The temperatures in the New York metropolitan area aren’t the only things plummeting.
Ticket prices for the Super Bowl between the Broncos and Seahawks fell precipitously this past week. On Friday, the cheapest ticket for the game on NFL Ticket Exchange was $1,779.
That’s $409 less expensive than last year on that same day, and $809 cheaper than Super Bowl XLVI between the Giants and Patriots.
“What we have now is like a panicked stock market,” said James Kimmel, owner of a ticket brokerage in Seattle named Epic Seats, according to ESPN.com. “The buyers have frozen, and the sellers are panicking.”
The get-in price on Monday was $2,700, and now prices have fallen 34 percent.
There are a few factors explaining the cheaper tickets.
One is the weather — according to the AccuWeather website WillItSnow.com, the high temperatures will be in the 30’s on Super Bowl Sunday, with snow showers possible.
Another factor is the distance — it’s just the fifth time that the two teams in the Super Bowl have had to travel more than 4,000 miles combined to where the game is being played.
The NFL sees no problem with the reduced ticket prices. A league spokesman told ESPN.com the NFL doesn’t expect any empty seats at game time.
Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman has grabbed the spotlight in the first week following the conference championship games, but Broncos wide receiver Demaryius Thomas isn’t shying away from a potential matchup with the Seattle bigmouth.
“He’s a great player. I’d love to have that matchup to show what kind of player I am.” Thomas said. “I don’t know if he’ll match up, but like I said, he’s a great player.”
Thomas and the Broncos had the NFL’s best offense this season and will face the Seahawks’ No. 1-ranked defense. Thomas said he feels certain his group will come out on top.
“I think we’re good — whatever we put out there, we have to be able to execute it,” he said. “They are the No. 1 defense. They have a great defense and we have a great offense. This is what you play for. I think we’ll be fine.”
Broncos kicker Matt Prater missed practice all week with the flu and was kept away from the rest of the team so he didn’t get everyone else sick.
“We sent him home,” coach John Fox said after Saturday’s practice in 54-degree weather and sunshine. “He’s going to be fine for the game. Hopefully he’ll feel much better tomorrow morning as we prepare to fly to New Jersey.”
Fox said he didn’t think Prater would be infectious by Sunday’s flight.
“Guys do get sick, just like any household in America,” Fox said. “We feel confident he’ll be fine shortly.”
While the world’s eyes are on New York for next weekend’s Super Bowl, the Pro Bowl takes place Sunday (7:30 p.m., NBC) in Hawaii, and will be played under the new “unconferenced” format for the first time.
NFL legends Deion Sanders and Jerry Rice selected the teams in a two-day draft. Giants safety Antrel Rolle, and Jets center Nick Mangold and cornerback Antonio Cromartie all are on Team Rice.