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National Championship Game ticket prices plummet as Alabama-Clemson fatigue sets in

By Patrick Schmidt

SANTA CLARA, CA - NOVEMBER 12: A general view of more than 18,850 pairs of jeans that are displayed on the field at Levi's Stadium creating a Field of Jeans on November 12, 2014 in Santa Clara, California. 26 billion pounds of textiles end up in landfills each year in the U.S. Levi Strauss & Co. teamed up with the San Francisco 49ers and nonprofit partner, Goodwill, to show the tremendous impact that can be made by the small act of donating clothing instead of tossing it aside. Over a two-week period, more than 18,850 pairs of jeans were donated to Bay Area Goodwills and transformed into a Field of Jeans by San Francisco-based artist, Hannah Sitzer. 12 tons of clothing were kept out of landfills as all the jeans were donated to Goodwill. The work of art took more than 50 people and over 16 hours to create at Levi's Stadium. (Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images for Levi's)
SANTA CLARA, CA - NOVEMBER 12: A general view of more than 18,850 pairs of jeans that are displayed on the field at Levi's Stadium creating a Field of Jeans on November 12, 2014 in Santa Clara, California. 26 billion pounds of textiles end up in landfills each year in the U.S. Levi Strauss & Co. teamed up with the San Francisco 49ers and nonprofit partner, Goodwill, to show the tremendous impact that can be made by the small act of donating clothing instead of tossing it aside. Over a two-week period, more than 18,850 pairs of jeans were donated to Bay Area Goodwills and transformed into a Field of Jeans by San Francisco-based artist, Hannah Sitzer. 12 tons of clothing were kept out of landfills as all the jeans were donated to Goodwill. The work of art took more than 50 people and over 16 hours to create at Levi's Stadium. (Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images for Levi's) /
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Ticket prices continue to plummet for the National Championship Game between Alabama and Clemson and we should have seen this coming.

Fans may be growing tired with another Alabama-Clemson showdown in the National Championship Game considering ticket prices are down more than 60 percent from last year’s game.

There are a number of reasons why ticket prices are down but the first could be seeing two teams play for the title for the third time in the last four years. Many fans are growing tired with seeing a “rerun” rather than celebrating their dominance over the rest of college football. The casual fan who may want to attend such a marquee event has dwindled, but it goes beyond the two teams playing on the field.

The cheapest ticket available on TickPick, a secondary ticket marketplace that doesn’t charge buyer fees like competing sites is currently $133 and the average listing price is down to $1,039. Last year on the Thursday before the game, they were averaging $2,846 (decrease of 63 percent). These prices are 10-25 percent lower than other secondary ticket marketplaces after fees.

“Ticket demand is unlike anything we’ve ever seen during the College Football Playoff era,” Brett Goldberg, Co-Founder and Co-CEO of TickPick said. “Prices are completely bottoming out as Alabama and Clemson fans are not willing to make the trip to Santa Clara. The hassle and cost to travel to the game are major deterrents. The weather is also playing a role, as it could end up in the 30’s on Monday night.”

Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara is the site of the National Championship Game, thousands of miles away from Alabama and South Carolina where the schools and the majority of their fans are located. It’s easy to understand why ticket prices were so high last year when the game was in Atlanta and Georgia and Alabama was competing for the title. The game was in the back part of the two schools and in the SEC geographical footprint.

Playing in Levi’s Stadium might as well be on a different planet because fans aren’t going to travel across the country when they could watch from the comfort of their home for free. Free is a much better deal than $137, even if that is shockingly low. The Pac-12 Championship Game couldn’t even sell out Levi’s Stadium featuring teams in their own geographic foothold. It shouldn’t come as a surprise then that teams in the south/southeast can’t sell out a stadium.

The ticket price is just one cost for the fan who wants to attend. Fans may be able to strike a great deal on the cost of tickets, but factoring in the cost of airfare and lodging at Santa Clara hotels and fans are going to have to shell out around $2,000 for one game.

While that may be a small price to pay for a chance to see your favorite team win a national title, it’s not doing anything to win over casual fans.

College football fans want games in Atlanta or New Orleans. They don’t want to trek to the Bay Area, an area that’s much more geared toward pro sports, where the charm of playing in a college environment is removed.

Wine country doesn’t exactly scream hotbed for college football.

Atlanta, New Orleans, anywhere in Florida, and the demand for tickets would be much higher.

Just like in real estate where location, location, location is the most important thing, it appears playing the national championship game on the other side of the country is a giant fail.

Next. Alabama vs. Clemson: Everything you need to know. dark

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