How to Buy Tickets for Hockey Game in Toronto

If you want to get to know any Canadian city, 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 icons and Toronto is no exception to the rule, as it's home to the Maple Leafs, one of the most successful teams in the NHL, the league that pits Canadian and American franchises against each other.

While you can attend minor hockey games throughout the year, the Maple Leafs play in the NHL, which runs from October to April each year. If you plan to visit Ontario's capital city 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 franchise's schedule of games and you can select the game you want to attend based on your travel itinerary, although you should note that the NHL is sold on a season ticket basis, so you may have to resort to other options to get a seat.

Buy tickets from online ticketing platforms

This is the most common alternative, as 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 safe places for these transactions. However, always check the platform's reputation for peace of mind.

Buying tickets from authorised resellers

This is usually the most expensive option, mainly because these authorised 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 for last minute purchases. However, they can be a good option, especially if you plan to visit Toronto with children and need to have seats next to each other for all members of the family.

Buy tickets at the stadium box office

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

The answer will depend on many factors, including the seating 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 game. 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 Toronto Maple Leafs 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'll also need to book well in advance to get tickets.

If you plan to visit Toronto for only a few days or only have availability for a specific game on the schedule and can't get tickets, a good alternative is to opt for offers from tour providers who often combine some of the city' s best tours 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 arenas 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 cheapest, 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 skip-the-line tickets for the stadium are for the VIP areas, which have a different entrance than the rest of the crowd.

Tickets to Maple Leafs games are not included in the Toronto CityPASS, which is the city's tourist card, 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, which is one of the best museums in Toronto.

If you're an ice hockey fan, you'll be interested to know that the Toronto CityPASS includes admission to the Hockey Hall of Fame, which is one of the city's most popular museums and features a room dedicated to the memorabilia, medals and trophies that enriched the history of the Maple Leafs.

This Tourist Card also includes a ticket for the Toronto hop-on-hop-off bus, so you can use it to get to the stadium if 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 experience the stadium, which is one of Toronto's largest and most high-tech venues and is well worth an inside look during your trip to the city.

Join a guided tour of the stadium

This is the easiest option and the one that will allow you to get to know not only the playing field, the stands and the changing rooms of the Air Canada Centre, but also the secrets of its construction and the reasons why it became one of the most famous stadiums in Canada, mainly because of the fame that came from being the home of the Maple Leafs.

See the stadium during a music concert

The Air Canada Centre is not only a sports venue, hosting, in addition to 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're a basketball fan yourself, you can opt to get tickets to a Raptors NBA game in Toronto and get an inside look at the Air Canada Centre. One thing you should be aware of is that, just like on NHL game days, you won't be able to enter the arena without tickets for the day.

Generally speaking, there are no discount tickets for Maple Leafs NHL games, but there are a few strategies you can follow to get better prices on tickets. Some of them are to attend games where demand is lower due to the importance of the opponent or the date of the game, and others are to choose seats with reduced vision or in sections of the stadium further away from the playing field.

Buying tickets for off-peak 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 who are not direct rivals 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 arenas such as the Air Canada Centre the main difference in ticket prices is usually based on seating location, so if you are happy to watch the game from the farthest seats, you can find the cheapest tickets, which start at around 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 enjoy the atmosphere of the game itself, but they will also be able to enjoy the opening and half-time shows. However, this does not mean that the little ones can 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 2 years of age will depend on the team and the 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 convenient is definitely 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 advance. Also, this option is ideal if you plan to visit Toronto in 3 days or even less, as it will save you time during your visit.

The downside of buying tickets at the box office is that you will have to spend time standing in long lines before the game and you are not guaranteed to get tickets, as NHL games are among the most sought after sporting events in the city and Maple Leafs games tend to sell out at every game.

In total, ice hockey games last 60 minutes, although that is only for game 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 hockey game usually lasts about 2.5 hours in total, although you should add to that the time to get to and from the stadium, which in some areas can add an extra 20-30 minutes. 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 way 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 objective 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're planning to visit Toronto in that range of months you'll be able to catch the Maple Leafs in action in the world's premier ice hockey league. Once the opening round is over, the tournament continues in a knockout stage in the play-offs which usually run 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 both weekday and Saturday and Sunday games.

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 harbour, so you can get there by public transport, 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 have a stop in front of the Air Canada Centre. In addition, the city's hop-on-hop-off tour bus also stops 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 for getting to the stadium by car is via Yonge St., which is also one of the main thoroughfares in Ontario's capital city. This option is not recommended as traffic is often heavy in this part of the city and parking is difficult to find, especially if you plan to visit Toronto in the summer or during the peak season.

How to get to the Air Canada Centre by underground

This is the best option, mainly because of the speed and variety of options. You can get to the stadium on underground line 1, which has a stop at one of the corners of the Air Canada Centre and combines with all other underground 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's well worth the effort, so here are a few tips to help you enjoy the show.

• First things first, get a ticket! Hockey games in Toronto tend to be 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.
• Don't be late before you get to the stadium: Ice hockey games offer a complete spectacle, so unlike other sports, it is not enough to arrive around the start time of the game, but ideally you should be at the stadium at least an hour before, to watch the opening shows and understand how the crowd is taking colour. This is also true for the intermediate shows.
• Get inthe mood for the game: don't be afraid of ridicule, because everything is allowed at hockey games. Paint your face, wear your team jersey, join in the chants and enjoy the sporting spirit that characterises this activity.