NFL Expecting Record-Breaking Crowd Of 105,000 For Super Bowl

The NFL is “projecting that 105,000 people will fill Cowboys Stadium and an outdoor plaza for Super Bowl XLV, which would be a record for the league’s biggest game,” according to Jeff Mosier of the DALLAS MORNING NEWS. NFL VP/Communications Brian McCarthy yesterday said that “all 5,000 tickets for the outdoor Plaza Party area sold out Tuesday night.” That number, “combined with 95,000 fans in the stands and suites and 5,000 media and staff, would push attendance” for the Feb. 6 Packers-Steelers game past the '80 Super Bowl, which was played at the Rose Bowl and drew 103,985. The attendance mark “still wouldn’t break the record for the largest crowd for an event at Cowboys Stadium.” That mark was set last year at the NBA All-Star Game, when 108,713 attended (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 1/27).

LACKING JET FUEL: In Boston, Thomas Grillo reports the Jets’ elimination from the playoffs “reduced the average cost of Super Bowl XLV tickets by thousands of dollars.” Secondary ticketing company Ace Ticket President James Holzman said, “If the Jets were in this game, tickets would be running anywhere from $3,500 to $15,000 per seat compared to where they are now at $2,500 to $10,000.” As of yesterday afternoon, there were “more than 8,000 tickets listed on FanSnap,” with the average price for a Super Bowl ticket at $4,375. The “cheapest is $2,250 for a seat in the stadium’s upper corner and the most expensive is listed for $10,450 in the 10th row of the Premium Club.” The face value for most seats “range from $800 to $1,100” (BOSTON HERALD, 1/27). But Showtime's Phil Simms noted both the Packers and Steelers "have unbelievable fan bases," so it is "going to be a tough ticket to the Super Bowl." Simms: "Down in Dallas, don't be going down there looking for a ticket" ("Inside the NFL," Showtime, 1/26).

PARK PLACE: ParkWhiz.com lists a parking spot a tenth of a mile from Cowboys Stadium at $990 for Super Bowl XLV. The price includes “access to a restroom, on-site security and the ability to tailgate.” ESPN DALLAS’ Todd Archer noted other prices “range from $550 at Ballpark Valero Event Parking, which also is a tenth of a mile away, to $55 at Five Georges Parking, a mile away near Six Flags.” The lot owners and operators “set the price, not ParkWhiz.com.” The company has “worked with the city of Arlington to determine the legal lots so fans have secured parking” (ESPNDALLAS.com, 1/26). ParkWhiz.com CEO Aashish Dalal said that 90-95% of the parking spaces for Super Bowl XLV “will be reserved in advance,” and ParkHub.com Founder George Baker estimated that “available parking will be gone by next Wednesday” (PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE, 1/26).