Ticket prices soar for Connor Bedard’s home debut with Blackhawks

Connor Bedard’s Chicago Blackhawks home debut is set to be the most sought-after ticket in town.

According to Vivid Seats, a leading ticket exchange and resale company, the average ticket price for Bedard’s first game at the United Center on Saturday against the reigning Stanley Cup champion Vegas Golden Knights is $209.

This price surpasses the highest ticket price for a Blackhawks game in the past five years by almost 50%. The previous record was set on December 27, 2019, when tickets for a game against the New York Islanders sold for $148.

Fans are traveling up to 300 miles to witness the talent of Bedard in his debut home game, as tracked by Vivid Seats.

In the 2023 NHL entry draft, Chicago made Bedard the first overall pick. Head coach Luke Richardson wasted no time in placing Bedard on the team’s top line, recognizing his potential within Chicago’s offense. Bedard’s NHL debut took place on opening night against Pittsburgh Penguins’ star, Sidney Crosby. A memorable moment occurred when Bedard faced Crosby for the game’s opening faceoff, losing to the three-time Stanley Cup champion.

Despite being a rookie, Bedard already has three points in five games, including a goal in his second NHL game versus the Boston Bruins. These games have all been on the road, with Chicago traveling to various Original Six cities like Montreal and Toronto for their opening games.

Bedard’s performance in the Western Hockey League’s Regina Pats, where he scored 71 points and 143 points in consecutive seasons, made him highly sought-after by the Blackhawks in the draft. Bedard’s transition to the next level has been impressive, with points in each of his first three games for Chicago.

In his last two games, Bedard failed to register a point, a rarity for him considering his performances with the Pats last season. He will be motivated to return to scoring form in front of the home crowd during Saturday’s game at 8 p.m., available for streaming on ESPN+.