People in Toronto rage over Scotiabank Arena's new $2,500 membership

Maple Leafs Sports and Entertainment (MLSE) has Toronto residents sounding alarms after announcing Scotiabank Arena Priority+, an annual membership program that gives concert lovers early access to more than 50 show announcements, along with the chance to snag tickets before they go on presale.

Although the perks sound enticing, the price tag is far from tempting. Scotiabank Arena Priority+ just hit the market with an annual fee of $2,500, plus applicable taxes and fees.

While the exclusive membership lets you buy up to two tickets to any eligible Scotiabank Arena Priority+ event and grants access to select member events throughout the year, netizens still can't stomach the price.

A Reddit thread about the pass's release saw many Toronto residents express frustration, particularly that the membership seems to cater to a specific class of people in the city.

"We're firmly at the point where these corpos have realized they don't need the business of the working class masses. They only need the money of a few whales or the wealthy to sustain themselves now," someone wrote.

Another Redditor chimed in to support the sentiment: "This is absolutely mental. Catering to the rich and wealthy is disturbing."

From a consumer standpoint, the frustration is understandable.

The membership plan doesn't include tickets to these exclusive events. Instead, you're paying for early access to select concert ticket sales, some of which you may not even want to attend. And for the shows you do want to see, there's still no guarantee you'll get a seat.

"Tickets and specific seat locations are subject to availability," Scotiabank Arena states. Simply put, you could pay upwards of $3,000 for premium access and may still miss out on tickets to your next favourite gig.

Not all concerts will be included in the "50+ eligible show announcements," either. According to the venue's website, "Priority+ presale access applies to the first announced show for each eligible event. If additional shows are added, Priority+ access will not apply to those additional dates. Certain events may also be excluded." 

The non-refundable and non-transferable Scotiabank Arena Priority+ membership also comes with your own "Premium Live Dedicated Representative" as a direct point of contact. However, the offering is already raising questions about whether it's another money grab, with members potentially having more to lose than gain.

It remains to be seen whether the idea will take off among concert lovers, many of whom are already fed up with the ever-increasing cost of tickets and scalping in the city.

Scotiabank Arena Priority+ passes are now on sale and can be purchased directly through the venue's website.