Ticket prices generally lower as Packers' season hangs in the balance
Richard Ryman
GREEN BAY − This week's game against Detroit marks the exact middle of Green Bay's season, but if the Packers lose to the Lions, it could also mean the end of the season.
For those more inclined to optimism, 11 of the 16 teams in the NFC have records of .500 or worse, which means as the Packers now stand, they are not out of the running for the playoffs, even with a 3-5 record.
Ticket prices for the next three weeks were trending down on Monday, reflecting the Packers' ongoing poor play this year, although the team showed signs of improvement in Sunday's 27-17 loss to 6-1 Buffalo. The Packers play the 1-6 Lions at noon Sunday in Detroit, where the average get-in price was $100, down from $121 last week and $125 two weeks ago. Some tickets were as low as $76.
After Detroit, the Packers get a break from three consecutive road games, playing the Dallas Cowboys and Tennessee Titans at Lambeau Field. The downside: They play the two teams, which are 6-2 and 5-2, respectively, within four days of each other.
The get-in average ticket price for Dallas, determined by averaging the lowest prices at 10 secondary marketplaces, was $297 on Sunday, down from $353 last week and $361 the week before. The Cowboys are coached by Mike McCarthy, who is the Packers' second-longest-serving coach, after Curly Lambeau, and second-winningest coach, also trailing Lambeau. McCarthy coached the Packers to a Super Bowl victory during the 2010 season but was fired with four games remaining in the 2018 season.
Four days later, the Packers take on Tennessee, which defeated Houston on Sunday, in a Thursday Night Football contest. The get-in price was $129, down from $134 last week and $153 two weeks ago. It is the final Gold package game of the season and most Gold package ticket holders are from southern Wisconsin, which makes coming to Green Bay for a mid-week game a challenge. That results in less demand. The $129 get-in price is very near the $123 lowest face-value price for bowl seats.
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Even more unappealing for traveling Packers fans is the Sunday Night Football game against the Philadelphia Eagles on Nov. 27. The game is three days after Thanksgiving, it's on a Sunday night, which means giving up a work day on Monday, it's at the end of deer hunting season, and Philadelphia is one of the least-welcoming cities for opposing fans.
That said, the average get-in price increased to $227 from $201 the week before. The Eagles remain the only undefeated team in the NFL and their fans are excited.
The Packers' next-to-last road game, and their final one before the bye week, is at Chicago on Dec. 4. The get-in average was $204. The Bears also are 3-5, having lost to Dallas 49-29 on Sunday. If the Bears, who've shown some signs of life this season under new head coach Matt Eberflus, have success during the four intervening weeks, demand for that game could increase. The next four teams on Chicago's schedule are Miami (5-3), Detroit (1-6), Atlanta (4-4) and the New York Jets (5-3).
After the bye, three of the Packers' final four games are at Lambeau Field against the Los Angeles Rams, Minnesota Vikings and Detroit Lions, the exception being a Christmas Day game in Miami.
Lowest ticket prices average $100 to $299
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 USA, Gametime, Green Bay Ticket Service, SeatGeek, StubHub, TicketIQ, Ticketmaster, TickPick, Ticket King and Vivid Seats.
Note that ticket marketplaces can add fees on top of listed prices, so actual costs might be higher.
Several websites offer standing room only tickets for Packers home games. The Packers have designated these tickets as "not available for resale," so buyers proceed at their own risk. If the ticket does not scan as valid, fans won't be admitted to the stadium, and their recourse for a refund is to contact the seller of the ticket.
Nov. 6, noon, Detroit Lions, Ford Field, Fox
- Face-price range: N/A
- Average lowest-cost seat: $100
- Range of lowest-cost seats: $76-$120
Nov. 13, 3:25 p.m., Dallas Cowboys, Lambeau Field, FOX
- Face-price range: $123-$156
- Average lowest-cost seats: $297
- Range of lowest-cost seats: $242-$349
Nov. 17, 7:15 p.m., Tennessee Titans, Lambeau Field, Amazon
- Face-price range: $123-$156
- Average lowest-cost seats: $129
- Range of lowest-cost seats: $89-$250
Nov. 27, 7:20 p.m., Philadelphia Eagles, Lincoln Financial Field, NBC
- Face-price range: N/A
- Average lowest-cost seats: $227
- Range of lowest-cost seats: $176-$310
Dec. 4, noon, Chicago Bears, Soldier Field, FOX
- Face-price range: N/A
- Average lowest-cost seats: $204
- Range of lowest-cost seats: $166-$247
Contact Richard Ryman at rryman@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter at @RichRymanPG, on Instagram at @rrymanPG or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/RichardRymanPG/.