Superbowl Party Tips & Links
El Carino and I were visiting San Francisco the day of the division playoffs between the New York Giants and the San Francisco 49ers. We ventured into a Marriott and were caught off guard by the abundance of NY Giants fans. This gaggle of folks spawned an interesting conversation about the finances of football fans. First, a little background, we are die hard football fans and have watched every single NY Giants game for years, on
SUPERBOWL PARTY - GO GIANTS
television. We have never been to a live game, although we did venture up to Albany, New York one summer to check out Giants training camp.
In the hotel lobby, we struck up a conversation with a girl dressed head to toe in Giants attire in town to see the game with her dad. They have season tickets and planned to go to the super bowl as well. El Carino and I decided to figure out how middle income folks can afford to attend live football games. We understand how the wealthy and corporations can afford the tickets, but what about those fans who are middle class. How do they do it?
How to Afford Live Football on a Middle Class Income
This is all conjecture, as we don’t know anyone personally who has season tickets to the NY Giants. Although my uncle did have tickets to the Bengals, but he was wealthy, so that doesn’t count. But for arguments sake, I have to believe the middle class can afford to attend live football.
Season Football Tickets (estimated)
NY Giants Season Tickets: $850.00 to $7,000.00
Parking: $200.00
Food: $300.00
Playoff game (including travel, hotel, tickets): $1,500.00
Total: $2,850.00 on Up
I am pleasantly surprised at the results of this calculation. For a single guy, making $55,000.00 per year, it is certainly possible to afford $2,850.00 for a season of football fun. (I’m not counting a superbowl visit) Granted, it’s 5% of your gross pay. But if football is really important to you and you prioritize going to live games, it’s doable.
I’ve talked a lot about spending on what matters. In short, living in accord with your personal values. For a die hard fan, the majority of your entertainment spending can go towards football. Skimp on other expenses, and it can work! Forgo an annual vacation and eating at expensive restaurants and a football fan could afford season tickets.
For the rest of us, here are some tips and thoughts for celebrating the Superbowl on the cheap.
Barb Recommends
Gambling, Taxes, and the Superbowl at Bargaineering
How to Host a Superbowl Party on the Cheap at Personal Finance Journey
Superbowl Party Trays; Can You Save Money by Making Your Own? at Frugal Confessions
5 Ideas to Save on Superbowl Party Food, Recipes, and Supplies at Money Crashers
50 Party Recipes for the Big Game at iVillage
Superbowl and the Stock Market at Squirrelers
Score Big with a Superbowl Party at Blogging for Change
Barbara Friedberg Personal Finance Across the Blogosphere
Be sure to visit these sites who published and promoted my work.
- Free Money Finance-Star Money Articles
- Young Adult Finance-What are Your Goals for 2012?
- My University Money-Carnival of Financial Camraderie
- Control Your Cash-Carnival of Wealth
- Carnival of Passive Investing-Afford Anything
- Totally Money Blog Carnival-Canadian Personal Finance
- Yakezie Carnival-Amateur Financier
image credit; xboxaddict80
My brother in law had NY Jets season tickets (4 seats) for more than 30 years. He split the original total with a friend and routinely sold tickets to offset some of the cost. One year I went with him to an exhibition game. It was the year after the Giants won the Super Bowl and they played the Jets. The Jets won! It was much more exciting to see it in person, but I would not pay for the tickets.
krantcents recently posted..Friday Night Links: Super Bowl Edition
@Krantc-Going to a game in NY would be so exciting. But like you, I wouldn’t spring for the cost!
BTW, NY Giant tickets are among the most expensive in the NFL. Their seats start around $85 per game and go up. Most teams sell cheap seats for under $50 and many start at $25 per ticket.
I think sports tickets are generally affordable.
They aren’t cheap but its a live event and comparable in price to a lot of other things. I can get NBA tickets for as little as $10 and a 3D movie would cost us more than that. A night out at the theatre for a broadway quality play seems to run $40-50 minimum. Even the semi-mediocre community theatre charges $14. A big name show in Vegas will usually run you $50-100. Of course its all more expensive than staying at home or various frugal options. But if comparing sports tickets to other events or shows, they don’t seem over priced to me in general.
jim recently posted..The cost of uninsured drivers
We love football, but would not spring for tickets. I do love attending college games in person–so much fun.
A friend who loves NASCAR drives with his son to the city of the race. They don’t actually go to the race, but stay in the city for the weekend. Some of the drivers make free appearances around the city & they go to those to collect autographs. Then they watch the race on tv at a hotel. Works for them.
Maggie@SquarePennies recently posted..What Makes You Happy?
Jim, Excellent point. It all rests with one’s own priorities. We go to lots of baseball games and spring for Broadway shows when in NYC. So much of pf is about spending on what matters to you.
@Maggie-Love college sports; football and basketball! I get free basketball tickets at the university where I teach!!! Love it!
Barbara Friedberg recently posted..FOOTBALL TICKETS; ARE THEY AFFORDABLE?
Like Krantcents said, with a season ticket package, you can most likely sell the games that you are not going to attend, thus re-coup some of our cost. With that your transportation, food, and other expenses with going to the game goes down
I know it is affordable for a single person making $55,000, but I would much rather travel than go to football games. But, as you said, it is all about personal priorities. As someone who just turned on the Super Bowl to watch the halftime show, I guess I am not the best person to comment on football.
@Mike, What a good idea. Sell some of the tickets to offset the cost. Good balancing strategy.
@Melissa-I like football, but there are other activites I’d rather spend on. Like you, We love to travel and go to the theatre.
Though I really want to watch it live, I rather be watching it over the television. I just save my money for the expenses.
Divina recently posted..Happy New Year To All Of You And Hope You Like The Aquarium Fish Photos Here …