Early ticket prices show Patriots, Vikings and Bears as Packers' top opponents

GREEN BAY – The first two Green Bay Packers games this season are going to be pretty pricey. Later comes the game at New England, which makes pricey look like a bargain.

The Packers open with the Chicago Bears and follow that with the defending NFL North champion Minnesota Vikings, both at Lambeau Field.

An early survey of secondary-market ticket prices — the NFL schedule was released only last Thursday — gives a peek at how fans think the season will shape up. They are always optimistic in April and prices could change dramatically as the season progresses, but for now there are 32 Super Bowl contenders. Well, maybe 30. Or five.

"Obviously, the big-demand games right now are the first two," said Dennis Garrity of EventUSA in Ashwaubenon. "They are division rivals and home games, and on top of that you have the extra special sauce of the first game being a celebration of the first 100 years of the Packers."

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Supply and demand rules the secondary market, which makes prices moving targets throughout the season.

Craig Krouth, a Packers season ticket holder who lives in Sault Ste. Marie, Mich., said Green Bay's home schedule, with three games in September and three in December, could mean more secondary market ticket sales by Packers season ticket holders. The cost of attending so many games so close together could be in the thousands of dollars when you include tickets, hotel rooms, food and travel.

"It will most likely result in an increase in secondary-market ticket sales, especially for the Buffalo Bills game," he said. 

The Bills game is the Packers' third home game in four weeks. And for that matter, Lambeau hosts four games over six weeks.

"The games close together do make it harder to go," said Troy Pflum, a Green Package ticket holder from North Fond du Lac.

The remainder of the schedule has some interesting — and not so interesting — matchups. There is no Cleveland this year, they of the $15 tickets, which leaves the Jets and the game at Detroit looking like the least attractive — meaning least expensive — games on the schedule.

"The New York Jets, that's not good because it's two days before Christmas," Garrity said. "We won't have a lot of demand for that one."

The Packers have not had a lot of luck, historically, with the AFC East. Both the Bills and the Jets lead Green Bay 8-4 in their respective series, and the Dolphins have a 10-4 record against the Packers.

Curiously, the Packers' best record against AFC East opponents is 6-5 against the New England Patriots, arguably the class of the NFL and, as you will see below, the class of the secondary market so far. 

We surveyed tickets at eight secondary-market websites, including Event USA, NFL Ticket Exchange, SeatGeek, StubHub, ticketiQ, Ticket King, Titletown Tickets and Tours and VividSeats, for each game this year. Note that ticket brokers can add fees on top the prices of the tickets listed here so actual costs might be higher. The results are below.

Sept. 9, 7:20 p.m., Chicago Bears, Lambeau Field, NBC, (Sunday Night Football)

The Packers-Bears rivalry is long and iconic, but in the last decade it’s been a case of big brother beating the snot out of little brother, who occasionally gets in a lucky punch.  Since 2008, the Packers are 17-4 against the Bears.

Fans of each team continue the tradition of rivalry, although it lacks the true animus of Packers-Vikings clashes. But that tradition and the easy drive between Chicago and Green Bay keep ticket prices high.

"Bears fans are pretty excited about their recent free agent acquisitions and their quarterback," said Bill Wenzel of Titletown Tickets & Tours in Ashwaubenon. 

Also, there's a concert that weekend and it's kicking off the Packers' 100th year of football against the perfect opponent, which is why it comes in as the third most expensive game of the season. 

» Face price range (not including premium seating): $109-$136

» Average lowest seat: $247

» Range of lowest seat: $193-$300

Sept. 16, Noon, Minnesota Vikings, Lambeau Field (Gold Package), Fox

The Vikings are the Packers’ real rivals over the last decade and ticket prices reflect that, as does the proximity of the two cities. The Packers lead the series 12-8-1 since 2008 and have won five division titles to Minnesota’s four. Somehow, the Bears managed to win one and Detroit, well, always manages to be Detroit.

