NFL Game Attendance Costs Outpace Inflation, Study Shows
As the NFL regular season prepares to kick off on September 5th, a recent study has revealed that the cost of attending a league game has exceeded the rate of inflation. According to the study released by FreeBets.com, between 2015 and 2024, the cost of attending an NFL game increased by 44 percent, while inflation during the same period was only 31 percent.
The study, which relied on data from the sports analytics firm Team Marketing Report and the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ CPI inflation calculator, found that the team with the largest price increase in that time frame was the Las Vegas Raiders, who relocated from Oakland in 2020. The Raiders experienced a staggering 129 percent increase in ticket prices. Following closely behind were the Cleveland Browns with a 112 percent increase, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers with an 88 percent increase, the Kansas City Chiefs with an 81 percent increase, and the Jacksonville Jaguars with a 76 percent increase.
Surprisingly, some of the teams with the lowest increases were the Chicago Bears, Indianapolis Colts, Arizona Cardinals, Washington Commanders, New England Patriots, Baltimore Ravens, New York Giants, Dallas Cowboys, and New York Jets. This may come as a surprise, considering that the Cowboys are the most valuable NFL franchise, according to Forbes.
To determine the cost of attendance, the study considered the purchase of two general tickets, two hot dogs, a soft drink, and a small beer. For example, attending a Raiders game in 2015 would have cost $156.35, compared to $357.62 in 2024. Similarly, a Buccaneers game would have cost $149.18 in 2015 and $279.86 in 2024, while a Chiefs game would have cost $159.29 in 2015 and $287.62 in 2024.
The study also examined the price increases for general and premium seat tickets. On average, general seat prices increased by 49 percent, while premium seat prices increased by 47 percent between 2015 and 2024. However, the inflation for non-premium seat tickets varied significantly across teams. Raiders games saw a 161 percent inflation in ticket prices, followed by the Browns at 125 percent, the Chiefs and Buccaneers at 96 percent, and the Jaguars at 77 percent. On the other hand, the Cowboys experienced a mere 6 percent increase, the Jets 7 percent, the Giants 14 percent, the Patriots 17 percent, and the Cardinals 20 percent.
The study’s summary suggests that the rising costs of attending NFL games can be attributed to factors such as soaring player salaries, stadium upgrades costing hundreds of millions of dollars, and the increasing cost of broadcasting rights. These costs are inevitably passed down to the fans. The study raises the question of whether the NFL will continue with its current pricing strategies, potentially alienating a significant portion of its fan base, or seek new ways to make attending games more accessible for all.
The Epoch Times has reached out to the NFL for comment on the study and its plans to address the accessibility of the game for fans.
