Jonathan Mahler calls this year’s Super Bowl “a big fat failure”:
As of Tuesday, there were still 18,000 tickets available to the game. Hotel rates in New York City — and East Rutherford and Secaucus, for that matter — are plummeting. Weird. Who could have predicted that paying $2,000 to stand in the freezing cold and watch a football game might not be everyone’s idea of a great winter getaway?
Like all major sporting events, this one started with plenty of hooey about all of the money that it would generate for its host city (or cities). Random, obviously overstated estimates were thrown around. An economic-benefits study commissioned by the host committee — what major sporting event would be complete without an economic-benefits study? — reportedly put the number at $600 million. I say “reportedly” because the host committee has refused to release the study to the public, which tells you everything you need to know about the oil gusher of cash currently showering heretofore unimaginable prosperity on the New York metropolitan area.
On Thursday, Jesse Lawrence checked in on ticket sales:
Today, the average list price for Super Bowl tickets is now $2,465, a decline of 34% since the morning of Conference Championship Sunday [January 19th]. While the rate of decline is now much slower, it is still declining by $50-$100 each day. The ticket decline has not discriminated to any areas of MetLife Stadium, with one exception: Club Seats. The Chase and Lexus Clubs are located along the mezzanine sidelines on the east and west sides of the stadium. Both clubs offer the same amenities and services, including indoor food and beverage service. While weather concerns have been a major culprit for the dropping prices, Club prices have been immune to the elements, just like the lucky people that that will be sitting there. Since last Monday, Club Corner and Club Center seats have only declined by 6.61% and 9.34% respectively, to their current averages of $3,364 and $5,163.
Update from a reader:
Saying the Super Bowl is a failure because not enough people are buying tickets to the game is like saying Christmas is a failure because not enough people went to church.
Another:
To clarify, the Super Bowl is completely sold out. It is the secondary ticket broker market that has declining sales. There will be a packed house tomorrow night.
The Dish 