Minnesota won the NFC North and beat the Packers twice last year, which only intensifies emotions among fans.

And then there was that little issue with tackling Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers and knocking him out for much of the season, which doomed the Packers for 2017.

This is the best game Gold Package ticket holders have gotten in years, a top rival and a noon start. They may be reluctant to give up their tickets (they get only two regular season games in the package), which will keep prices high as well. It's the second most expensive game on the schedule. 

» Face price range (not including premium seating): $109-$136

» Average lowest seat: $267

» Range of lowest seat: $189-$303

Sept. 23, Noon, Washington, FedEx Field, Fox

The Packers played Washington at FedEx Field twice in 2016, winning an NFC wild-card playoff game and losing in the following regular season, so this might not be high on the list for traveling Packers fans. On the other hand, if you want to make it a long weekend, there are few better places to visit than Washington, D.C. and surrounding areas.

» Face price range: N/A

» Average lowest seat: $155

» Range of lowest seat: $125-$187

Sept. 30, Noon, Buffalo Bills, Lambeau Field, CBS

This is the third September football game at Lambeau Field, but so far that doesn't seem to be dampening prices. 

"The Buffalo game is driven by its great date and people love noon kickoffs," Garrity said. 

» Face price range (not including premium seating): $109-$136

» Average lowest seat: $183

» Range of lowest seat: $159-$215

Oct. 7, Noon, Detroit Lions, Ford Field, Fox

The Detroit Lions are always on the verge of success, without ever getting there. The Lions finished second in the NFC North four times in the last seven years, qualified for three wild-card playoff games and lost them all.

Since 2008, the Packers lead the series 14-6, but the Lions won five of the last nine games, including both games last year.

Still, that's not enough to raise the Lions to level of serious rival in a division that includes Chicago and Minnesota. An annoyance, but not a rival.

» Face price range (not including premium seating): N/A

» Average lowest seat: $81

» Range of lowest seat: $69-$102

Oct. 15, 7:15 p.m., San Francisco 49ers, Lambeau Field, (Monday Night Football), ESPN

The 49ers are an up-and-coming team led by hot quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo. Also, the Packers and 49ers have a history of playoff clashes. They haven't played in three years, but the 49ers won four of the last five games.

"Jimmy G has yet to lose a game and coming into this season, they've got a lot of talent," said Wayne Sargent of Campbellsport, who owns both tickets packages. 

This is the last Green Package game at Lambeau for seven weeks, so again, ticket holders might be reluctant to sell cheap. It's also a Monday Night Football game.

"That's a burgeoning franchise again," Garrity said. "Usually, Monday nights hold people back, but so far that doesn't seem to have any real negative impact on demand."

» Face price range (not including premium seating): $109-$136

» Average lowest seat: $183

» Range of lowest seat: $159-$215

Oct. 28, 3:25 p.m., Los Angeles Rams, Los Angeles Coliseum, Fox

The Packers have not played in Los Angeles (Anaheim, actually) since 1991 and not in Los Angeles Coliseum, a sizable part of which is under construction, since 1978.

So for fans looking for someplace new to go, this might qualify. And if they're looking for a minivacation to go along with the football game, what better place than Los Angeles?

And it probably will be a good football game.

» Face price range (not including premium seating): N/A

» Average lowest seat: $212

» Range of lowest seat: $168-$269

Nov. 4, 7:20 p.m., New England Patriots, Gillette Stadium (Sunday Night Football), NBC

This is the anti-Cleveland 2017 game. The average lowest get-in price is $497, and that's for a Sunday Night Football game, which isn't the most convenient for traveling fans.

No doubt, an Aaron Rodgers-Tom Brady matchup fires up ticket buyers, as does a clash between the two winningest franchises in recent NFL history.

"There is always interest in going to see the Patriots," Garrity said.

