Super Bowl LVI is on the horizon, and the Bengals have joined the Rams in sunny California to prepare for an all-out battle on the field. As ESPN reports, the game will be close-fought, with the predictions of 64 experts showing 35 leaning to a Rams win with 29 calling the Bengals Super Bowl victors. The Bengals’ previous runs in the Super Bowl have been 1981 and 1988, with this season being their third appearance in the big game. The Rams have appeared in the Super Bowl following the 1979, 1999, 2001, and 2018 seasons.
Beyond this year’s all-star halftime show, another popular topic of conversation surrounding the Super Bowl is the price of tickets. Fans looking forward to seeing their favorite teams are going to have to shell out a pretty penny (or several) to afford a ticket to the game this year.
The price of tickets has fans looking back at how much Super Bowl attendees paid in the past to see their favorite teams compete. From Super Bowl I to now, let’s take a look at the price of being a football fan.
What was the AFL-NFL World Championship Game?
The first Super Bowl was actually called the AFL-NFL World Championship Game due to the champions of what was then two separate leagues (the AFL and the NFL) playing each other to crown the true king of American football.
The event was held on Jan. 15, 1967, and the Green Bay Packers of the NFL defeated the the Kansas City Chiefs of the AFL by a score of 35-10. Coincidentally, the game took place in the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum which is less than 8 miles from SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, where this year’s game will take place.
How much were tickets to the first Super Bowl/AFL-NFL Championship Game?
So, just how much would you have paid to attend the AFL-NFL World Championship Game? Tickets went for 12 dollars — 87 dollars adjusted for inflation and, somewhat ironically, were considered too pricey. It was also the only Super Bowl broadcast by more than one network. Both NBC and CBS had rights to televise the games as NBC had rights to broadcast AFL games, and CBS had rights to NFL games.
As a result, the inaugural game is the only Super Bowl played not to sell out, though it’s worth mentioning that the attendance of the game is reported to have been about 61,000.
How much are tickets to Super Bowl LVI?
Many have said that most fans are being priced out of the Super Bowl as prices grow higher each year, and unfortunately — that rings true this year more than ever before.
CBS Sports notes that tickets for this year’s game are said to be the highest priced in Super Bowl history. The average price to watch the Bengals take on the Rams is $8,772. Tickets range anywhere between $4,000 and over $10,000, depending on the area of the arena. It’s even being reported that parking tickets are going for $4,000 — at the highest price point.
What if you’re looking to add a little luxury to your Super Bowl experience? The answer, of course, is a prime viewing area suite. These suites give you an immersive experience with access to private food and beverages, with some offering unique catered menu options.
Suites hold anywhere from 8-36 people and range in price from $500,000 to 2.5 Million for the Super Bowl event. The suits give ticket holders access to VIP entrances, and some come with several parking passes as well.
Many of us will be cheering on our favorite team from home this year, but if you’re braving the crowds and the prices, it’s sure to be a game to remember. Both teams have passion, heart, and a drive to win.
The kick-off for Super Bowl LVI is at 6:30pm EST Sunday, Feb. 13.