Enjoying a night out in Toronto has become a luxury, and some are finding it hard to justify the expense.
Kyleigh Grovet is a fan from Edmonton, Alta., and she attended American singer Billie Eilish’s Toronto show at Scotiabank Arena on Oct. 2 . She says that concession prices at venues have become ridiculously expensive.
“I always try eating and drinking before going anywhere, especially going to a concert, I know I will be buying merch and I don’t want to spend the additional $40 on drinks when I get to a venue,” she says.
The average cost for a 710 mL can of beer at the Scotiabank Arena is $18, a mixed drink is around $20 and a regular size of popcorn is $11.
Grovet says since she bought her concert tickets months in advance she knew she would eventually be spending more when the time came.
Grovet says even though she did have drinks and snacks before attending the show she still ended up spending about 30 dollars on a drink and a bag of popcorn.
“Once you’re there and in that environment, it’s like well yeah I will get a drink and that’s how they [venues] get you, they know once you’re there and having fun you’re going to want to get a drink or get hungry,” she says.
Haley Anderson, who was also at the Elish show, says she believes venues understand their audiences which is why they have been able to get away with the high prices.
“If you want something to drink, you’ll pay the set prices,” she says.
Anderson says the only reason she is able to get away with spending the extra money is because she lives at home.
“Now I don’t want to move out because I won’t be able to have these experiences of attending concerts with my friends because, with our current economy, it is so much harder to afford to live but to also have these experiences,” she says.
She says on top of set prices, tipping culture has also made it harder to afford a night out.