» Face price range (not including premium seating): N/A

» Average lowest seat: $497

» Range of lowest seat: $410-$598

Nov. 11, Noon, Miami Dolphins, Lambeau Field, (Gold Package) CBS

This also is a noon Gold Package game, and while it doesn't have the cachet of the Vikings game in September, ticket holders might be reluctant to pass up a chance to not drive at night to get home.

Dolphins lead the series 10-4 all time. 

 » Face price range (not including premium seating): $109-$136

» Average lowest seat: $201

» Range of lowest seat: $153-$221

Nov. 15, 7:20 p.m., Seattle Seahawks at CenturyLink Stadium, (Thursday Night Football), FOX/NFL

The Packers are 1-4 in Seattle in the last decade, including the infamous 28-22 overtime loss in the NFC championship game in January 2015. So, not a great place for the football team, but a good place for fans to spend a longer weekend.

It's the only Thursday night game of the year for the Packers.

This game is followed by nine days off for the Packers, which coincides with deer hunting season in Wisconsin. The hunting season begins Nov. 17 and ends Nov. 25, which is a nighttime road game for the Packers, so Packers fans who hunt will be happy.

» Face price range (not including premium seating): N/A

» Average lowest seat: $220

» Range of lowest seat: $193-$240

Nov. 25, 7:20 p.m., Minnesota Vikings, U.S. Bank Stadium, (Sunday Night Football), NBC

This will matter if the NFC North title is still on the line. It's coming in less expensive than the game at Lambeau, and ninth out of 16 games, but it's an easy drive for Packers fans and prices might escalate as the season progresses. 

» Face price range (not including premium seating): N/A

» Average lowest seat: $163

» Range of lowest seat: $143-$191

Dec. 2, Noon, Arizona Cardinals, Lambeau Field, Fox

Green Packers ticket holders finally get back to Lambeau. That alone might keep the prices higher than the opposition would otherwise suggest. 

On the other hand, Jess Miller, an owner of Hagemeister Park and The Bar, both in Green Bay, and Graystone Ale House in Ledgeview, said Arizona and Atlanta fans historically have not traveled in the same numbers as other teams. Having games outdoors in December in Green Bay probably won't change their habits.

"Those two tickets could be a little less exciting," he said.

» Face price range (not including premium seating): $109-$136

» Average lowest seat: $151

» Range of lowest seat: $129-$171

Dec. 9, Noon, Atlanta Falcons, Lambeau Field, Fox

The Falcons are back on the schedule, but this year they must play on real-ish grass. It was made clear last year during the NFC championship game in Philadelphia, where the grass was real and so was the cold, that the Falcons do not have the fleet efficiency they do indoors, where they beat the Packers three times in the last two years.

» Face price range (not including premium seating): $109-$136

» Average lowest seat: $157

» Range of lowest seat: $139-$173

Dec. 16, Noon, Chicago Bears, Soldier Field, Fox

Chicago is close, and it's a better option than the following week in New York. See above comments about iconic rivalry if you want to know why Packers fans would bother this late in the year.

» Face price range (not including premium seating): N/A

» Average lowest seat: $150

» Range of lowest seat: $114-$173

Dec. 23, Noon, New York Jets, Met Life Stadium, Fox

This game is two days before Christmas and the Jets, who were 5-11 in 2017, aren't exactly a marquee opponent. On the other hand, with tickets going as cheap at $83, and maybe cheaper 15 games into the season, that leaves visiting fans money to enjoy New York.

The Jets lead the series 8-4. They've played twice since 2008, with the Packers winning both.

» Face price range (not including premium seating): N/A

» Average lowest seat: $83

» Range of lowest seat: $64-$101

Dec. 30, Noon, Detroit Lions, Lambeau Field

This is more popular than last year when the last game of the season was in Detroit. This year it's in Lambeau, which accounts for much of the value.

"It could turn out to be a very, very important game," Garrity said. "Right now, there's not a lot of demand."

» Face price range (not including premium seating): $109-$136

» Average lowest seat: $161

» Range of lowest seat: $139-$179