The Real Cost of Season Tickets in 2026 (And How Co-Ownership Changes the Math)

Season tickets feel like a splurge. And they are, if you think about them the wrong way.

Most fans look at the sticker price and stop there. Two seats for an NFL season at $200 per seat per game, nine home games, means $3,600 upfront. Before parking. Before food. Before gear.

That math is discouraging. But it is also incomplete.

When you factor in resale value, co-ownership, and the actual cost per game you attend, season tickets look very different. Here is how to think about the real numbers.

What Season Tickets Actually Cost in 2026

According to the Team Marketing Report, the average NFL season ticket price in 2025 was approximately $151 per game per seat, with significant variation by market. Premium markets like the San Francisco 49ers and Las Vegas Raiders average over $300 per seat per game. Smaller markets like the Jacksonville Jaguars or Tennessee Titans can be under $80.

For two seats over nine home games, that puts the average NFL season ticket package between $2,700 and $5,400, not counting any premium seat or club level charges.

NBA season tickets average around $94 per seat per game across the league, but again with enormous variation. The Golden State Warriors average over $300 per seat. The Oklahoma City Thunder are under $50.

MLS sits lower across the board, with most markets ranging from $25 to $80 per seat per game, making two-seat packages for a full 17-game home schedule cost anywhere from $850 to $2,700.

These are the face value numbers. What you can actually recover through resale changes the math significantly.

The Resale Factor

Season ticket holders have something casual buyers do not: guaranteed access to seats at face value, before they hit the secondary market.

For high-demand games, that is a financial advantage. Rivalry games, primetime slots, playoff contention matchups, and nationally televised games consistently trade above face value on the secondary market. A seat you paid $150 for can sell for $300 to $500 in the right circumstances.

Not every game trades above face value. Early-season games against low-profile opponents, midweek games, and late-season games for teams out of contention often sell below face value or not at all.

The key insight is that your season ticket package is not a uniform cost. Some games in your package will trade above face value. Others will not. The net cost of your season tickets depends heavily on which games you attend versus which you sell, and at what price.

How Co-Ownership Changes the Math

Here is where things get interesting.

If you split a two-seat NFL package with a co-owner, you are each paying for roughly half the games. Let's use a real example.

Two seats at $200 per game for nine home games equals $3,600 total. Split between two people, that is $1,800 each. Each person attends approximately four to five games.

Now factor in resale. If each person sells two games they cannot attend, averaging $250 per game per seat, that is $500 recovered. Net cost: $1,300 per person for four to five live NFL games.

That is $260 to $325 per game attended. Compare that to buying individual tickets on the secondary market for those same games, which would likely cost $350 to $600 per seat for comparable locations.

Season ticket co-ownership, done right, gives you premium seats at below-market prices per game attended.

The Hidden Costs to Account For

Before getting too optimistic, be realistic about the full picture.

Parking and food add $50 to $150 per game depending on the venue and your habits. If you attend four games, that is $200 to $600 in additional costs on top of the ticket price.

Platform fees on resale cut into your recovery. Selling on StubHub or Ticketmaster typically costs 15 to 30 percent in combined seller and buyer fees. A ticket that sells for $250 might net you $175 to $210 after fees.

Some games simply will not sell. Low-demand matchups in bad weather against uninspiring opponents sometimes sit unsold, especially if you listed late.

Model for these realities when you run your numbers. The math still works in most markets, but the margins are tighter than the headline numbers suggest.

Running Your Own Numbers

Before committing to season tickets, or to a co-ownership arrangement, run this exercise:

• List all home games and categorize each as high-demand, average, or low-demand based on opponent, timing, and historical resale data for your market
• Estimate realistic resale prices for games in each category, using current secondary market listings as a reference
• Decide which games you personally plan to attend versus sell
• Calculate your net cost per attended game and compare it to what you would pay buying those same tickets on the secondary market

In most markets, for fans who attend four or more games per season, the math favors season tickets. The break-even point depends on your specific market, seat location, and how efficiently you manage the games you cannot attend.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are season tickets worth it financially?

For fans who attend most of their games, season tickets are generally cost-effective compared to buying individual tickets on the secondary market. The value proposition strengthens significantly in high-demand markets where face value is substantially below secondary market prices. For fans who attend fewer than three or four games per season, the math is less clear.

What is the best way to maximize the value of season tickets?

Attend the games you most want to see and sell the rest strategically. List high-demand games early and hold low-demand games until the week of the game when last-minute demand picks up. Use co-ownership to reduce your upfront cost and share the resale workload.

Do season ticket holders get priority for playoffs?

Yes, in most cases. Season ticket holders typically receive the right of first refusal for playoff tickets before they go on sale to the general public. This is one of the most significant financial and experiential benefits of holding season tickets in markets where teams are playoff contenders.

How do I know which games in my package will sell above face value?

Check secondary market listings from previous seasons for similar matchups. Rivalry games, nationally televised games, weekend games, and games against historically popular franchises tend to trade highest. Your team's standing as the season progresses also affects demand significantly.

Is a co-ownership arrangement legally binding?

Informal co-ownership agreements between individuals are generally not legally binding unless documented as a formal contract. For most fans splitting with a friend or family member, a written agreement covering the key terms is sufficient protection. For arrangements involving larger sums or multiple parties, consulting a lawyer is worth considering.

The Bottom Line

Season tickets are not just an entertainment expense. For fans who approach them strategically, they are an asset with both personal and financial value. Understanding the real cost, factoring in resale potential, and using co-ownership to share the risk changes the math significantly.

The fans who get the most out of season tickets are the ones who treat them like an investment, not just a purchase.

Ticketholdr is built to help season ticket holders get maximum value from every game in their package. Split, sell, and trade from one app. Available soon on iOS and Android.