The Prince George Cougars are selling playoff tickets again and business at the box office the past two days has been brisk.
Playoff fever is spreading in the city as hockey fans get their first chance in four seasons to support a Cougar team in the Western Hockey League playoffs.
The Cats will host Games 3 and 4 of the B.C. Division semifinal series against the Victoria Royals next Wednesday and Thursday in Prince George. Ticket buyers started showing up at the CN Centre ticket outlet Tuesday afternoon to get their hands on single-game tickets and ticket packages.
The Cougars are rewarding the faith of their season- ticket holders by offering them the chance to order playoff tickets good for 16 home games in all four possible WHL playoff rounds without having to pay up front for all those tickets.
"Typically, season ticket holders have to put down deposits and reserve their tickets and then there's a process where we refund them for games not played, but this year we've streamlined that and made it completely hassle-free for season ticket holders as one of the perks for them being incredibly loyal, longterm fans," said Andy Beesley, the Cougars' vice-president of business.
"Essentially, they just have to fill out the opt-in form we've already sent them and they automatically can go to whatever number of postseason games we have. We will invoice them at the end of the season for what they owe us. It's essentially a goodwill trust gesture we're giving the, rather than make them put down deposits. Everybody loves it."
Non season-ticket holders have two options available. They can buy full playoff ticket packages and have the cost of any unused tickets refunded or they can choose to have that money held by the team to be used to reserve a ticket package for the 2015-16 season. The cost of those packages will be the same as the offer to season ticket holders, which is more than a 20 per cent less than the cost of buying single-game playoff tickets.
This year's playoff package tickets, including taxes and service charges, will cost $303.92 (adults), $225.52 (seniors), $224.08 (students) and $164.24 (children 12 or younger).
Season ticket holders must bring photo identification to pick up their tickets.
Single-game tickets for the first round are also available.
For groups purchases of eight more more single-game tickets the cost is $18.63 (adult), $12.85 (senior), $11.80 (student) and $8.65 (children). For individuals or groups smaller than eight the cost is $22.50 (adult), $15.15 (senior), $14.10 (student) and $12 (children)
If a Game 6 is needed in the best-of-seven series, that would be played at CN Centre on Monday, April 6. Beesley said the cost of single-game tickets will rise slightly with every round the Cougars advance in the playoffs.
"People are just beyond excited," said Beesley. "We have this avalanche of good feelings from people about how optimistic everybody is, not just about this season but the direction our team is heading with the youth on the team and what people have seen on the ice.
"The product has improved so greatly that people are thrilled and they see a really bright future ahead for the Cougars."
