If you’re a die-hard football fan with big dreams of watching the Denver Broncos face off with the Carolina Panthers on the gridiron for Super Bowl 50, you may want to prepare yourself for some super-sized disappointment, unless you have some pretty deep pockets.
The average resale price for just a single ticket to the big game is nearly $6,000, according to the resale aggregation and research site TiqIQ. That’s a whopping 42.29 percent higher than Super Bowl tickets cost at this time last year.
But last year tickets to the Super Bowl XLIX matchup between the Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, climbed to more than $9,000 on average as game day drew nearer, TiqIQ noted.
Super Bowl 50 will be played at the San Francisco 49ers’ Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California, on Feb. 7.
Most Super Bowl tickets are only available by resale, MarketWatch reports. The NFL distributes tickets to the host city, the teams (which dole them out via a lottery system to season ticket holders), event sponsors, athletes and ticket brokers, “with most ending up on the secondary market,” MarketWatch explains.
“For the regular fan trying to get to the Super Bowl, getting a ticket at face value is almost impossible,” StubHub spokesman Cameron Papp told MarketWatch.
According to Denver’s CBS4, the Broncos were allotted roughly 12,000 tickets for the big game, some of which were offered at face value to lottery-winning season ticket holders.
“Face value you’re looking at $850-plus per ticket with some service fees,” ticket seller Candy Lewis with A Lewis Tickets told CBS4.
Of course, scoring tickets is just one expense you’ll rack up going to the Super Bowl. Lodging, airfare, food and local transportation can also add up quickly.
According to Priceline, flights into the Bay Area range from $313 to $531 and hotel prices vary from $65 to $899 per night in San Francisco and $95 to $1,499 per night in Silicon Valley. Priceline said Mineta San Jose International Airport is a cheaper flight option than San Francisco International or Oakland International.
If you do plan to go to the big game, travel experts say time is of the essence.
“If you’re on the fence about going to the Super Bowl — now’s the time to book,” David Solomito, North American brand director for travel search engine Kayak, told NBC. “According to last year’s data, flight prices increased by more than 35 percent once the two Super Bowl teams were determined. So book now to score the best deal.”
After you’ve counted up all the game day expenses, it’s pretty clear that unless you’re rich, you’ll be watching the game on television, like the vast majority of Americans. In that case, for a good viewing experience, check out “3 Best Bargain TVs Fit for Super Bowl 50.”
If you want tips on how to save money when hosting a Super Bowl party, “10 Super Bowl Party Hacks to Save You Time and Money” may help.
How do you plan on watching this year’s Super Bowl game? What do you think of the costs to attend the game in person? Share your comments below or on our Facebook page.
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