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No Ticket Needed For Best Super Bowl Seat

Marc Valero/Highlands Today

From: left Gary Marler of Fort Myers and Howard Hart of Avon Park believe the best seat for the Super Bowl is at home in front of the television. Hart said "why would you pay 0 face value for the cheapest seat to sit in a stadium in the sunshine and have to wade through the crowds to get out to go to the bathroom?"

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By MARC VALERO

Highlands Today

Published: January 27, 2009

SEBRING - The Super Bowl is only about an hour-and-45-minute ride away in Tampa this year, but unless you've got connections, paid some big bucks or were lucky, you won't be viewing the big game in person Sunday at Raymond James Stadium.

Howard Hart of Avon Park doesn't need a ticket for a great view of the game.

"The best seat in the house is in front of your TV," he said. "Why would you pay $800 face value for the cheapest ticket to sit in a stadium in the sunshine and have to wade through the crowds to get out to go to the bathroom?"

He attends only one football game a year, which is in conjunction with a reunion of the Auburn University band alumni, of which he is a member.

"That's fun because I'm going to see my friends; it's not because I want to sit in the stadium."

Living in Fort Myers, Dave Uman noted that it's about the same distance for him to travel to Tampa or Miami for a Super Bowl, but he would never consider buying tickets.

"It's too expensive, and I'm just not really into large crowds like that," he said. "It's so easy to sit back and watch it on TV. They do a great job with the way it is done on television."

Uman will be watching the game in his home's media room.

Gary Marler of Fort Myers attends some Buccaneer games, but he won't be at Raymond James Stadium, either.

"It's too crazy; it's better off at home," he said.

Both Uman and Marler are working in Highlands County.

Ticket Prices Nothing To Smile About

At this late date, about the only chance for a Super Bowl ticket is through online auctions, and that's for a hefty price.

The highest bid for two club level seats on ebay was up to $4,008 on Monday afternoon. You could buy the tickets outright for $6,000.

Stubub.com is offering lower level premium tickets near the 50-yard line for up to $9,995 a piece.

Those tickets are at the high end, but even for a corner seat, expect to pay about $1,500 a seat.

The average selling price for a ticket to last year's Super Bowl was $4,332, according to TicketsNow.com.

Tickets are at a premium for a few reasons, according to online ticket vendor Team One Sports.

The two teams playing the big game get about 70 percent of the tickets. All other teams get over 1 percent, and the team hosting the Super Bowl receives about 9 percent of the Super Bowl tickets.

The remaining tickets are controlled by the NFL and are distributed primarily to NFL-affiliated companies, the network broadcasting the Super Bowl, corporate sponsors, media, VIPs, charities, fans, and the Host Committee, to package with sponsorships.

Your chances are slim, but every year the NFL distributes approximately 500 pairs of tickets to fans through an annual Super Bowl random drawing.

Although many people refer to it as a lottery, there is no charge to enter, and if you are chosen, you will have the opportunity to buy a pair of Super Bowl tickets at face value - about $800 each.

Requests for the random drawing are accepted between Feb. 1 and June 1 of each year preceding the game.

Ticket prices have increased regularly over the past 20 years. Before all the hype and hoopla, tickets prices were a little more reasonable. In retrospect, tickets for the first Super Bowl at the Los Angeles Coliseum 43 years ago were a bargain at $6, $10 and $12.

Sports Bars Getting Ready

So, most of us will watch the game on TV at home, at a friend's house or a sports bar.

The sports bars are gearing up for a big day and an evening of hungry and thirsty fans.

Extra staff will be working Sunday at Beef 'O' Brady's, General Manager Will Lovett said Monday.

"Our big draw mainly for the Super Bowl - we will do a pile of to-go wings," he said. People call in three to five days before the game to reserve pickup times for chicken wings.

The restaurant is usually full, but the wings are probably the biggest sale of the day, Lovett said.

Beef 'O' Brady's has 23 TVs plus a 120-inch set with surround sound.

Duffers Sports Grille Owner Rick Rafferty said his restaurant will have specials before and during the game, which will be featured on two 100-inch high-definition sets and eight other TVs.

Highlands Today reporter Marc Valero can be reached at 386-5826 or mvalero@highlandstoday.com

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