4 Hot Tips to Save Money at NFL Games

Are you ready for some live NFL football? For the most loyal fans, securing season tickets each year is as reliable as their team\'s having a schedule for the season (well, except when the team moves out of town). Many of these diehard fans have missed few or zero games over several years or even decades. However, with the high cost of living, purchasing NFL tickets seems like more of a luxury, than an expense. When paying off bills such as mortgages, car loans, and tuition fees becomes more challenging, the importance of attending a pro sporting event seems to shrink significantly.

Unfortunately, the cost of watching live NFL games, continues to skyrocket. The average ticket for an NFL game now costs about $72. That price is roughly 8% higher than the mean cost last year. The average price of Patriots tickets is the highest, at roughly $117. Meanwhile, the Bills have the lowest average ticket price, at approximately $51. How about the Super Bowl champion Giants? At about $88, their tickets are the fourth highest in the NFL.

However, we all know that the cost of watching a live game only starts with the ticket. What is the average total cost of seeing a live NFL game? A typical trip would cost you nearly $400, and include the following items:

• 4 tickets

• 4 soft drinks

• 2 beers

• 4 hot dogs

• 2 hats (adult-size)

• 2 programs

• 1 parking pass

You theoretically could buy even more at the game.

Fortunately, you can follow these tips to make attending NFL home games, more affordable:

1. Choose cola over beer

If you must drink and watch, drink soda. While the average price of an NFL stadium soda is $3.80, the average price for a beer there, is $6.80. Sodas provide a savings of roughly 45%, or $3!

2. Leave your vehicle at home

Besides the sky-high cost of purchasing gas, the average parking fee at an NFL game, is nearly $22.00. You could consider the options of taking public transportation, or having a friend or relative give you a lift to and from the game.

3. Minimize your spending

Do you really need that $4 program or $15 hat? Those are roughly the average costs, if you were to purchase the items at NFL stadiums this season. Try to limit your spending to what you need, and exclude what you want. Supply and demand are the name of the game. Once you get inside the stadium, the stadium has a monopoly on all food, souvenirs, etc. So buy your nfl logo merchandise before or after the game.

4. Eat before the game

The average price for one hot dog at an NFL stadium is a whopping $4! Think about it this way: that is roughly the cost of purchasing an entire pack of hot dogs, at your local supermarket. You have a few viable alternatives. You could eat at home prior to the game, or throw a tailgate party before the game\'s first kickoff.

Read some useful tips to save money during the NFL games.