By Alan Snel of LVSportsBiz.com

When some Vegas Golden Knights fans say it costs $500 to take their family of four to a VGK game these days, they actually were not too far off.

Team Marketing Report, a publication tracking the costs of attending major league sports game, just released data showing that it cost $559.42 for a family of four to attend a Golden Knights game at T-Mobile Arena — the fifth highest family-of-four cost in the 31-team National Hockey League.

Team Marketing Report compiles the family-of-four game costs in its “Fan Cost Index” by looking at the team’s average ticket, average premium ticket and the cost of a beer, soft drink, hot dog, parking and cap. The Knights’ average ticket of $104.36 alone ranked fourth highest in the NHL, while the Golden Knights’ average premium ticket of $450 was second in the league only to the New York Rangers’ 663.12, according to TMR.

The VGK average ticket price of $104.36 is way above the NHL team average of $75.76, according to TMR research. The Golden Knights’ family-of-four cost of nearly $560 is above the NHL team average of $424.62, according to the Team Marketing Report data.

Here’s a look at the family-of-four cost rankings. It’s interesting to note that all four teams ahead of the Golden Knights in the family-of-four expenses are Original Six clubs (Rangers, Leafs, Blackhawks and Bruins, with the two other Original Six teams, Canadians and Red Wings, ranking seventh and eighth, respectively):

ADD: Golden Knights defenseman Jon Merrill offers his take:

The Golden Knights’ family-of-four cost for 2019-20 is up 3.3 percent over the 2018-19 number. Overall in the NHL, the price of attending league games for the 2019-20 season is up 1.3 percent, according to TMR research.

The Golden Knights are averaging attendance of 18,237 fans game after 11 home dates this season. The Knights are filling T-Mobile Arena to 105 percent of capacity thanks to so many standing room only ticket sales. Multiply 18,237 fans a game by an average ticket of $104.36 and the VGK are generating $1.9 million a game in ticket revenue. Over 41 regular season games, that’s $78 million in ticket revenue not counting preseason games and playoff games.

Team Marketing Report’s Fan Cost Index is regarded as the sports business industry’s standard measurement of the cost for a family of four to attend a game. Team Marketing Report says the numbers reflect “the most current data.” Here is TMR’s research methodology:

The Team Marketing Report Fan Cost Index compiles prices for four average priced general tickets, parking for one car and the least expensive, in-game pricing for: two draft beers, four soft drinks, four hot dogs and two (adult-size) team caps. Costs are determined through calls, emails and research with teams, venues, concessionaires and season ticket holders. Identical questions are asked of all sources. Not all teams participate, but TMR offers every team and league officials the opportunity to review their numbers for accuracy before publication. TMR reserves the right to update FCI numbers when additional information is presented and verified.

“Average Ticket” represents the weighted average price across each team’s General seating while “AT$ Change” shows the percentage change in the Average Ticket price from the previous season. The average weighted price factors number of seats sold for each category with the cost for each seating category to “weight” pricing by percentage of the total number. Season ticket pricing is used for all seats when offered. This takes into account if a team offers multiple tiers. When a seat category is not offered as a season ticket, we use the team’s weighted average single game price. Premium seats (tickets that come with at least one added amenity and classified by team as premium) are not included to calculate a team’s Average Ticket price and are instead listed separately as “Average Premium.” Luxury suites are excluded. Teams have a say in what seats are considered General or Premium.

Here are social media samples of the fans’ reaction to the VGK family of four costs:

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