Vikings/Eagles is the Most Expensive NFC Championship of All-Time
Joe Johnson
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The Vikings are hours away from their third NFC Championship this century, all three of which have either been on the road already or will be played on the road today. So far, you know the results, but those were different teams with different players and today’s game and team seems to obviously be the most anti-Vikings team in the history of… The Vikings. Obviously the Minneapolis Miracle proves that, but beyond that this team has been relentless when it comes to not allowing other teams to come back or coming back themselves when another team shows any signs of momentum. It was that ferocity that allowed them to go 11-1 over the course of the final games of the season, and while the Saints game seemed extremely out of character in terms of exactly that, they’ve admitted that they became complacent on defense and they will use that experience as motivation to keep their collective feet on the necks of their opponent(s).
That opponent today is the Philadelphia Eagles. The Vikings trailed the Eagles for most of the season in terms of seeding, replacing them as the number one seed for a week late in the season but losing that spot the next week after losing to the Carolina Panthers. Today will mark the first meeting of these two teams, with both teams being lead by their technical back-up quarterbacks in Nick Foles (Who replaced Carson Wentz after he tore his ACL against the Los Angeles Rams) and Case Keenum (Who replaced Sam Bradford after the first game (and the Bears game, as well) of the season). Despite that, the tickets for the game are actually the most expensive of the two conference match-up (with the New England Patriots facing the Jacksonville Jaguars today as well) and actually the most expensive for a conference championship ever (according to TicketIQ.com).
Here are some interesting tidbits about the game:
⦁ In the NFC the Eagles vs Vikings Conference Championship at Lincoln Financial Field features an average asking price of $1,280 with cheapest available ticket $763. This average is up 62% since Philly’s victory over the Falcons and is the most expensive Conference Championship game TicketIQ has ever tracked.
NFLOnLocation.com, the only way to get tickets directly from the NFL and at this point the only way to buy tickets with an exact seat location, have seen Philadelphia shoppers rule their Super Bowl Packages page since Mid-October.
⦁ This price point is a significant increase from what Eagles fans are used to. It marks an 176% increase from the Divisional round’s average price vs Atlanta, and a 300% increase from the regular season average price.
⦁ Over in the AFC, the Patriots are much more used to the AFC Championship, clinching their 7th straight appearance but with an average asking price of $1,102 and cheapest ticket coming in at $790, this is the most expensive non-Super Bowl Patriots ticket we’ve ever tracked.
⦁ These average prices mark a 348% increase from the Divisional Round vs Tennessee, and a 96% increase from regular season. The Divisional Round game being notable as being well below the season average – perhaps Pats fans predicted a blowout and instead saved their money for this game.
The top 5 most expensive conference championship games tracked by TicketIQ are:
⦁ 2018: NFC Vikings @ Eagles: $1,280 AVG & $763 Cheapest
⦁ 2018: AFC Jaguars @ Patriots: $1,102 AVG & $790 Cheapest
⦁ 2011: NFC Packers @ Bears: $932 AVG & $365 Cheapest
⦁ 2015: NFC Packers @ Seahawks: $854 AVG & $430 Cheapest
⦁ 2014: NFC 49ers @ Seahawks: $791 AVG & $330 Cheapest
*The 2018 Patriots/Jaguars game is top the AFC Championship by a wide margin – next was 2017 Steelers @ Pats: $758 AVG & $325 Cheapest
For those traveling from the opposing fan bases, Vikes Travel -> Philly: $676 cheapest flight, cheapest 3 star hotel is $54/night (via Priceline.com) Jags Travel -> Boston: $319 cheapest flight, cheapest 3 star hotel is $53/night (Via Priceline.com)
So, while it would’ve been great to have the NFC Championship at US Bank Stadium, you have to think while you’re watching today’s games on your couch, just think of all the money you saved by the Eagles beating the Falcons (Unless you bet money on the Falcons). That TV you’re watching probably cost less than a ticket to the game, that’s insane. All year people were saying that the NFL was “dying” because of the fight with Trump and the lower (TELEVISION) ratings. From the look of it, they seem to be doing just fine which is good news for the fact that I put my life on hold to start a Vikings news community. What else is good news is that the Vikings are playing in the NFC Championship game… Let’s hope that they can play in what will most likely be the most expensive Super Bowl ever, too!