how much does the super bowl cost
The Super Bowl can “cost” very different amounts depending on what you mean: going as a fan, buying a ticket package, or the broader cost to run and host the event.
Quick Scoop: The short version
If you just mean “How much does it cost to go to the Super Bowl?” as a regular fan in 2026:
- Cheapest standalone tickets are in the low‑to‑mid $3,000s just to get in the door.
- Average resale tickets sit around $3,500–$4,000+ per seat, depending on timing and matchup.
- All‑in budget (ticket, travel, hotel, food, merch) often runs from about $6,000 on the low end to well over $20,000 for premium experiences.
If you zoom out to the business side, the event itself is a hundreds‑of‑millions to billion‑plus dollar production and revenue machine once you factor in TV rights, sponsorships, ads, hospitality, and hosting costs.
What it costs for a fan to go
Think of the cost in layers: ticket, travel, hotel, and “everything else.”
1. Tickets
Recent info for Super Bowl LX (2026, Levi’s Stadium) shows:
- Get‑in price (nosebleed/upper levels):
- Around $3,200+ per ticket close to game day on big resale platforms.
- Average ticket price:
- Roughly $3,600–$4,000+ per seat depending on section and timing.
- Common ranges by seat type (estimates based on recent Super Bowls):
* Upper level / “general” seats: about **$1,500–$4,000**
* Lower bowl / corner / end zone: roughly **$4,000–$7,000**
* Club or premium sideline: roughly **$5,000–$10,000+**
* VIP / suites: can stretch to **tens or even hundreds of thousands** for a suite package, split among a group.
Some travel companies bundle hotel + tickets; sample 2026 packages per person (double occupancy) look like:
| Package type (2026) | Example price per person |
|---|---|
| 400 Level Corner | $11,975 |
| 400 Level Sideline | $14,495 |
| 100 Level Endzone/Corner | $15,975 |
| 100 Level Sideline | $19,975 |
2. Travel and hotel
Beyond the ticket, fans get hit by “Super Bowl pricing” across the host city:
- Flights: Can easily be several hundred to over a thousand dollars per person depending on where you’re flying from and how late you book.
- Hotels:
- Budget / further‑out hotels may still run hundreds per night with 3‑night minimums.
- Central, nicer hotels can be $500–$1,500+ per night during Super Bowl week, sometimes bundled into ticket packages.
- Ground transport: Airport transfers, rideshares, or car rentals add another few hundred dollars for a long weekend.
3. Food, drinks, merch, extras
Game‑day and weekend spending adds up fast:
- Stadium food and drinks are pricey (multiple dollars per snack/drink), and it’s easy to spend $100+ per person on concessions over the game.
- Pre‑game parties, fan experiences, and local nightlife can add a few hundred more.
- Official merch (jerseys, hats, limited Super Bowl items) can run $200–$500+ per person if you shop heavily.
A realistic “lean but not extreme” 2026 Super Bowl trip for one person might look like this:
- Ticket (cheap end): about $3,200–$4,000
- Flights: $400–$1,000+
- Hotel (3 nights): $900–$2,500+
- Food, transport, extras: $400–$1,000+
That puts a typical all‑in range somewhere around $5,000–$8,000+ for many fans, rising toward $15,000–$30,000+ for premium seats and high‑end hotels or packages.
What it costs to run and host the Super Bowl
When people ask “how much does the Super Bowl cost,” they might also be thinking about the event itself.
1. Cost to host (city and organizers)
Hosting the Super Bowl involves significant spending on:
- Stadium operations and game‑day staffing
- Security and public services
- Temporary infrastructure and fan zones
- Hospitality for teams, media, sponsors, and VIPs
Estimates for recent Super Bowls suggest host cities can be on the hook for tens of millions of dollars , with some analyses citing figures up to around $60 million in public and private spending for a single game.
On top of that, there are strict requirements : large hotel blocks for NFL staff, upgraded connectivity, special transport arrangements, and various perks that the city effectively must provide or support.
2. Advertising and broadcast money
Even though we’re talking about “cost,” the Super Bowl is also a huge earner:
- TV ad spots : 30‑second commercials are famously priced in the multi‑million‑dollar range, bringing in enormous revenue for the broadcaster and the league.
- Sponsorships and partnerships : Brand deals, stadium signage, and official partnerships add many millions more.
- Global media and licensing : The game feeds into a global web of highlight rights, international broadcasts, and digital content.
So while it costs a lot to stage, it’s designed as a massive profit engine for the league, broadcasters, and many associated businesses.
Different perspectives on “how much it costs”
Here are a few ways people look at the Super Bowl price tag side‑by‑side:
| Perspective | What they’re paying for | Typical cost range |
|---|---|---|
| Average fan attending | Ticket + travel + hotel + game‑day spending | Roughly $5,000–$8,000+ per person |
| Premium fan experience | Club or sideline seats, upscale hotel, events | About $10,000–$30,000+ per person |
| Ticket‑plus‑hotel packages | Pre‑bundled Super Bowl trip | Roughly $12,000–$20,000 per person |
| Host city | Security, infrastructure, hosting obligations | Tens of millions of dollars |
| Brands buying ads | 30‑second commercial and related campaign | Multi‑million dollars per ad slot |
Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.
