Packers tickets for Lambeau games reach historic lows, but winning could change that
GREEN BAY - Football fans who've never been to a regular-season Green Bay Packers game at Lambeau Field, but have wanted to go, have a rare opportunity. The average of lowest-cost secondary market tickets for three of the Packers' four remaining home games is less than face value, a situation that has never happened to that degree since ticket scalping went legit and online.
Whether the Packers' 31-28 overtime victory over the Dallas Cowboys at Lambeau Field Sunday was the start of a trend or an anomaly remains to be seen, but if Green Bay keeps winning, expect the affordability window to snap shut.
"I believe yesterday's game will give a bit of a boost to the market," said Dennis Garrity of tour and ticket company Event USA in Ashwaubenon. "We are already seeing some indications today."
The victory ended the Packers' five-game losing streak and keeps alive their hopes for a playoff berth, but the remaining schedule is a rough one. Three of the Packers' remaining seven opponents lead their respective divisions and one other already defeated Green Bay this season.
On Thursday, the Packers host the Tennessee Titans, 17-10 winners over the Denver Broncos on Sunday. The average of lowest-priced tickets at 10 secondary market sites was $74 on Monday morning. That's $49 less than the lowest face-value ticket at Lambeau.
The Packers then get a much-needed 10 days off before traveling to Philadelphia for a Nov. 27 game. The Eagles were the NFL's only undefeated team until Monday night, when they lost to Washington 32-21. The average get-in price was $255, the most expensive game remaining on the Packers' schedule. The price is likely driven by Eagles fans, because it's not an attractive game for Packers fans, unless they live on the East Coast. It's a Sunday night game on Thanksgiving weekend, it's the final day of the deer hunting season, and Philly is not the most hospitable place for opposition fans.
On Dec. 4, the Packers travel to Chicago. Green Bay defeated the Bears at Lambeau Field in September and quarterback Aaron Rodgers has a spectacular 25-5 record against the Packers' oldest rival, but much has changed in the Windy City since then. Granted, the Bears are 3-7 and at the bottom of the NFC North, but Chicago scored 29 or more points in its last four games as quarterback Justin Fields emerged as a force to be reckoned with. On Sunday, he passed for 167 yards and two touchdowns and ran for 147 yards and two more touchdowns in a 31-30 loss to the Detroit Lions.
In contrast, Sunday was the first time this year the Packers scored more than 30 points.
The average get-in price is $231, a $17 increase from last week.
The Packers host the defending Super Bowl champion Los Angeles Rams on Dec. 19. The Rams are 3-6 and in last place in the NFC West. There has been no real enthusiasm for this game all year. Even in August, the get-in average was $118. It was $91 on Monday.
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On Christmas Day, the Packers will play the Dolphins in Miami. The average get-in price was $173, up from $127 in August. The Dolphins are an unexpected 7-3 and in first place in the AFC East, which has emerged as the toughest division in the NFL. Every team has a winning record and the Bills, an early season Super Bowl favorite, are tied with the New York Jets and trailing the Dolphins, which stomped Cleveland 39-17 on Sunday.
The one game at Lambeau bucking the trend toward cheaper tickets is the New Year's Day game against the Minnesota Vikings, which — the Bears notwithstanding — is the team Packers fans really despise. The average get-in price was $147 on Monday. If the game ends up having playoff consequences for the Packers, expect that to be higher by New Year's.
The 8-1 Vikings defeated the Buffalo Bills on Sunday, a victory that established NFC North-leading Minnesota as a serious Super Bowl contender in the generally weak NFL.
"It's a big division rival and an attractive time to attend a game during the holiday season," Garrity said. "We suspect that attendance will be driven significantly by Vikings fans as well. You can expect to see a lot of purple in the stands."
Finally, trailing every other game, in more ways than one, is the season finale against Detroit. It can be confidently said that the game will be at Lambeau, but not which day or what time it will be played. Ticket prices suffer accordingly, with an average get-in cost of $47. VividSeats had one ticket for the Lions game listed at $25.
"The fact that we don't know the exact date for that game doesn't help, and of course the Packers' struggles this year, the frigid temperatures that may be prevalent, and an uninspiring opponent all conspire to make that a low-demand game. At least for now," Garrity said.
The Lions defeated the Packers two weeks ago and beat the Bears on Sunday. If the game has playoff implications for the Packers, expect prices to climb.
As to when we'll know time and date, here is the NFL's explanation: "For Week 18, two Saturday games and the Sunday night game will be announced no later than six days prior to Jan. 9. The schedule does not list Saturday games or a Sunday night game in Week 18, but games with playoff implications will be moved to those time slots."
Ticket prices
The following are secondary market ticket prices as of Monday.
For our look at Packers' tickets prices, we averaged the lowest ticket prices at 10 secondary market websites: Event USA, Gametime, Green Bay Ticket Service, SeatGeek, StubHub, TicketIQ, Ticketmaster, TickPick, Ticket King and Vivid Seats.
Note that ticket marketplaces can add fees on top of listed prices, so actual costs might be higher.
Some websites offer standing room only tickets for Packers home games. The Packers have designated these tickets as "not available for resale," so buyers proceed at their own risk. If the ticket does not scan as valid, fans won't be admitted to the stadium, and their recourse for a refund is to contact the seller of the ticket.
Nov. 17, 7:15 p.m., Tennessee Titans, Lambeau Field, Amazon
Face-price range: $123-$156
Average lowest-cost seats: $74
Range of lowest-cost seats: $50-$109
Nov. 27, 7:20 p.m., Philadelphia Eagles, Lincoln Financial Field, NBC
Face-price range: N/A
Average lowest-cost seats: $255
Range of lowest-cost seats: $195-$293
Dec. 4, noon, Chicago Bears, Soldier Field, FOX
Face-price range: N/A
Average lowest-cost seats: $231
Range of lowest-cost seats: $190-$298
Dec. 19, 7:15 p.m., Los Angeles Rams, Lambeau Field, ESPN/ABC
Face-price range: $123-$156
Average lowest-cost seats: $91
Range of lowest-cost seats: $75-$114
Dec. 25, noon, Miami Dolphins, Hard Rock Stadium, Fox
Face-price range: N/A
Average lowest-cost seats: $173
Range of lowest-cost seats: $143-$205
Jan. 1, 3:25 p.m., Minnesota Vikings, Lambeau Field, CBS
Face-price range: $123-$156
Average lowest-cost seats: $147
Range of lowest-cost seats: $106-$185
Jan. 7 or Jan. 8, time to be determined, Detroit Lions, Lambeau Field, network to be determined
Face-price range: $123-$156
Average lowest-cost seats: $47
Range of lowest-cost seats: $25-$65
Contact Richard Ryman at rryman@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter at @RichRymanPG, on Instagram at @rrymanPG or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/RichardRymanPG/.
This article originally appeared on Green Bay Press-Gazette: Green Bay Packers tickets historically cheap ahead of Titans match
