Nearly 19 million fans attended NFL games in the 2023-24 regular season, confirming the league's place among the top sports competitions in the world. However, such popularity can sometimes make it challenging to find a ticket to see your favorite NFL team in action. In this guide, we run through the whole ticket buying process – from primary sellers to parking – to give you the best chance of securing a seat during the 2024-25 NFL season.
- Choosing Which NFL Game to Attend
- When Do NFL Tickets Go On Sale?
- Where to Buy NFL Tickets
- Types of NFL Tickets Available
- NFL Ticket Prices
- Ticket Delivery
- Planning Parking & Travel for an NFL game
- Booking Accommodation When Attending an NFL game
- Top Tips for Buying NFL Tickets
Choosing Which NFL Game to Attend
The NFL season features 272 regular season games, 17 for each team, with either 8 or 9 of those being home games, depending on the year. At present, there are 32 teams in the NFL, all of which are based in the United States. Checking where and when your favourite team is playing is probably the most popular way to choose an NFL game to attend. For those without a favorite team, catching a game involving an iconic franchise, like the Dallas Cowboys or Green Bay Packers, or a generational quarterback, like Kansas City Chiefs star Patrick Mahomes, might be the next best option.
As most NFL games are played in the US, stateside fans will generally never have to travel too far to see a game. Even if you don’t have an NFL team located nearby, over half of the USA’s top 30 biggest cities are home to an NFL franchise, so a trip to a wide number of the country’s favorite tourist destinations – from New York to Las Vegas – can always be combined with live NFL action. Additionally, if you’re planning to catch multiple games or visit more than one venue, the states of California, Florida, Maryland, New York/New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Texas all boast more than one NFL team.
Further afield, the NFL continues to gain popularity on a global level, with fans from across the world tuning in to games. Of course, visiting the US to see NFL action on American soil is highly recommended, but for fans who can’t make the pilgrimage, a number of games take place in countries across the world each season as part of NFL’s International Series. Countries with regular season games in 2024 include the UK, Germany, and Brazil.
Koobit has the full 2024-25 NFL schedule here.
When Do NFL Tickets Go On Sale?
As soon as the NFL schedule for the upcoming season is announced in May, most NFL teams begin selling tickets. For instance, the Kansas City Chiefs began selling official single game tickets on 16 May in 2024, one day after the schedule was confirmed. Exact on-sale dates depend on the team, but most tickets for individual games will go on general sale within a week of the NFL schedule release in May.
On top of individual game tickets, all NFL teams offer season tickets and membership packages. These provide a variety of benefits depending on the franchise, but generally include guaranteed seats at all, or a number, of a team’s home games each season. Memberships and season tickets are very popular, and for season tickets in particular, fans often join a waiting list years before they are invited to make a purchase.
Compared to the likes of MLB or NHL, the NFL season is short, and fewer games creates higher demand for tickets. NFL tickets from primary sellers can sell out quickly, especially for popular or high-performing teams, so it is usually best to purchase them as early as you can. However, it is also possible for reseller ticket prices to fall in the days leading up to the game, so if you don’t already have a ticket, keep an eye on resale sites like Stubhub and Vivid Seats as gameday approaches.
As always, Koobit can help make your ticket buying journey a smooth one, providing you with on-sale notifications, and the ability to compare ticket prices from various primary sellers and resellers.
Where to Buy NFL Tickets
Primary Sellers
Ticketmaster is the primary seller for most NFL teams, but SeatGeek sell primary tickets for some franchises. No special membership is required for purchasing individual game tickets once they go on general sale, but you may have to sign up for a Ticketmaster/SeatGeek account.
Resellers
Primary seller tickets can sell out quickly in the NFL, creating an active resale market for most games. If you can’t secure tickets from the primary seller, it is always worth checking with resellers to see if suitable seats are available. Remember to visit Koobit to compare available ticket prices – you might even find a bargain!
Common NFL resellers include:
Types of NFL Tickets Available
NFL stadiums are among the largest venues in the United States and no venue holds fewer than 60,000 fans. The sheer size of these stadiums should, in the most part, make tickets easier to come by, but also means that some seats may be a long way from the action.
While no 2 NFL venues are identical, here’s a short overview of the league's most common ticket types:
Upper Level
The Upper Level is home to the cheapest tickets at any NFL game. Located on the venue’s highest tier of seating, Upper Level seats are a long way from the field, but provide an aerial view of the action with some of the stadium’s lowest prices.
Pros: Lower prices
Cons: A long way from the field
Middle Level
The Middle Level (or ‘levels’ if there is more than one) provides ideal viewing angles from between the Upper and Lower tiers of seating. Not as far from the action as the Upper Level, but still high enough to ensure you can see the entire field with ease, Middle sections are popular with fans who don’t want to miss a single tackle or catch. Sometimes, parts of the Middle Level, or even an entire tier, will be designated as “Club” seats, and may provide extra benefits, such as comfortable, padded seating, lounge access, and in-seat wait service.
Pros: Some of the stadium’s best views
Cons: Can be low on atmosphere
Lower Level
Sometimes known as the Field Level, Lower Level seating at an NFL venue is the main bowl of seating closest to the action. Also home to some of the venue’s most passionate fans, especially close to the end zones, Lower seating gives you a chance to experience all the fast-paced, hard-hitting excitement of the NFL from as near as you can get.
Pros: Feel part of the action with a seat close to the field
Cons: Limited views of the entire field if you are in corners or close to the end zone
Hospitality
Hospitality comes in all shapes and sizes at NFL games, but none of it is cheap. Generally, most teams offer club or lounge packages that include premium benefits, such as all-inclusive food and drink, merchandise discounts, lounge access, early entry, and more. Best of all, you’ll have some of the best seats in the house, usually close to the 50-yard line on one of the venue’s Middle levels.
