Super Bowl Fans Enjoy Las Vegas Despite Sky-High Ticket Prices
Las Vegas, NV – Super Bowl ticket prices have soared out of reach for many fans who had made travel plans months in advance to come to Las Vegas this week. However, these fans are finding other ways to enjoy the big game.
The NFL Experience in Las Vegas resembled a fan convention, with hordes of ticket-less people donning Packers, Bengals, Steelers, Eagles, and other team jerseys. Their story was the same – their favorite team had a shot at the title, so they booked a Super Bowl trip to Las Vegas. Unfortunately, their team didn’t make it, but they decided to come anyway. Buying Super Bowl tickets days before the game can be expensive, with this year’s prices reaching around $7,700 – although this is roughly $2,000 less than they were just two weeks ago.
Carl Bray, a Cincinnati fan, booked his Super Bowl trip two months ago when the Bengals made a strong run, despite quarterback Joe Burrow’s wrist injury. “I don’t have tickets yet, but I got the hotel and flight, and I thought, ‘Well, if I lock into something, I’ll go,'” said Bray. “If not, I’ll just go to MGM or someplace and watch it.” As of Saturday, Bray still hadn’t found an affordable ticket and planned to watch the game at a Super Bowl party at the M Resort Spa Casino in nearby Henderson.
Over the years, Super Bowl ticket prices have steadily increased. From just $12 for a seat in the Los Angeles Coliseum in 1967 (equivalent to $108 today), prices have now reached an average purchase price of $7,684 on Tick Pick. Despite the decrease, this is still too steep for Chiefs fan Rick Goff and his son Zach, who traveled from Kansas City but won’t be watching their favorite team in person. “We’re working people who can’t afford it,” Rick explained.
Eric and Stephanie Hubbard, a couple from Southern California, only had to drive three hours to reach Las Vegas. After the two Super Bowl teams were decided, they booked their trip. Eric is a 49ers fan, while Stephanie supports the Chiefs, creating a good-natured “civil war” between them. They admit they would need a stroke of luck at one of the casinos to afford tickets. “Unless we win $6,000 gambling tonight, that’s not happening,” Eric mentioned. “No, no, no,” Stephanie interjected, “we need $17,000 to get tickets to the game.” However, luck didn’t smile upon them, and they headed home on Friday to watch the game on their couch.
Traveling long distances to watch the Super Bowl at a Las Vegas casino is not a new concept. The research center at the Las Vegas Convention Visitors Authority reported that past Super Bowls attracted around 300,000 visitors to the city. This weekend, Las Vegas is anticipating 330,000 visitors for the Super Bowl, generating an estimated $600 million in economic activity for Southern Nevada.
Delmas Crum, a New York Jets fan, planned his trip to Las Vegas before Week 1, without knowing which teams would make it to the Super Bowl. Accompanied by his father, a die-hard Indianapolis Colts fan, they decided against paying the price for live tickets. However, the allure of Las Vegas and sports betting brought them to the city. “If nothing else, it’s a vacation to Vegas,” Crum stated. “A trip to Vegas and also there’s a Super Bowl happening here, so we can bet on it, watch it, and have a good time taking in the atmosphere.”
While some Super Bowl fans may be priced out of attending the game in person, it’s clear that Las Vegas still offers a vibrant and exciting experience for fans who are eager to soak up the atmosphere of this highly anticipated sporting event.
Analyst comment
Neutral news.
As an analyst, the market will likely see a boost in tourism and economic activity from the 330,000 Super Bowl visitors in Las Vegas, generating an estimated $600 million in economic activity for Southern Nevada. However, ticket prices reaching around $7,700 may lead to some fans being unable to attend the game in person.