Super Bowl 2015 Tickets Hard to Purchase at Face Value

According to the Arizona Super Bowl Committee, the ticket price range for Super Bowl XLIX is $800-$1,900. The big game will be between the New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks at the University of Phoenix Stadium on Feb. 1.

If you want to watch Super Bowl XLIX, it will cost you an arm and a leg. 

According to the Arizona Super Bowl Committee (via The Arizona Republic’s Craig Harris), the ticket price range for the big game is $800-$1,900. Harris explains why tickets are almost impossible to get at face value:

“The NFL and its teams control all the tickets, so seats are all spoken for before the tickets are ever printed. The only way to buy them is in the secondary market, where seats through online ticket brokers, including the NFL, are going for at least three times face value.

“For example, the NFL Ticket Exchange — the official website of the game — the cheapest ticket as of Thursday cost $2,092, for a seat in the highest level of the stadium. Meanwhile, the priciest seat in the club level overlooking midfield was going for $13,407.”

On the other hand, TiqIQ (via The Boston Herald’s Donna Goodison) notes that the average list price for a game ticket as of Jan. 19 was $4,104. It was $4,049 exactly a year ago, so the prices are not that far off. 

TiqIQ vice president of data and communication Chris Matcovich told Goodison it would be best for fans to wait because ticket prices normally go down as the weeks go by. He also explains why tickets for this year’s game between the New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks are so expensive:

“If you’re still undecided whether you want to go based on the price currently, I would wait. Prices tend to go down leading up to the Super Bowl. If I was a fan looking for the best value, I would wait at least until the end of the week.

“A lot of it plays into Seattle playing in the game last year and also the Patriots being in the Super Bowl a few years ago, and it’s a long (way to) travel for the fans.”

Super Bowl Suites, which accommodate 20 to 30 fans, are priced from $726,000 to $958,000, per Goodison.  

Arizona Super Bowl Committee president and CEO Jay Parry told Harris on Jan. 16 demand for Super Bowl tickets remains high despite the exorbitant prices because of the game’s appeal. Parry reminds fans who can’t secure tickets that there are a variety of events which cost a fraction of actual Super Bowl XLIX tickets. One of these is the Verizon Super Bowl Central, a free daily event from Jan. 28 which features concerts, fireworks and an autograph stage.

For guaranteed authentic @SuperBowl tickets, buy the NFL-approved way: http://t.co/vRosIET9J1 #SB49 pic.twitter.com/4qTWywMtBX— NFL (@nfl) January 20, 2015

Harris stresses Arizona politicians are the ones who can get Super Bowl tickets at face value. NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy told Harris politicians have traditionally enjoyed this benefit and will continue to do so this year. McCarthy did not reveal who this year’s politicians are and the number of tickets they bought. 

Arizona governor Doug Ducey will be on hand in Glendale for the big game. His spokesman said he will purchase his own ticket, per Harris.

Harris says the ticket distribution breakdown is as follows:

• Each participating team (in this case, it’s the New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks): 17.5 percent each for a total of 35 percent
• The host Arizona Cardinals: 5 percent
• All of the 29 remaining NFL teams: 1.2 percent each for a total of 34.8 percent
• NFL: 25.2 percent

Despite the legality of scalping in the state of Arizona, the Glendale Police Department’s Tracey Breeden told Harris that fans should only purchase tickets from reliable sources. She said,”Buyer beware. The Glendale Police Department encourages the public to only buy tickets from reliable sources that are authorized by the NFL.”

A ticket resale location will be set up near the University of Phoenix Stadium, site of Super Bowl XLIX, to accommodate the public, per The Arizona Republic. 

In another development, Harris says Pro Bowl tickets are much easier to get with many still available through Ticketmaster.com. The Pro Bowl is slated for Jan. 25 at the University of Phoenix Stadium. Ticket prices range from $43.80 to $519.

I4U News will again bring you full coverage of the Super Bowl 2015 Ads. Super Bowl 2015 will take place on February 1, 2015 in Arizona. The Super Bowl XLIX game will be played at the Unviersity of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale. NBC is broadcasting Super Bowl 2015. The Super Bowl 2015 Halftime Show will be performed by Katy Perry. The constantly updated Super Bowl Ads List is tracking all Super Bowl ads.