Frustration from a pair of the Canucks’ most loyal fans about prices and experience, not the rebuild, has them walking away from their season tickets<\/p>\n
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Published Apr 09, 2026 \u00a0\u2022\u00a0 Last updated 8\u00a0hours ago \u00a0\u2022\u00a0 3 minute read<\/p>\n
<\/a><\/p>\n You can save this article by registering for free here<\/a>. Or sign-in<\/a> if you have an account.<\/p>\n To put 24 years as a Vancouver Canucks<\/a> superfan in timeline terms, you\u2019re reaching back to the West Coast Express era.<\/p>\n Advertisement 2<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY<\/p>\n Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.<\/p>\n Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. 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Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events.Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account.The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword.Support local journalism.<\/p>\n REGISTER \/ SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES<\/p>\n Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.<\/p>\n Access articles from across Canada with one account.Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments.Enjoy additional articles per month.Get email updates from your favourite authors.<\/p>\n THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK.<\/p>\n Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.<\/p>\n Access articles from across Canada with one accountShare your thoughts and join the conversation in the commentsEnjoy additional articles per monthGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an Account<\/p>\n or<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n That\u2019s how long Mike McBurney has had season tickets to his favourite NHL team. Think about what 2002 means. That\u2019s the first year when the Markus Naslund and Todd Bertuzzi Canucks were properly becoming a thing.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n McBurney joined the Canucks ride just as it was re-ascending. And for a decade-plus, that ride was pretty good. In 2010, his pal Clay Imoo joined up, sharing the cost of a pair of tickets in the upper bowl. Pretty good timing.<\/p>\n But there\u2019s just no denying the last decade has been tough. What seemed like the dawning of a new era in 2024 proved to be a false one. When so many thought the sun was finally coming up, fans like these two figured hanging on as they had through the dark days was worth it.<\/p>\n Two years later, though, after facing back-to-back big increases in their season tickets, coupled with restrictions on how they can re-sell their passes, before even getting into the softness of the market, Imoo and McBurney have come to the decision that they\u2019re out. They just can\u2019t make it work.<\/p>\n \u201cThere is a pretty good chance we buy back in after next season,\u201d McBurney admitted. \u201cBut we wanted to send a message to the team. Pissed off about the price increases and just generally the way the team treats fans, though that feeling isn\u2019t new.\u201d<\/p>\n Canucks Report<\/p>\n Thanks for signing up!<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n Advertisement 3<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n Their tickets for next year were only up a few hundred dollars more, but that was the straw that broke the camel\u2019s back. It just underscored for McBurney how little the team seems to think of him as a fan, of what fans who do recognize the need for a rebuild and what that entails on-ice deserve.<\/p>\n The restrictions the team has put in place against reselling \u2014 essentially only being able to use Ticketmaster\u2019s dedicated service, where Ticketmaster and the team take a cut of the re-sale, plus stories of pressure on fans who resell too many tickets \u2014 was a big problem too.<\/p>\n \u201cIf I\u2019m being completely honest, the difference this time is that reselling the games we aren\u2019t going to was becoming a challenge. The way they\u2019ve made it harder to resell, they want a piece of everything,\u201d McBurney, a Richmond high-school teacher, went on. \u201cCouldn\u2019t afford to be on the hook for a bunch of games we couldn\u2019t go to. \u2026 Ultimately, with the price we were paying, if people aren\u2019t willing to buy ticket we can\u2019t afford to maintain them.\u201d<\/p>\n Imoo took to social media on Wednesday to let people know he was dropping his tickets, although he noted his fandom remains. He is well-known for producing very team-friendly content over the years, and in the heydays of Twitter was known as an unrelenting positive voice. He\u2019s dabbled in podcasting over the years and remains the centre of a very upbeat, ever-hopeful circle of fans.<\/p>\n Advertisement 4<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n I sincerely appreciate the interest in my status as a #Canucks<\/a> season ticket member. <\/p>\n Swamped today so won\u2019t have a chance to reply to all of the posts. <\/p>\n Still love the team and am grateful for the opportunities I\u2019ve had to collab with the organization throughout the years.\u2026 pic.twitter.com\/P8yLYrrAj8<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Clay Imoo (@CanuckClay) April 8, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n The Canucks have been in contact with Imoo over the cancellation, a call which was scheduled before Imoo chose to share publicly the duo\u2019s decision, so one supposes you never say never, but the duo seem pretty firm on why they made their decision and seem likely to stick to it.<\/p>\n McBurney said their decision wasn\u2019t easy. But in the end, as a pair, they just had to accept reality.<\/p>\n He wants one thing clear. This isn\u2019t about where the team is at. He has been with the Canucks through thick and thin and he remains a fan. He sees what needs to happen.<\/p>\n \u201cWe didn\u2019t want our dropping them to be perceived as not supporting the rebuild, because I want the rebuild,\u201d he said. \u201cLegit rebuild, no shortcuts.\u201d<\/p>\n pjohnston@postmedia.com<\/a><\/p>\n Read More<\/p>\n![\"pj\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/0410-canucks-tickets-1.jpg\")
Vancouver Canucks super fans Mike McBurney (left) and Clay Imoo are set to give up their season tickets. Photo by Clay ImooArticle content<\/p>\n![\"The](\"https:\/\/dcs-static.gprod.postmedia.digital\/20.9.1\/websites\/images\/identity\/logo-identity-vp.svg\"){kind=logo}
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Clay Imoo (left) and Mike McBurney Photo by Clay Imoo \/Submitted<\/p>\n
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