Green Bay Packers playoff ticket prices could increase once opponent is known
Richard Ryman
GREEN BAY - Packers fans may not know who Green Bay will face in its first playoff game, but this week might be a good time to buy tickets.
As of Monday, the average lowest price for tickets was $177, about $20 per ticket more than last week. The overall average resale price Monday was $270, according to secondary seller SeatGeek.
"But we can expect that to rise once the other team is decided," said Nick Pichaiwongse of SeatGeek. "This is only about 5 percent more than the average Packers home game ticket price, but again, I would expect prices to rise once the other team has been decided."
How much prices rise could depend on the other team. Possible opponents, to be decided by the coming weekend's wild card playoff games, are New Orleans, Seattle or Philadelphia. Only Minnesota would not be a possible Packers opponent in the divisional round.
"For example, the likely opponent is the New Orleans Saints and that would be a very excellent matchup," said Dennis Garrity of Event USA in Ashwaubenon. "It may even engender some interest from Saints fans who are willing to travel."
If enough of them want tickets, that could increase demand and move prices higher.
Pichaiwongse said the overall average resale price for the 2017 wild card game against the New York Giants was $173. That was the last time the Packers hosted a playoff game.
The face value of tickets for this year's divisional round game range from $120 to $168.
Interest in the game increased after Sunday's win in Detroit and the NFL's announcement of game dates and times.The Packers play at 5:40 p.m. Jan. 12.
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"Sales started in earnest Sunday afternoon after the Packers-Lions game ended and have continued," Garrity said. "I do think there will be a second wave of interest once we know who the opponent is."
Bill Wenzel of Green Bay Ticket Service in Ashwaubenon noticed an odd buying pattern Monday.
"At least for today, customers are paying for good seats, but end zone seats, even in large groups, are not bringing much of a premium," he said.
An uptick in prices is possible after this weekend's games, "but my experience tells me that the prices will trend down as the game gets closer," Wenzel said.
For our weekly look at Packers' tickets prices, we average the lowest ticket prices at eight secondary-market websites: Event USA, Green Bay Ticket Service, NFL Exchange, StubHub, TickPick, Ticket King, SeatGeek and Vivid Seats. Note that ticket brokers can add fees on top of the prices listed here, so actual costs might be higher.
Contact Richard Ryman at (920) 431-8342 or rryman@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter at @RichRymanPG, on Instagram at @rrymanPG or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/RichardRymanPG/