The Most Expensive College Football National Championship
The first 12-team College Football Playoff will culminate Monday in Atlanta with a heavyweight battle between two of the sport’s most historic programs. Over the course of a month, Ohio State and Notre Dame survived through three rounds and multiple bowl games to reach Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Long before the confetti falls, the fans in attendance will have made history by shelling out for seats at record levels, according to data from TickPick, a leading North American ticket marketplace.
This week, Front Office Sports takes you through the biggest ticketing storylines for the pinnacle of the 2024 college football season, from eye-popping prices to year-over-year trends.
All Eyes On The ATL
The Buckeyes and Fighting Irish upended the inaugural expanded Playoff format in the best way possible. They won their opening-round games on campus, knocked out the top two seeds—who received byes—in the quarterfinals, and both won their semifinal matchups in late, dramatic fashion.
Ohio State is no stranger to this stage, having won eight national titles, including the first ever College Football Playoff in 2015. Notre Dame, on the other hand, boasts 11 titles but has a 37-year championship drought and hasn’t reached a CFP final until now.
For this blockbuster matchup, a record will be set: According to TickPick, this is the most expensive CFB National Championship on record with an average purchase price of $2,637— 36% more expensive than last season’s Michigan-Washington game ($1,934).
Championship
Prices Jump
Ohio State and Notre Dame may not have been the teams everyone wanted to see in the title game, especially for Texas and Penn State fans. But the cost to enter Mercedes-Benz Stadium took a massive jump from before the Orange and Cotton Bowls to just after.
According to TickPick, the cheapest ticket sold for the National Championship prior to the Semifinals was for $1,573. The morning after Notre Dame beat Penn State, the get-in price was $2,036 (29% more expensive). The morning after Ohio State beat Texas, the get-in price jumped again to $2,208.
While the current get-in price may not be cheap, it did become more manageable in the days since ($1,830).
The Road to the Championship
Championship Purchase Geography
Here’s a look at which states make up the highest percentage of ticket billing for the CFP title game, according to data from TickPick:
