Mr. Molson,
The year 2025 promises to be difficult for Quebec families. Between capricious inflation, increases in food costs, increases in municipal taxes and essential services, it is clear that household purchasing power will be severely affected.
Meanwhile, the Bell Centre, bastion of our national passion for hockey, is becoming an increasingly inaccessible place for ordinary people.
This fuels growing resentment among fans, who see you as an owner distant from the financial realities of your fans.
Mr. Molson, the Bell Center is a unique place. For players, it’s a legendary scene. For fans, it’s an experience unlike any other.
But at what cost? Today, attending a Canadiens game costs a fortune:
$15 for a beer, even if you own a brewery.
$196.79 for an evening including a misplaced ticket, two beers, a hot dog and parking.
And all this to see a team whose performances, let’s put it bluntly, have left something to be desired for several years.
The year 2025 promises to be particularly tough for Quebec families. As prices continue to rise at a breakneck pace, the Bell Centre, temple of hockey and symbol of national passion, is becoming an increasingly inaccessible place.
It’s not just a financial problem, it’s a social divide that keeps the most dedicated fans away from their team.
You are already the target of harsh criticism, notably from Ray Lalonde, former vice-president and CEO, marketing and sales of the Montreal Canadiens.
In his comments, he was scathing in saying that you have lost touch with the financial realities of your supporters.
“Geoff Molson needs to understand that the Canadiens fan base can no longer absorb these astronomical prices.
Twelve dollars for a beer, seven dollars for a hot dog: it’s indecent when the team is incapable of performing.
It is time to adopt a fairer economic model, inspired by what works elsewhere. »
He orders you to review your business model, to ease the burden on fans and to be more generous.
Here is an unavoidable reality: the cost of living will continue to rise in 2025, and families will have to make difficult choices.
These figures are not inventions, they are time bombs for the household budget:
According to the Annual Report on Food Prices, Quebecers will have to pay $800 more for their groceries this year.
A family of four will see their food budget total almost $17,000 in 2025. The increases will particularly affect:
Meat (+3 to 6%)
Vegetables (+3 to 6%)
These increases occur in a context where food prices have already exploded by 27% since 2020. Result: even basic products become inaccessible for families with average incomes.
Although the increase in Hydro-Québec’s residential rates is limited to 3%, large businesses will have to absorb an increase of 4 to 5%, which could be reflected in the prices of goods and services.
At the same time, municipal taxes will increase further:
Montreal: +2.2% for residences, +1.9% for businesses.
Laval and Longueuil: between 1.9% and 3.2%.
Quebec: +2.9%, after an increase of 3.9% in 2024.
These increases directly eat into the purchasing power of families, already under pressure.
Transportation, essential for many families, is also becoming unaffordable:
Registration fees jump from $59 to $150 in Montreal (+154%).
Monthly public transit passes are increasing: $113 in Gatineau, $90 in Sherbrooke.
For those who travel, the baggage fees imposed by Air Canada ($35 to $65) and the increase in airport improvement fees in Quebec (+14.3%) further add to the burden.
Quebec workers will not escape increased contributions:
Quebec Pension Plan (QPP): +$387 for employees, an increase of 8.9%.
Employment insurance: +$26.43 for employees, and $63.43 for self-employed workers.
These increases directly affect your fans. These are the same people who work hard, who save money and who, despite everything, continue to come to the Bell Center to support their team.
Ray Lalonde recently issued a clear warning: the current Bell Center model is untenable. According to him, continuing to sell $15 beers and $7 hot dogs while the team is rebuilding is a strategy that is not only unfair, but also counterproductive.
He compares the Canadians’ situation to that of Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, where beers cost $5 and hot dogs $2.
This model, although applied to the NFL, the most successful sports league in the world, has proven that affordable prices can not only increase ridership, but also overall revenue.
Ray Lalonde calls for a gesture of humanity on your part:
Lower concession prices to reflect the economic reality of 2025.
Offer promotions for families, who are at the heart of the Canadiens fan base.
Recognize that fans are not just paying for the spectacle on the ice, but for a sense of community.
Mr. Molson, the Bell Center is a jewel, but it is becoming a symbol of exclusion. You have the power to overturn this perception.
By reducing prices and making the hockey experience more accessible, you could not only win back the hearts of fans, but also improve your image.
2025 will be a year of sacrifice for your fans. It’s up to you to show that you support them during these difficult times. It’s a question of respect, humanity and long-term vision.
Take a step towards them. Give hockey back its popular soul.
These increases directly affect your fans. These are the same people who work hard, who save money and who, despite everything, continue to come to the Bell Center to support their team.
Mr. Molson, you are in a position to make a difference. By lowering prices at the Bell Centre, you could send a powerful message: you are listening to your supporters. Imagine for a moment:
A $5 beer, like at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.
$2 hot dogs, accessible to all families.
Discounted tickets for higher sections, so younger generations can experience the magic of hockey without breaking the bank for their parents.
The people’s sport must remain accessible to the people.
Hockey is more than a sport in Quebec. It is a culture, a passion that transcends generations.
But today it is becoming the privilege of a few. Is this what you want for the Montreal Canadiens?
Mr. Molson, it is time to act. Reducing prices is not only a noble gesture, but also a winning strategy.
By making the Bell Center experience more affordable, you will attract more fans, increase their loyalty and strengthen the image of your franchise.
The fans don’t ask you for miracles. They just want to feel that their passion is respected, that their support is appreciated, and that their team owner understands the challenges they face every day.
Geoff Molson, it’s time to get closer to your roots. Show that you are a man of the people, capable of making a significant gesture for Quebec families.
Give them a reason to continue to believe not only in their team, but also in you.
Respectfully.
David Garel
