My son's team dues were $3800 last year. The cheapest AAA dues I now of are $16,000. Now say the travel is the same which we all know it is not. There is a difference of $12,200 just on dues. Only 10 more games. Yes the AAA travel is to NY, Minn., Canada. etc. which only adds more to travel. In any case, I still like my economics!
AAA dues are not $16,000 - they are $5,800 - $6,800 depending on club - All in we spent just under $14,000 for 15UAAA for a player last year including all travel , food, hotel, rental car, equipment, lessons etc. Factoring in another $4,000 for family travel and it was around $18k all in.
Our son played Bantam AA major before that and his team played all the way to Nationals and we spent $14k for him for a similar number of games, 1 fewer ice slot per week for practice for our player, no professional dry land and no free clinic. With Family travel we came to just over $18k for the 14U AA season. So cost was close similar for a top tier AA team versus a typical 15U AAA team.
For next season for 16U AAA based on club dues ($6,500) and budgeted assessments estimates we have received to date I would expect the cost to be more as we are doing more travel (10-12 trips versus 7). So expecting all in cost of $16-18k for the player. Family travel on top of that.
It is not cheap but the delta is not as exaggerated as people suggest. You often hear numbers like $40k thrown around but that has not been our reality to date and I have kept track of every penny for past 4 seasons. Included in my numbers above are all club dues, club assessments, uniforms, skates, sticks, private lessons, protective gear, tape, travel cost to all events (air, parking, rental car, hotel, food etc.) and misc. costs you get over the year. Only thing not included is the travel cost to and from practice.
So despite what people say we have not found the cost from a top level AA team to be much different than a AAA team, especially given the extra ice time you receive. Either way great way to enjoy time with your player and your family!
It will be over all too soon, so be sure you have a lot of fun along the way!