The average ticket price for Super Bowl XLVIII "went from $12,500 to $7,768 and the average hotel room in the two states from $302.30 to $278 in the last few days," according to data from Web analysis firm Connotate cited by Yamiche Alcindor of USA TODAY. Experts said that the factors causing the drop in prices include "the weather, the teams playing and initial overpricing by overzealous businesses." Sports and entertainment experience company Goviva President Robert Tuchman said, "People were holding out hope that there would be a big rush for rooms once the teams were announced but I don't think it has happened." He added that now "reality is setting in and tickets -- some as low as $1,200 -- are the cheapest they have been in more than decade." Connotate CEO Keith Cooper said, "There are still a lot of tickets out there and as game time approaches, people are getting nervous about the price they are able to get for those tickets" (USA TODAY, 1/30). TiqIQ VP/Data & Communication Chris Matcovich said that he has "found his first Mezzanine Club Seat listing at under $3,000 for Sunday’s Super Bowl." Matcovich: "Prices, after leveling out, are beginning to steadily fall." He added that the current average list price "is $2,849.35 -- down 28.90% since" 9:00am ET on Conference Championship Sunday. In New Jersey, John Brennan noted the "average sales price is currently $2,717.10." The current "get in" price "is $1,511, which is down 32.33%" (NORTHJERSEY.com, 1/29).
RISK VERSUS REWARD: In Phoenix, Dan Bickley wrote Super Bowl XLVIII is "working because it’s New York, possibly the greatest big city on the planet." It is "working because the NFL is sparing no expense, from police escorts across state lines to media parties with top-level entertainment." It is "working because the NFL needs this to work" (AZCENTRAL.com, 1/29). But in San Diego, Nick Canepa writes MetLife Stadium "never should have been allowed a Super Bowl" because it does not have a roof. Canepa: "I would hope for a blizzard if I didn't feel for the poor people back there who already have been through plenty enough." But even if Sunday’s conditions "are perfect ... this is a mistake." It is "going to be interesting to see how logistics work." N.Y. is "outrageously expensive without historic Super Bowl gouging" (SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, 1/30). In S.F., Ann Killion writes the Super Bowl is "clearly in the wrong place." But NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell "wanted to showcase his empire" (S.F. CHRONICLE, 1/30).
TAKING ALL PRECAUTIONS: Security officials in N.Y. yesterday said that they "had prepared for potential mass transit terrorism on the routes to Sunday's game" at MetLife Stadium. New Jersey State Police Superintendent Col. Rick Fuentes said, "We've had meetings over the last couple of weeks. Of particular concern to us was what was going on overseas in Volgograd related to the Sochi Olympics." N.Y. Police Dept. Commissioner William Bratton said, "We have run a number of table top exercises that take into account any type of scenario that could unfold, a lone wolf type of situation up to and including nuclear radiation issues. Certainly, we're very well prepared" (USA TODAY, 1/30). NFL VP & Chief Security Officer Jeff Miller said that he "hopes the screening process for fans entering the stadium won’t take longer than 15 to 20 minutes once inside the security perimeter." In Seattle, Geoff Baker notes fans are "asked to do their part, by arriving at the game early and respecting the rules about what to bring in" (SEATTLE TIMES, 1/30).
