Rookie Sabres C Jack Eichel tonight makes his regular-season debut with the team's home opener against the Senators, and SeatGeek data shows the game has an average resale price of $91, up 72% from $53 for last year's home opener against the Blue Jackets. SeatGeek analyst Chris Leyden noted the Senators were "one of the cheaper teams to see at the First Niagara Center last year," so it is "fair to say that the main reason for this jump is the buzz around the team" and Eichel.
However, there has been little change in the overall average resale price of Sabres tickets, with the overall average of $80 up only slightly from $79 at this point last season. Leyden said if the Sabres "get off to a surprisingly strong start we will see the overall average prices rise pretty significantly." Leyden noted the Oilers-Sabres matchup in March, which will pit Eichel against fellow marquee rookie Connor McDavid, is "already a hot ticket" with an average resale price of $103, the fourth most expensive Sabres home game this season. Last year's Oilers-Sabres game in Buffalo had an average resale price of $62 the day the season started.
Meanwhile, Delaware North Sportservice tonight at First Niagara Center will formally introduce the “Eike Daddy,” a hamburger named after Eichel. The hamburger is served on a brioche roll and includes Thousand Island dressing, American cheese, lettuce, tomato, fried egg, onion and guacamole.
