Packers playoff ticket costs drift, but remain high as fans wait for opponent to be decided

Richard Ryman
Green Bay Press-Gazette

GREEN BAY – It will be another week before Green Bay Packers fans know who will be at Lambeau Field for the divisional round of the NFC playoffs. For ticket holders eager to attend the game, the opponent hardly matters. For those looking to profit on the sale of their tickets, the opponent could be an important factor.

The NFL regular season concluded Sunday with the Packers losing to the Lions 37-30 at Ford Field in Detroit. The Packers finished the NFL's first 17-game season 13-4 and retained their place as the No. 1 seed in the NFC. They tied the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, last year's Super Bowl winner and the team they lost to in the NFC championship at Lambeau Field, for the NFL's best record.

Secondary market ticket prices are highly speculative at this point, since the Packers don't know who their opponent will be. For the divisional round on the weekend of Jan. 22-23, the average of the lowest price at Lambeau Field is $170, down from $224 last week. The price for the championship game on Jan. 30 is $415, down from $434 last week. Prices are determined by averaging the lowest prices at 10 secondary market websites.

Face value of tickets for the divisional round game is between $127 and $177. For the championship game, it's $215-$280.

Green Bay Packers fans hold up a sign celebrating the Packers' clinching home-field advantage for the playoffs following the Dec. 12 game against the Chicago Bears at Lambeau Field.

The Packers are expected to provide information soon on standing-room-only tickets for the divisional round game.

Their opponent in the divisional round will be one of four teams: the Philadelphia Eagles, San Francisco 49ers, Arizona Cardinals or Los Angeles Rams, in that order. They could know as early as Sunday, if the Eagles defeat the Buccaneers, or as late as Monday night if it comes down to the Rams and Cardinals.

The best opponent in terms of resale value would have been the Dallas Cowboys, but they became the No. 3 seed after Sunday's games, so they cannot come to Lambeau until the NFC championship, assuming they keep winning. Besides great storylines — fired Packers coach Mike McCarthy now leading Dallas and legendary Packers-Cowboys playoff games dating to the 1966 season — Dallas has one of the better traveling fan bases.

"That would've been the best scenario for traveling fans and for secondary market value for the game," said Dennis Garrity, president of Event USA, a tickets and travel-package provider in Ashwaubenon.

Second on that list might be the Eagles, who must win at Tampa on Sunday to earn the trip to Green Bay.

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"Of the four potential opponents, I believe the Eagles would be the best travelers," Garrity said. 

Eagles fans, at the least, would be less deterred by January temperatures in Green Bay. 

In a related note, Packers fans optimistic enough to be thinking Super Bowl LVI arrangements should keep their eyes on whether the NFL changes the site of the game from SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, home of the Rams and Chargers, to AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. 

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The NFL always has a backup site in hand, but has never had to use it. That might change this year because of the COVID-19 pandemic. If California requires more restrictive pandemic protocols than Texas, the NFL could move the game. That's not an easy thing to do, given all the requirements and costs of hosting a Super Bowl, but it's not impossible.

For fans who want to attend the game, it would be worth considering whether they should forgo cheaper, no-refund, travel arrangements if they plan on making those arrangements this early. 

Ticket prices 

The following are secondary market ticket prices as of Monday. 

For our look at Packers' tickets prices, we averaged the lowest ticket prices at 10  secondary market websites: Event USAGametimeGreen Bay Ticket Service, SeatGeekStubHubTicketIQTicketmaster, TickPickTicket King and Vivid Seats

Note that ticket marketplaces can add fees on top of listed prices, so actual costs might be higher.

COVID-19 protocols: Masks are recommended indoors for everyone and for unvaccinated fans in crowded outdoor settings.

Jan. 22 or 23, opponent and time to be announced

Face-price range: $127-$177

Average lowest-cost seat: $170 

Range of lowest-cost seat: $146-$195

Jan. 30, opponent and time to be announced

Face-price range: $215-$280

Average lowest-cost seat: $415

Range of lowest-cost seat: $340-$504

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/.