The Sticker Price Is a Lie
That number on your ticket? It's not the whole story. Parking, food, a couple beers, maybe a hat for the kid. It piles up. We pulled pricing data for all 32 NFL teams to figure out what a game day actually costs, and the numbers might surprise you.
What the Average Fan Actually Spends
On our NFL game day cost rankings, the league average for one fan comes to $258: a $219 average resale ticket, $19 for the cheapest parking, and $20 for a typical food item and drink.
The Game Day Cost Calculator can give you a number tailored to your team and group size.
The Cheapest Stadiums
Not all venues are out to drain your bank account. The most affordable NFL game days on our rankings:
- Huntington Bank Field in Cleveland: $137.
- EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville: $147.
- Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte: $147. Compact uptown location means you can ditch the car entirely.
- Nissan Stadium in Nashville: $179.
- Raymond James Stadium in Tampa: $191.
The Most Expensive
On the other end:
- Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara: $359. Bay Area cost of living extends to game day.
- MetLife Stadium outside New York, for the Jets: $348. New York-market pricing on everything.
- Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas: $334. Everything in Vegas costs Vegas money.
- SoFi Stadium in LA, for the Rams: $330. Premium venue, premium prices.
- Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens: $321.
The NFL Game Day Costs Rankings page has the full breakdown for all 32 teams.
Where Your Money Goes
Tickets
Prices swing wildly based on the matchup. Primetime games (Sunday Night, Monday Night) cost more than a standard Sunday afternoon.
Parking
This one catches people off guard. The North Garage at Soldier Field is $55. Arrowhead has remote park-and-ride shuttles for $15. You can save by parking further out and walking, or by taking transit where it exists.
Food and Drinks
On our NFL food value rankings, a typical food item and drink average $20, from $9 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium to $24 at SoFi Stadium. Mercedes-Benz Stadium sells a $2 hot dog and a $5 domestic beer.
The Game Day Price Index lets you sort every team by specific food and drink prices.
Four Ways to Spend Less
- Tailgate. Bring a cooler of food and drinks to the parking lot instead of buying inside. Check each team's tailgating guide for what's allowed.
- Park further away. At almost every NFL stadium, the closest lot is not the cheapest one, and each parking guide lists both.
- Skip the stadium merch. Buy gear online before the game.
- Use the Cost Calculator to set a budget before you go so nothing catches you off guard.
The Takeaway
An NFL game day isn't cheap, but it doesn't have to be ridiculous either. The gap between the most expensive and cheapest stadiums is real. Plan ahead, use our comparison tools, and you'll get more football for your dollar.