each performance.

In total, ice hockey games last 60 minutes, although that only corresponds to the playing time, which is divided into three periods of 20 minutes each, with 15 minutes between each period. Also, depending on the competition being played, the game may be extended into overtime, penalty kicks or golden goal, which will lengthen the match.

On average, a field hockey game usually lasts about 2 hours and a half in total, although you should add to this the time of arrival and departure, which in some sectors can add 20 or 30 minutes more. However, keep in mind that each game is a spectacle in itself, so I advise you to relax and enjoy the event from start to finish.

Finally, remember that the best alternative to enjoy an ice hockey game is to know the rules, which in the case of the NHL schedule follows specific guidelines. For this you should know that the goal of each team is to score more goals than the opponent, that each franchise is composed of 6 players in the rink and that each team member cannot hold the rubber puck for more than 3 seconds, which adds dynamism to this sport.

The NHL schedule runs regular season games between October and April, so if you plan to visit Toronto in that range of months you'll be able to see the Maple Leafs in action in the world's premier ice hockey league. Once the initial phase is over, the tournament continues in an elimination stage in the play-offs that usually last until the first days of June.

The Maple Leafs play their home games at the Air Canada Centre and game times vary according to the schedule, which includes games on weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays.

Outside of the official NHL schedule, you can watch Maple Leafs games during special pre- and post-season events. For more information on these competitions, please visit the franchise's official website.

The Air Canada Centre stadium is located in a central area of Toronto, very close to the harbor, so you can get there by public transportation, by car or also on the city's hop on-hop off tour buses, which include a stop near the stadium.

How to get to the Air Canada Centre by bus

You can get to the stadium on the 97 and 320 buses, which include a stop in front of the Air Canada Centre. In addition, the city's hop on-hop off tour bus also has a stop at the same location, so you can break your tour there and catch the Maple Leafs game.

How to get to the Air Canada Centre by car

The best alternative to reach the stadium by car is through Yonge St., which is, in turn, one of the main arteries of the capital of Ontario. This option is not recommended since traffic is usually heavy in this sector of the city and parking is difficult to find, especially if you plan to visit Toronto in the summer or during the high season.

How to get to the Air Canada Centre by subway

This is the best option, mainly because of the speed and the variety of alternatives it offers. You can get to the stadium on subway line 1, which has a stop at one of the corners of the Air Canada Centre and combines with all other subway lines in Canada, as it is the trunk line of the route.

Getting tickets to an ice hockey game in Toronto is no easy task, but it is a worthwhile endeavor, so here are some tips to help you enjoy the show.

• First things first, get the ticket! Hockey games in Toronto are usually very popular, so finding tickets for these games is not easy. However, if you plan well in advance you can get better seats and better prices.
• Do not delay before arriving at the stadium: ice hockey games offer a complete show, so, unlike other sports, it is not enough to arrive around the start time of the game, but the ideal is to be at the stadium at least an hour before, to attend the initial shows and understand how the public is taking color. This also applies to the intermediate shows.
• Get into the game atmosphere: don't be afraid of ridicule, because everything is allowed at field hockey games. Paint your face, wear your team jersey, join in the chants and enjoy the sporting spirit that characterizes this activity.