How Much Does A Super Bowl Trip Cost?

Charlotte, N.C. —  So you want to go to the Super Bowl to support the Carolina Panthers? Well, for the average person the cost of travel and accommodations will leave a significant dent in your wallet.

Sporting events are expensive as it is. The Super Bowl is the sporting event of all sporting events, so nothing about the occasion is cheap, with the possible exception of sitting on your couch and watching from home.  Some folks find a way to make that an expensive endeavor as well.

WCCB wanted to get an idea of how much the experience might cost so we looked in to flights, hotels, rental cars, Super Bowl tickets, and concessions.

The first step of the trip is getting to the San Francisco area.  The Super Bowl is being contested at Levi Stadium, which is in Santa Clara, California, but because San Francisco is such a major tourist destination and home to the 49ers, most people consider San Francisco the place to be. Our hypothetical travel dates have us entering and departing from San Francisco on Friday, February 5 and Monday, February 9.

Flights on Price Line start at $441 for a round-trip and coach seat from Charlotte to San Francisco. The least expensive hotels we saw through price line were roughly $400 a night for a three star facility. San Francisco has public transportation but with the game being 45 miles away, most people will probably want to rent a vehicle. A compact car through Alamo or the like will run about $50 a day for three days.

Super Bowl tickets through Stub Hub are going for a minimum of $4,020 for nosebleed seating. A parking pass adds on another $62, which is a drop in the bucket at that point. Once in the game, you’ll drop a twenty spot for an $8 beer and a $12 hot dog based on prices from last year’s Super Bowl in Glendale Arizona.

Our calculations came to $5,893 for one person to make the trip. This doesn’t include your daily meals outside of the game day concessions or other entertainment.   You could split the cost of a hotel and the rental car with friends or family, but it is still an expensive venture for most people. We’re sure people will hustle their way to the bay and maybe even in to the game, but if you’re doing it on your own dime, it’s going to cost you.

If you have a little more money to spend, Vivid Seats is offering the Ultimate VIP Package which accommodates 20 people and includes: A round trip chartered flight, lower level tickets to the Super Bowl, double occupancy hotel rooms at a four star resort in Santa Clara, transportation for the weekend, industry party passes for Friday and Saturday night, and other amenities. What’s the cost?  Only $550,000.

Get them while they’re hot.