Patriots Tickets Begin To Drop On Resale Market Following Brady Suspension
Provided by TiqIQ
Many in New England were ready to celebrate when the 2015 NFL season kicked off on Thursday, September 10. Some of the excitement may now be put on hold with Tom Brady's looming suspension. After the Wells Report was released, the NFL suspended Brady for four games stemming from his general awareness of alterations of game balls before the AFC Championship Game. As it currently stands, Brady would miss two home games during the suspension and prices for Patriots tickets on the secondary market are starting to drop.
As has been recent tradition in the NFL, the defending Super Bowl champion will open the season on the Thursday night of Week 1. New England's opponent for that game will be the Pittsburgh Steelers. According to TiqIQ, prior to the announcement of Brady's suspension, Patriots vs Steelers tickets for the Week 1 game had an average price of $618.08. By Tuesday afternoon, the price had barely moved on the secondary market. The average had dropped just 1.2% to an average of $610.19. By Wednesday the average had dropped 5.7% to $582.78. The get-in price has remained constant at $251.
The second home game Brady could potentially miss will come in Week 3 against the Jacksonville Jaguars. After the suspension, the average price went up slightly before dropping on Wednesday. The game currently has an average price of $338.98, down 5.6% from the initial average of $359.27. The get-in price has also dropped from $151 to $143.
If the suspension is upheld — Brady plans to appeal — Patriots fans will have to wait almost half a season to see him take the field at Gillette Stadium. Brady's four game suspension would cause him to miss five weeks total because the Patriots will serve their bye in Week 4. New England won't have another home game until Week 7 when they play the New York Jets. While it will potentially be Brady's first home game of the season, prices have also dropped on the secondary market. The current average price for Patriots vs Jets tickets is $421.99, down 3.9% from its average price on Monday afternoon. The get-in price, however, has gone up to $184 from $180.
Overall Patriots tickets are up 26% on the secondary market, such is usually the case after winning a Super Bowl. Last year New England's $292 average was the third highest in the NFL. For the 2015 season, Patriots tickets have an average of $367.91.
From the fallout of the suspension, the biggest jump in price for any single game will be Brady's first game back. That will come on the road, in Week 6 against the Indianapolis Colts. The Colts, of course, were the team the Patriots faced in the AFC Championship Game which brought about the investigation in the air pressure of the game balls. Before the announcement of the suspension, Colts tickets against the Patriots had an average price of $306.49 and that has increased 10.5% to $338.54. To add intrigue to the game, it will be played in primetime on Sunday Night Football. The game against the Pats will be the second most expensive Colts tickets for the 2015 regular season, trailing only a Peyton Manning return in Week 9.