We all know that people love their sports more than, well, almost anything. While fans of the games can pledge their loyalty towards other things, there are very few things that people desire more than seeing their favorite team or athlete play live, with the chance to feel and live the emotion of every big-time play. And since I’ve personally dropped as much as $275 on a single game ticket just to see Michael Jordan play back in the late-’90s, I figured I would take a look at some of the most expensive sporting events in the world, and see what prices for tickets are going for to them. Naturally, the Super Bowl is high up on the list, but you might be surprised to see the others that sports fanatics spend large amounts of money to get to. So if you’re interested in getting to some of these events, make sure you bring your checkbook, because it will seriously cost you.
10. Abu Dhabi Grand Prix – $525
Some may think otherwise, but the most popular racing sport in the world is actually Formula 1, and one of the most expensive venue to see a race at is Abu Dhabi. While spending $513 on a single ticket to this race might appear low when compared to the other insane prices on this list, let’s not all forget that it’s still over $500 to see a bunch of cars driving around a track for a few hours. In addition to that, if you’re from another country, tack on international travel costs to that price, too.
9. College Football National Title Game – $650
Much like a few other games on this list, the appeal comes from the two teams who are actually playing against one another, but, even if it’s not two blue-blood programs taking part, fans are going to pay to get to the title game. So much so that a single ticket will cost about $650 to get into the stadium. Then again, who knows how much people will drop for a ticket to this year’s first college football playoff title matchup, which could feature some of the greatest programs in the country.
8. FIFA World Cup Final – $990
So you want to know why so many fans start saving their money in order to catch their favorite country compete in the World Cup every four years, here’s why—because it’s not cheap to attend. While a single ticket to the World Cup Final seems relatively doable at just under one grand, that’s not for a seat that is any better than what you’re going to watch from your couch on the TV. And if you’re making the trip become a full-fledged vacation, watching a team in all group matches—and not including travel—it’s going to cost about $3,250, so don’t forget your passport, or wallet.
7. UFC Championship Fight – $1,000 – $3,000
It has become one of the most popular sports in the whorl, so it’s probably not too much of a shock to see mixed marital art’s biggest fight on this list—but would you believe it would be for over a grand? I certainly didn’t, but that was the case with one of the most recent title matches between Jon Jones and Alexander Gustafsson, with fans spending so much money that I would hope they got some protection from the spit flying from fighters’ mouths for being so close.
6. New York Yankees Legends Suites – $2,500
So you want to sit amongst the famous celebrities and entertainers at the New York Yankees game? Well, it will certainly cost you—assuming you make the commitment. With the seats running at $2,500 per ticket, the 122 seats reserved behind home plate are for the ultra exclusive, with a commitment of three-, five-, seven- and 10-year increments needed up front in order to reserve a spot. So, yeah, if you have the dough, go for it!
5. Olympics Opening Ceremony – $4,000
Tickets to the Olympics are typically sold in packages and run pretty steep on their own, but for those diehards who want the memory of the festivities of the opening ceremony, be prepared to drop as much as $4,000, which, of course, puts you in the same stadium as the most esteemed athletes on the planet, so it’s very much worth it. Oh, and want to catch the action of swimming? Open your checkbook, because those run about $800.
4. The Masters Four-Day Pass – $4,500
It’s one of the most prestigious golf events around, so it’s going to cost anyone who wants to try and be just a few feet from the best golfers in the world. And at over $1,000 per day or around $4,500 for the entire weekend, you better believe that Augusta National Golf Club doesn’t just let anyone walk their hallowed grounds. Still, while the tickets are expensive, the price of food is super cheap—spectators can still buy a pimento cheese sandwich for $1.50—so that’s a positive.
3. Championship Boxing Match – $31,000 Ringside Seats
So what does it take to get as close as possible to undefeated boxing champion Floyd Mayweather Jr.? Try an insanely expensive ringside seat of $31,000—and no, that’s not a typo. While sitting close to a boxing ring is something that we should all experience as big-time sports fans, I’m not sure if paying the amount it would take for a pretty nice car is the way to go. Seeing how Mayweather’s nickname is “Money,” though, it’s easy to understand why—because people will pay to see him live.
2. NBA Finals Tickets – $57,950 Courtside Seats
Of course, this is dependent on which two teams are actually playing one another, but, seeing how the past two seasons have led us to a rematch between the Miami Heat and the San Antonio Spurs, it’s no surprise that courtside tickets are as expensive as they are. And don’t forget this—the near-$58,000 is for a single ticket, not a pair, which is what most people would purchase, so to watch with a buddy of yours, you would combine to pay more than $115,000.
1. Super Bowl – $316,000
It might just be the most sought after ticket in the entire world, so are you really surprised that Super Bowl tickets averaged about $1,250? Probably not. But seeing that the most expensive seats went for a whopping $316,000, well, that might make you think for a second. It’s still just a football game we’re watching, right? Either way, there are few people willing to take out a mortgage in order to attend the biggest event in the U.S. each year.
