Why Are Super Bowl Tickets So Expensive? A Pricing Guide

Only $12 were the first Super Bowl tickets. It wasn’t the production it is today, but when the AFL-NFL world championship game started to gain traction, the first Super Bowl wasn’t a big deal.

Talking about being born in the wrong generation. You could have gone to the Super Bowl in the 70s. The price of your favorite fast-food combo meal. Read that correctly.

If you were to adjust for inflation, the tickets for the Super Bowl, which today would still be expensive, would be nothing compared to what they used to be. In the late ’80s, fans of football would see the price of Super Bowl tickets surpass $100, meaning that a good run-year, where you could have gone to the Super Bowl for less than Benjamin a year, was nearly 20 years ago.

One of the reasons for the skyrocketing of Super Bowl tickets during the halftime show was the presence of A-list celebrities. In the past, halftime performances were typically associated with artists such as Michael Jackson, Lady Gaga, and Rihanna, whereas they used to feature marching bands and Disney characters.

Would you be willing to give up a glamorous half-time show to be able to go to the Super Bowl in person?

In 2002, the average cost of Super Bowl tickets would once again increase twofold to a staggering $200, before doubling to an astonishing $200 in 1995. The ’90s witnessed a decline in this regard.

The average price of a Super Bowl ticket broke the $1,000 mark in 2009 and has since jumped between 2015 and 2018, with ticket prices for Super Bowl LII skyrocketing from $1,500 to $8,837.

The initial stages of the game were completely different from its present state. Although there has been a slight decrease compared to past seasons, Super Bowl LVII tickets were sold for an average price of $6,800, varying depending on the purchase location, in the most recent sale.

Factors Affecting Super Bowl Ticket Prices

The Super Bowl has become a must-see spectacle, drawing viewers from all over the world. If the answer to why these tickets are so expensive isn’t good enough for you, let me break it down. The Super Bowl transcends the boundaries of sports and has become a cultural phenomenon, attracting both A-list celebrities and casual viewers. It’s not just a sporting event, but a tradition for many sports fanatics and Americans.

1. Strong Request

In the secondary marketplace, exorbitant prices inevitably result in a significant disparity between supply and demand, causing a shortage of these revered Super Bowl tickets. Only a small portion of the stadium’s seats are accessible to the general public, as the NFL regulates the allocation of tickets to teams, sponsors, media outlets, and other interested parties. The demand for Super Bowl tickets greatly surpasses the limited supply, with millions (yes, millions) of football enthusiasts eagerly anticipating the highly anticipated season finale.

2. Restricted Availability

The NFL can only accommodate a restricted number of attendees, even in the most expansive stadiums. The scarcity of tickets is a result of the logistical challenges of hosting the Super Bowl in a particular stadium, and a substantial portion of seats must also be set aside for team players, coaching staff, and league officials.

Due to the significant increase in price, many ticket brokers are buying up the majority of the remaining tickets in advance, as the event is approaching. This means that the general public, sponsors, partners, media, and the teams have access to only approximately 75% of the available tickets, resulting in a competition for the remaining seats.

Until 2017, this is how the NFL allocates its portion of tickets:

  • Super Bowl participants – 35%.
  • The remaining 29 NFL teams account for 34.8%.
  • Home teams – 5%.
  • After announcing that they would be taking away 6,000 tickets from each of the Super Bowl teams, the NFL league guessed that you would value their well-packaged Bowl Super mark above face value. On Location Experience is a concierge service that resells them and pours them into a bowl.

    3. Exclusive and Prestigious

    The attraction of the occasion contributes to its prestige organically. On a magnificent platform, it exhibits the finest aspects of American sports and entertainment, a momentous event that presents a unique opportunity for numerous enthusiasts to participate in. The Super Bowl is the ultimate, conclusive VIP encounter in the realm of sports, at long last.

    It’s not just a football game, it’s an iconic event where many converge to make memories worth bragging about. The spectacle is unforgettable, with entertainment and music turning it into a legendary sports event.

    Other Factors that Influence Super Bowl Ticket Prices

    Performance of the Team and Matchup

    (Take Joe Burrow, for instance). The demand and popularity have risen, and players will be closely watched during the season, especially the team that performs well. Who influences the cost of tickets for the Super Bowl?

    If a player’s or team’s fandom is particularly passionate, naturally, tickets for those games are going to be in high demand. And if you happen to have Tom Brady or Aaron Rodgers on your team, you can count on an even bigger upcharge.

    It might be amazing to see Brady in the flesh, as our wallets might relieve some pressure for players with no-name teams of a couple.

    The Ticket Vendor

    It is challenging for football fans to secure tickets through the official sale, as there is a limited supply. However, the value of tickets for the Super Bowl is typically ridiculous. When choosing the platform to buy your tickets from, be careful around the official ticket seller, Ticketmaster, if you plan on shelling out money to see the Super Bowl this time.

    On the day of the sale, make sure your finger is ready to click and your payment methods are easily accessible, so that prices in the secondary market can rise significantly higher than the original value. Prices vary depending on the availability and demand in the days leading up to the main event, compelling fans to resort to secondary market platforms such as StubHub and SeatGeek.

    Choosing a Seat

    If you already know, the seats at the Super Bowl are likely to be much cheaper, even if they suck.

    The amenities in prime viewing areas are mostly expensive, including premium club suites or seats. Close-up spots offer an immersive experience due to their proximity to the field and players. Mid-section seats strike a balance between cost and quality of view. If your thing is a panoramic view of the field, the stadium typically provides more affordable options up high, such as nosebleed seats. Here’s a breakdown if you’re new to it.

    Conclusion.