Besides the fact that Super Bowl XLII features two of the NFL most popular franchises in the New York Giants and New England Patriots, it’s also convenient the two fanbases have an unadulterated hatred for each other. Super Bowl XLII is the most expensive event that SeatGeek has ever tracked and we’re thinking the intrigue surrounding a rematch of Super Bowl XLII has a lot to do with it.
The Giants upset the Patriots in 2008 while handing them their first loss of the season, ending a pristine streak of 18 games. The two sides met previously in 2011, where a 1-yard touchdown pass from Eli Manning in the final seconds sealed the game at 24-20 for New York. The Patriots haven’t looked back, stringing together 10 straight wins since their meeting with the Giants in Week 9. In case you were wondering, the average ticket price for that showdown was $331, making it the most demanded game involving the Giants this regular season.
As it happens, it looks like New Yorkers will have plenty of company in Indy for pre-game tailgating. Just shy of one third of all shoppers on SeatGeek’s Super Bowl event page within the last 72 hours hail from New York and New Jersey, far outpacing the traffic from users in New England. 22% of all shoppers to the page came from New York, while 9% came from New Jersey. By comparison, users from Massachusetts account for only 8% of all traffic, and the sum of all users from the six New England states (MA, CT, ME, RI, NH and VT) only adds up to 14.4% total.
Tickets to the 2012 NFC Championship game have averaged $743 in secondary market sales since the 49ers clinched a berth in the title game with last Saturday’s win over the New Orleans Saints. As it stands now, tickets to the game are $325 more expensive than tickets to the AFC Championship game between the Ravens and the Patriots selling for $418.
Average prices peaked dramatically in the 24 hours immediately following the 49ers win over New Orleans. Within that timeframe, tickets sold on secondary markets averaged $800. Since then, average prices have fallen by 40% as the average price for tickets sold within the last 24 hours currently stands at $478.
The NFC Championship game is also in line to be the single-most expensive non-Super Bowl NFL game within the last three years. In that timeframe, the only two non-Super Bowl NFL games to exceed an average price of $500 are the 2011 NFC Championship Game (GB @ CHI, $688 avg. price) and 2010 NFC Championship Game (MIN @ NO, $554 avg. price)
This weekend’s game will likely be one of the most expensive sporting events in San Francisco within the last three years, rivaled only by the 2010 World Series. Only Games 1 ($939 avg. price) and 2 ($829 avg. price) of the 2010 Fall Classic between the Giants and Texas Rangers saw higher average prices than this weekend’s 49ers game. However, prices to this weekend’s game will likely exceed that of 2010 NLCS tickets by a multiple of three (avg. price $225) and will be almost double what it cost to get into last weekend’s game against the Saints ($387 avg. price)
Currently on SeatGeek, the least expensive, “get-in” price for this Sunday’s game is $336, for a seat in Row 17 of Upper Reserve Section 55. And for big spenders, the most expensive seat currently available on secondary markets is a $33,005 listing for seats in Upper Reserve Section 1, Row 3. All of SeatGeek’s ticket listings for the game can be seen on our event page for the NFC Championship Game.
And finally, for any fans contemplating a trip to Indianapolis for Super Bowl XLVI, be prepared to pay at least four to five times what you may have to in order attend the NFC Title Game. Tickets to get into this year’s Super Bowl are currently averaging $3357 on secondary markets.
The Baltimore Ravens play host to the Houston Texans this Sunday at M&T Stadium. Houston is pushing along with their first ever playoff appearance and victory, hoping to double down on their success in Houston. Arian Foster broke out last week with 153 yards rushing and 2 TDs on the ground. However, during Week 6, the Ravens bottled up Foster to just 49 yards on 15 carries and 62 yards on six catches. Will the presence of Andre Johnson open things up for TJ Yates and free up some matchups for Foster to run quick checkdowns? You can see for yourself in person.
The Ravens and Texans met earlier this season during Week 6 in Baltimore. Ray Rice and Anquan Boldin both walked away with over 100 yards rushing and receiving, respectively, and the Ravens walked away with a 29-14 victory. The big difference this game is that the Texans will be without Matt Schaub but will have TJ Yates throwing to a healthy Andrew Johnson.
Ticket Price Information
Tickets peaked twice – once when the Ravens secured the #2 playoff birth on January 1st and a second time after the Texans won on January 7th and the AFC Divisional games were set. Since that time, tickets have started to trickle down in average price, but not because prices are falling. 33.56% of the tickets sold since January 9th have been in the 500 Level with an average price of $185.88.
With an average ticket price pf $324.49, the matchup between the Houston Texans and Baltimore Ravens is the second most expensive matchup this weekend.
Event
Venue
City
State
Avg. Price
New Orleans Saints at San Francisco 49ers
Candlestick Park
San Francisco
CA
$401.57
Houston Texans at Baltimore Ravens
M&T Bank Stadium
Baltimore
MD
$324.49
Denver Broncos at New England Patriots
Gillette Stadium
Foxboro
MA
$290.06
New York Giants at Green Bay Packers
Lambeau Field
Green Bay
WI
$263.43
Here are some great prices available for those of you who want to check out the game in Baltimore. Let us know if you’re going to the game by hitting us up @SeatGeek.
It’s been 30 years since Joe Montana famously hooked up with Dwight Clark to complete “The Catch,” but it feels almost as long since the San Francisco 49ers were playing football this deep into January. The 49ers haven’t claimed a post season appearance — let alone a winning season — since 2002, so fans in the Bay Area aren’t taking the occasion lightly. Of the four divisional matchups set for this weekend, tickets to see the Niners take on the New Orleans Saints in Candlestick Park are currently seeing the highest demand averaging for $404. Games featuring the Baltimore Ravens vs. Houston Texans ($341), Denver Broncos vs. New England Patriots ($295) and New York Giants vs. Green Bay Packers ($266) are all seeing much lower figures.
Average ticket prices have been holding right above $400 for the past week. With over 1000 active listings for the game on SeatGeek, it appears that brokers are looking to cash in and are flooding the market with tickets, but it still hasn’t tempered overall prices. Despite the high prices, fans are rising to match that supply with strong demand for tickets.
Right now on SeatGeek, the “get in” price for the game is $166 for seats in the Upper Reserve 19 Row 18 while the priciest option available can be found in Lower Reserve 18 Row 2 for $4127.
Looking ahead to next week, the Packers lead the way in average ticket prices for the Conference Championship games. If the Packers advance after beating the Giants on Sunday, ticket prices to see either the Saints or 49ers play in Green Bay are averaging $644. If New York can upset the Packers, average ticket prices are looking to be substantially lower to see Big Blue play in either San Francisco ($584) or New Orleans ($501).
