The resale market is an expensive option to see any NFL team live, but which fans have to pay the most money? Sporting Post analyzed the asking prices of 2024/25 fixtures to find out.
While the average price of a general admission ticket is around $150 USD to see an NFL team live, the resale market sees fans having to fork out hundreds or even thousands of dollars more to attend a match.
The long-running issue of ripping off fans in the resale market is not limited to the NFL, and it has led to recent efforts to better regulate the affordability of NFL ticket resales in the United States.
This year, Maryland's Senate Bill 0539 initially sought to limit resale prices to a maximum of 10% above their original value. While this cap was ultimately removed during the legislative process, the bill was successfully passed, incorporating key consumer protections such as a ban on speculative ticket sales and improved pricing transparency.
Elsewhere in America, a multi-state settlement forced the NFL to remove their minimum resale pricing on tickets. Fans argued that this 'price floor' was artificially inflating prices, and its removal is expected to create a more competitive resale market for consumers.
However, despite these signs of progress for consumers, the resale market remains an extortionate option for fans trying to obtain NFL tickets.
Research and Key Findings
Here at Sporting Post, our analysts have calculated the average asking price of NFL tickets listed on the resale market for the 2024/25 season and ranked the teams based on the average cost.
We also ranked NFL teams on the premium (%) paid for tickets to see them at their home stadium when purchasing tickets on the resale market.
Las Vegas Raiders fans are charged the most money per ticket ($789 on average) on the resale market for tickets to see them live.
The Dallas Cowboys ($752) and Kansas City Chiefs ($721) are the second and third-most expensive NFL teams to watch live via the resale market.
The Los Angeles Chargers ($311) are the cheapest team to see on the resale market. However, their resale prices are still 166% more than the average admission price to a Chargers game at the SoFi Stadium.
Dallas Cowboys fans pay the biggest premium (+563%) on the resale market to see their team live at the AT&T Stadium vs the stadium’s average admission price on general sale.
The Las Vegas Raiders are the NFL’s Most Expensive Ticket on the Resale Market
Fans of the Las Vegas Raiders are charged an average of $789 USD on the resale market to see them live. This is the highest price of any team in the NFL.
The Raiders' relocation to Las Vegas in 2020 brought renewed excitement around the franchise, with the brand-new Allegiant Stadium being a significant draw for both locals and tourists.
Relocating to a city with high tourism, like Las Vegas, may also contribute to a spike in ticket demand due to the influx of non-local fans looking for entertainment.
Following in second and third are the Dallas Cowboys ($752) and Kansas City Chiefs ($721). The Cowboys, often referred to as "America’s Team," consistently boast one of the largest and most loyal fanbases in sports, which can make it a lot tricker to see them live.
The Chiefs, meanwhile, have seen their ticket prices rise significantly due to their recent dominance in the NFL. Since the arrival of Patrick Mahomes, the Chiefs have been perennial Super Bowl contenders, increasing demand to see them live.
The Los Angeles Chargers have the lowest average ticket price listed on the resale market at $311.
This may be linked to their relatively new market position in Los Angeles, where they often play second fiddle to the Rams, who have a more established presence there.
While both teams share the state-of-the-art SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, there are far more tickets (+38%) available to buy on the resale market for the Chargers than there are for the Rams.
More availability helps to make tickets cheaper to see the Chargers, however, like the rest of the NFL, fans of the Chargers are still paying a premium on the resale market.
NFL Resale Premiums are Highest to See the Dallas Cowboys at the AT&T Stadium
The average price of seeing the Dallas Cowboys at the AT&T Stadium is around $117 USD for a general admission ticket. But for those unlucky enough to miss out on the original sales, they face paying 563% more on average to obtain a ticket on the resale market.
As our analysis shows, every NFL fan faces significantly higher costs on the resale market to see their team at their home stadium. Following the Dallas Cowboys, the Detroit Lions (+523%) and the Pittsburgh Steelers (+502%) have the highest resale premium attached to their tickets.
The Steelers saw the seventh-largest change (+32%) in the average purchase price of tickets compared to 2023. This increase in general demand will impact the premium paid for tickets on the resale market.
Although the premium is still significantly high, fans of the Washington Commanders pay the smallest difference (+149%) for a ticket on the resale market vs its original pricing. General admission to watch them at the Commanders Field costs $125 USD on average, while a resale ticket is priced at $311 USD.
Sources and Method
Analysts at Sporting Post took the average prices listed for NFL fixtures of every NFL team via Tickpick.com.
Using a weighted average based on the number of tickets available per game, they then ranked each NFL team on their average price per resale ticket and on the average premium (%) to watch each team at their home stadium vs the stadium’s primary general admission prices to see them.
The data does not consider prices actually paid, but prices that tickets at listed for. NFL team fixtures scheduled to be played in London were not considered.. Data correct as of September 2024.
