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September 08, 2016 at 02:00 AM
The 2016 NFL season kicks off tonight in Denver with a rematch between the defending champion Denver Broncos and the Carolina Panthers.
Fans will pay at least $81 per ticket to attend the game, according to Ticketmaster, and that doesn’t include other expenses such as parking or snacks.
Denver’s stadium prices are slightly higher than average among all 32 teams, according to a ranking of stadium costs compiled by GOBankingRates. Fans attending a Redskins game at FedEx Field near Washington, D.C., can expect to pay the most to watch a game in person at about $272.17 for tickets, parking and refreshments for two.
For retired football fans living on a fixed income, these prices may prove to be prohibitive. But in some markets, attending an NFL game can be relatively affordable.
“Going to a football game on a Sunday is the equivalent of going to church for some fans,” said Kristen Bonner, lead researcher on the GOBankingRates study. “The cost of these games, however, is something that fans have to think about and, in some cases, budget for in advance. Luckily, there are stadiums that make the experience more affordable so fans can return for more games throughout the season.”
GOBankingRates ranked NFL teams by the cost to attend a game, including ticket prices (calculated by averaging the cost per game for the three cheapest season ticket prices advertised on each team’s official NFL site), as well as the cost for refreshments based on prices reported in the NFL’s 2015 team marketing report. The ranking assumes the purchase of two tickets, one parking spot, two hot dogs and two beers.
Retirees who want to attend an NFL game on a fixed budget will find their dollar goes the furthest at these 10 NFL stadiums:
A Miami Dolphins fans cheers during the second half of an NFL football game in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo: Lynne Sladky/AP Photo)
10. Miami Dolphins game at New Miami Stadium
Average cost for two fans: $154.70.
Ticket price: $49.60.
Beer price: $7.75.
Soft drink price: $4.
Hot dog price: $6.
Parking: $20.
Detroit Lions linebacker Tahir Whitehead (59) shoots a selfie with fans after a preseason NFL football game at Ford Field in Detroit in 2014. (Photo: Rick Osentoski/AP Photo)
9. Detroit Lions game at Ford Field
Average cost for two fans: $153.50.
Ticket price: $52.50.
Beer price: $7.50.
Soft drink price: $5.
Hot dog price: $6.25.
Parking: $11.
Football fans look on from the pirate ship at Raymond James Stadium during an NFL preseason football game in Tampa, Florida. (Photo: Brian Blanco/AP Photo)
8. Tampa Bay Buccaneers game at Raymond James Stadium
Average cost for two fans: $150.
Ticket price: $45.
Beer price: $7.75.
Soft drink price: $4.50.
Hot dog price: $5.25.
Parking: $25.
Tennessee Titans fans cheer in the first half of an NFL football game between the Titans and the Carolina Panthers in 2015 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo: James Kenney/AP Photo)
7. Tennessee Titans game at Nissan Stadium
Average cost for two fans: $146.67.
Ticket price: $43.33.
Beer price: $7.
Soft drink price: $4.
Hot dog price: $4.
Parking: $30.
Arizona Cardinals fans cheer on their team during a game in 2011 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo: Ross D. Franklin/AP Photo)
6. Arizona Cardinals game at University of Phoenix Stadium
Average cost for two fans: $145.
Ticket price: $50.
Beer price: $7.25.
Soft drink price: $4.25.
Hot dog price: $4.
Parking: $14.
Jacksonville Jaguars fans line up outside a gate at EverBank Field before a game in 2012, in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo: Stephen Morton/AP Photo)
