With demand soaring, Detroit Lions raise ticket prices for 2024 season
Going to watch the Detroit Lions play next season is going to cost more. In some cases, a whole lot more.
The Lions sent out season ticket renewals for the 2024 season Monday and most seats saw a hefty increase in price.
The organization did not immediately say how much tickets went up on average, but multiple fans reported price increases anywhere from 30% to 85%.
Last year, the Lions increased tickets an average of 4% during their early renewal period, something team president Rod Wood said brought prices back to pre-pandemic levels in 2018.
Since then, demand has soared for Lions tickets with the team on the verge of winning its first division title in 30 years and hosting a playoff game. The Lions have sold out all seven of their home games so far this season - they have one home date remaining, in Week 18 against the Minnesota Vikings - and are averaging 65,081 fans per game.
Lions chief operating officer Mike Disner told the Free Press last month the team had a waitlist for season tickets for 2024 of about 6,300 seats.
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Last season, with nine home dates, the Lions averaged about 2,000 fewer fans per game.
In an email to season ticket holders, the Lions wrote, "We have felt your energy within Ford Field this season and your impact has truly made a difference in creating a home field advantage for your Lions. We are excited to welcome you back next year for another exciting season in 2024!"
The email did not explain the price increase.
The Lions kept most season ticket prices the same from 2018 to 2019, and there was no public sale of tickets during the pandemic in 2020. In 2021-22, the Lions maintained mostly flat ticket pricing and in some cases, lowered the cost of tickets.
Next season, the Lions' home schedule includes games against division opponents the Chicago Bears, Green Bay Packers and Minnesota Vikings, plus dates with the Jacksonville Jaguars, Los Angeles Rams, Seattle Seahawks, Tennessee Titans, and crossover games with teams from the AFC East and NFC South, based on where they finish in the division.
Contact Dave Birkett at dbirkett@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @davebirkett.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: With demand soaring, Detroit Lions raise ticket prices for 2024