Going to the Super Bowl costs about as much as a nice vacation. If you've ever wondered exactly how much it costs, we've got the answer, plus some tips to help you get there a little cheaper.
In my family, half of us are Patriots fans (myself included) and the other half are Jaguar fans - so last weekend's playoff game was an intense one!
Unfortunately, all of us will be watching the Super Bowl from our couches with chili and beer in hand rather than with the thousands of fans in the stadium. It's easy to understand why, since the Super Bowl is very expensive.
But, is there a way to get there cheaper? The answer is yes - but cheaper still doesn't mean cheap. Here's the true cost going to the Super Bowl.
Cost of the tickets
Be warned, some Super Bowl tickets cost the same as a brand new car or a pretty nice vacation package. This varies year after year, however. This year's prices actually dropped 25 percent after the Vikings lost to the Eagles.
Currently, through tickemaster, one seat on the 50-yard line is over $25,000. The cheapest ticket through ticketmaster right now, is $3,588 in the upper corner of the stadium.
But, chances are, tickets will drop a little bit more right before the game.
Calculating the best time to buy tickets isn't an exact science and changes year-to-year depending on who's playing. But, in the past, a few days before the game is the best time to buy tickets. SeatGeek's Super Bowl ticket tracker can help you determine when you'll get the cheapest ticket.
However, there are a few other ways to get Super Bowl tickets.
Season ticket holders are entered into a lottery
Every year, NFL season ticket holders are entered into a lottery to win free tickets to the Super Bowl. Becoming a season ticket holder obviously isn't the most budget friendly way to get tickets, however.
Radio contests
Every year, radio stations offer contests where you can win Super Bowl tickets. For example, this year, SiriusXM gave away tickets. Unfortunately, the contest ended on January 24th.
Even if you can't win tickets on the radio, you can win a Super Bowl party. 101.7 The Bull in Boston is offering a contest where you could win a 50 inch TV, a $250 Patriots Pro Shop gift card, and a $100 gift card for food!
Next year, check your local radio stations if your team heads to the Super Bowl.
Sweepstakes
Radio stations aren't the only ones who offer free tickets to the Super Bowl. Usually sponsored by team themselves, or the large companies that sponsor the game, there are a number of sweepstakes you can enter.
Your best bet is to search online in November and December for these contests. But know that winning tickets is a long shot.
Driving vs. flying
Where you live obviously determine how much you'll have to spend on travel. This year's Super Bowl is at the US Bank Stadium in Minneapolis.
If you're committed enough to drive, you'll have to consider how much a parking pass will be.
For a parking pass 0.9 miles away from the venue, you'll pay about $30. The closer you get the more you pay -- the highest ticket being over $1,000. Obviously, if you're on any sort of budget, you'll have to settle for walking a ways.
Unfortunately, no one really knows what teams are going to the Super Bowl each year, so if your favorite team doesn't make it, it might not be worth going. If you need to fly, waiting until the last minute isn't budget-friendly, but there aren't many other options.
Your first steps should be to use sites like Google Flights or Skyscanner to track cheap flights. Also, check out Expedia, Kayak, and other similar travel sites to find the best deals. In addition, here are a few other tips for traveling last minute:
-Use your airline lines - There is a reason you've been saving all those miles, using them to pay for a last time flight is a great idea.
-Take a really early or red-eye flight.
-Take a flight with multiple stops - These are always cheaper than non-stop flights.
Going to the Super Bowl can cost upwards of $25,000 (or, currently $19,000) for the best tickets, or a couple thousand if you're looking to stick to a tighter budget. That's still not cheap by any means. At Greatvest Tools we like to preach financial prudence, so unless you're massively wealthy, we'd recommend you watch the game on TV and invest your money in retirement instead.
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