Super Bowl Ticket Sales Plummeting — Officials Blame Lack of Interest in NYC

Officials say it could wind up being the least expensive Super Bowl since 2002.

After hitting record highs last week, prices have dropped dramatically, and there are reportedly 50 percent drops for the least-expensive seats, which are now priced around $1,150.

More than 18,000 tickets remained in what are called secondary markets as of earlier this week. The New York Daily Post said weather had been factored into the prices, but now that it's not expected to be an issue, they cite other factors for the drops:

"Instead, limited travel demand by fans of the two Western teams, a glut of available tickets and sluggish interest in the New York metropolitan area are contributing to the tailspin."

Officials with secondary ticket seller TiqTiq.com said the combined 4,600 miles that the two fan bases would have to travel does play somewhat of a factor. And they reiterated the Post's claim that lack of interest by fans in the New York metropolitan area has caused the ticket sales not to pick up.

Some secondary market sellers say they haven't seen sales this soft in 20-plus years. Hawks fans won't be happy to hear another assessment given by some long-time sellers, who say the lack of "sexy" teams in the game is contributing to the slump. That can be translated into lack of national interest in Seattle. Lance Patania, CEO of Prominent Tickets in New Jersey (a ticket brokering firm), says the relatively small fan base is contributing to the sluggish sales.