New Orleans was the scene of Super Bowl LIX on February 9, 2025, but all was not well off the field. The NFL has announced that approximately 100 players and two dozen club employees are facing fines for violating league rules regarding ticket sales. This issue stems from reported instances of players and employees reselling their Super Bowl tickets above face value, which the league strictly prohibits.
The NFL has the technology to monitor ticket sales and use, allowing them to track who bought tickets to games. Reports say those found selling tickets are being hit with substantial fines. Players who resold their tickets will have to pay 150% of the tickets’ face value, while club employees caught scalping will face fines of 200%. Additionally, players who sold their tickets will lose their opportunity to buy tickets for future Super Bowls unless they are active participants in the game.
The league’s investigation is still ongoing, and while no players’ names have been disclosed yet, it is noted that both coaches and players were involved in the ticket scalping scheme. Allegations suggest that individuals known as “bundlers” purchased tickets from these players and then resold them at highly inflated prices. Prices for tickets on the secondary market leading up to the game averaged around $4,708, with some seats reaching as high as $50,000.
This incident sparked memories of similar situations in the past. In 2005, former Minnesota Vikings head coach Mike Tice reportedly scalped his Super Bowl tickets and received a fine of $100,000. This current situation, however, involves a much larger number of individuals facing consequences.
As the NFL continues its actions to prevent ticket scalping, fans can expect the league to impose strict penalties to deter such activities in the future. The ramifications of this scandal are still evolving, and the league will likely offer updates as the investigation unfolds.
