August 17, 2016
Over the next two weeks, TicketIQ will break down secondary market ticket prices for each NFL team during the 2016 season. Today's focus will be on the AFC East, where the New England Patriots are posting the biggest resale ticket demand in the division.
Will the New England Patriots finally meet their match in 2016? The team has cruised to seven straight divisional titles dating back to 2009, but with Tom Brady set to serve a four-game suspension for his role in the Deflategate controversy, there is reason to believe that the division will be a little tighter than usual by Week 5. However, even though Brady will sit through early October, the Patriots still own the most expensive ticket prices on the resale market in the AFC East.
As the regular season approaches, check out where each team in the AFC North stacks up in terms of ticket demand on the secondary market below, according to data provided by TicketIQ:
New England Patriots | 2016 Avg. Home Price: $461 | % Change from 2015: +31%
All eyes will be on New England as the Patriots turn to Jimmy Garappolo for the first four games of the season. While the 24-year-old has shown signs of greatness, the void Brady will leave over the first month of play will be a noticeable one. Still, the Patriots are still posting a massive demand for tickets on the secondary market across their eight home games. In fact, Patriots tickets at Gillette Stadium have increased 31% on average from 2015, up to a division-high $461.
The Patriots' most expensive home game this season will come against the Cincinnati Bengals on October 16. In what will be Brady's first game back in Foxboro, tickets are currently averaging $787.86 and the cheapest ticket is listed from $288. Conversely, a September 22 game against the Houston Texans will be the cheapest game at Gillette Stadium this year, with tickets averaging $290.78 and the get-in price starting from $107.
New York Jets | 2016 Avg. Home Price: $223 | % Change from 2015: +16%
The re-signing of quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick allowed a momentary sigh of relief from Jets Nation, who nearly came to the realization that Geno Smith would return under center. Despite going 10-6 last season the Jets narrowly missed a playoff berth, posting their best record since the 2010 season. Much of their success falls on Fitzpatrick, who had a career year in his first season in New York.
Expect the Jets to keep it close in the East, especially if Fitzpatrick can connect with star wideout Brandon Marshall all season long. As it stands now the average price for Jets tickets on TicketIQ is $223, up 16% from the 2015 season. The team's top-priced game at MetLife Stadium comes on November 27 against the Patriots, where tickets are averaging $280.34 and the cheapest are priced from $77. The Miami Dolphins come to town on December 17 for what will be the cheapest game this season. That game owns a secondary market average of $198.61 and the get-in price is $46.
[embedit cf="HTML1"]
Miami Dolphins | 2016 Avg. Home Price: $219 | % Change from 2015: +24%
While the Miami Dolphins have elected to change the name of their home stadium again in 2016 (this time settling on Hard Rock Stadium), they'll also enter their first season under new head coach Adam Gase, who last served as offensive coordinator for the Chicago Bears last season. Gase has a reputation for being quarterback-minded (he's previously worked as a quarterbacks coach for both the Lions and Broncos), so plenty of attention will be paid to Ryan Tannehill this season. Tannehill has had a mediocre run in his first four NFL seasons and is still looking to make an impact in a crowded AFC East.
Gase will be joined by fellow newcomers Mario Williams, Cameron Wake and Arian Foster. With fresh faces and a brand new stadium name, the Dolphins have experienced a significant jump in ticket prices on the secondary market this season. Dolphins tickets at Hard Rock Stadium now average $219 across all eight home games, up 24% from 2015. An October 16 game against the Steelers will be the most expensive game, with tickets averaging $386.05 and the get-in price starting from $171. The Cleveland Browns hit South Beach for a September 25 matchup, and tickets currently own a $150.32 average and $51 get-in price.
Buffalo Bills | 2016 Avg. Home Price: $164 | % Change from 2015: +11%
The Bills received an impressive first season out of quarterback Tyrod Taylor, who threw for over 3,000 yards and 20 touchdowns while only allowing six interceptions in 14 starts. Taylor has appeared to completetly cut EJ Manuel out of the picture, so the Bills will rely on him in hopes of their first postseason berth this century.
Such a long postseason drought has made the Bills fall into obscurity in the AFC East, and they will own the cheapest ticket prices in the division in 2016. Bills tickets on TicketIQ currently average $164 across all eight games at New Era Field. The most expensive game in Buffalo this season will come against the Patriots on October 30, where tickets average $224.65 and the get-in price is $98. For those looking for the cheapest game, a December 18 matchup with the Browns is currently posting a $103.68 average and $23 get-in price.