Pros: Luxury seating with a host of added benefits
Cons: High prices
NFL Ticket Prices
NFL ticket prices vary significantly depending on factors like the teams involved, the time of year, and the host venue. In general, NFL games are not cheap to attend, but that doesn’t mean there aren't any good value tickets out there. Data from Statista suggests that the average NFL ticket price in 2023 was $121, but teams selling high volumes of expensive seats can always skew this kind of research and resellers may list tickets for much less during the season. Resale tickets for NFL games in 2024 begin at around $35 (Arizona Cardinals).
Ticket Prices by Team
Using data from Statista, here’s a breakdown of average primary ticket prices by team in 2023:
| Team | Average Price ($) |
|---|---|
| Las Vegas Raiders | 168.83 |
| San Francisco 49ers | 161.33 |
| New England Patriots | 142.74 |
| Green Bay Packers | 141.48 |
| Philadelphia Eagles | 139.01 |
| Denver Broncos | 131.91 |
| Kansas City Chiefs | 131.81 |
| Chicago Bears | 130.29 |
| Seattle Seahawks | 127.71 |
| Pittsburgh Steelers | 127.04 |
| New York Giants | 126.74 |
| Washington Commanders | 124.80 |
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 124.43 |
| Minnesota Vikings | 123.37 |
| Cleveland Browns | 122.18 |
| Baltimore Ravens | 120.27 |
| Houston Texans | 117.45 |
| Dallas Cowboys | 116.69 |
| Carolina Panthers | 115.45 |
| New York Jets | 112.56 |
| New Orleans Saints | 111.97 |
| Atlanta Falcons | 111.54 |
| Tennessee Titans | 107.37 |
| Detroit Lions | 107.31 |
| Indianapolis Colts | 107.00 |
| Los Angeles Chargers | 106.23 |
| Miami Dolphins | 104.45 |
| Los Angeles Rams | 103.90 |
| Jacksonville Jaguars | 102.22 |
| Cincinnati Bengals | 101.78 |
| Buffalo Bills | 101.64 |
| Arizona Cardinals | 98.54 |
Remember, prices may not always be as high as the average suggests. According to Ticketsmarter data on the cheapest ticket available from NFL teams in 2023, the Houston Texans ($49), Atlanta Falcons ($54), and Arizona Cardinals ($59) all offered tickets below $60, and almost a third of the league had a cheapest ticket price below $80. Again, depending on team performance and similar factors, tickets on the resale market could fall well below (or rise higher than) this mark during the season.
Finding Cheap Tickets
There are a few ways for fans to find the best value NFL tickets:
- Sit up high – the most elevated seats in the stadium are typically the most affordable, and offer the widest view of the field so you can still enjoy a great angle on the game
- Follow the underdog – less successful teams will often see their ticket prices go down over the course of the season, as dynamic pricing means costs decrease in response to lower demand
- Buy primary tickets early, and use the secondary market late – primary seller tickets for high-profile games will often be cheapest when they are first released, but secondary NFL ticket vendors are likely to lower prices if they have not sold their tickets close to the day of the game
For more help, visit Koobit, where you can compare prices from a wide range of primary sellers and resellers.
Ticket Delivery
E-tickets are now standard across the NFL and you should receive your ticket by email, or through an account or app provided by the seller. On most occasions, these tickets can be scanned on a mobile phone at the venue, but for tickets delivered by email, it is always best to check with the seller to find out if you need to print a physical copy.
Planning Parking & Travel for an NFL game
All NFL stadiums provide onsite parking, but the number of spaces can vary depending on the venue. As a general rule, official parking must be purchased in advance through the team’s official website or Ticketmaster. If you are unable to secure a parking space at the stadium, parking sites like Spot Hero can help you find local lots, public facilities, and private spaces nearby. Parking for NFL games can cost anywhere between $15–$100, with most teams charging around the $25–$50 mark.
If you’d rather pay less for parking, consider parking away from the stadium and taking public transport to the game. Many NFL stadiums are in or on the outskirts of major cities, so subway systems, buses, taxis, rideshares, or even gameday shuttles (depending on the city/team) can be used for easy access on the day.
Booking Accommodation When Attending an NFL game
NFL franchises are based in some of the biggest cities in the United States, including some of the nation’s top business hubs and tourist destinations. This means that accommodation is generally easy to come by, but may vary in price depending on the city. For instance, a large tourist hub like Tampa or a well-connected city like Chicago might have plenty of hotel options across different price brackets, whereas a small city like Green Bay may have fewer options that become booked up more quickly. No matter where you are looking to stay, prices will usually rise when the NFL is in town due to increased demand.
For fans with larger budgets, staying close to the venue can be a great way to soak up the gameday atmosphere and limit travel. Most, if not all, NFL stadiums will have a number of accommodation options in the area surrounding the venue that will allow you to walk to the game. Alternatively, staying Downtown or in a central city location means you are unlikely to be far from the stadium, and will probably have more restaurants, amenities, and entertainment options within easy reach.
If you are looking to save on accommodation, one of the best ways to do it is by staying further away from the venue and traveling to it on gameday via car or public transport. This is most easily done in major cities with strong transport links, like Chicago or New York.
Accommodation can sell out quickly for NFL games, so it is advisable to book as soon as possible. Some sites, like Booking.com, offer free cancellation options, which means you could even book accommodation before you have a ticket for the game and simply cancel for free if you can’t attend.
Top Tips for Buying NFL Tickets
- Visit primary sellers well ahead of time or use resellers when gameday is coming near
- Try and stay flexible on the game you want to attend and where you want to sit
- Seats far away from the field will generally be cheapest and prices may fall for underperforming teams