Ticket prices for this year’s SEC Championship game have revealed a major issue with the College Football Playoff.
The Georgia Bulldogs and Texas Longhorns are set for an epic rematch this Saturday as both teams will travel to Atlanta to compete for the SEC Championship and a first-round bye in the inaugural season of the 12-team College Football Playoff. The SEC’s conference championship game has been home to numerous classics over the years and has been regarded by coaches, players, and fans as one of the best atmospheres in all of college football.
With a matchup between two major programs and so much at stake, it would be safe to assume that ticket prices for this game would be astronomically high and available only to the wealthiest fans. However, as kickoff fast approaches, ticket prices have remained surprisingly modest. According to Ticketmaster, fans can attend Saturday’s conference championship game for as little as $116 a ticket.
For reference, prices for last year’s conference title matchup between Georgia and Alabama were over $300 at their cheapest. So, what makes this year’s SEC Championship so different that it is driving ticket prices down so significantly? Well, there may be a list of factors taking place.
For starters, this will be the second matchup of the season between Georgia and Texas after the Dawgs handled the Longhorns in Austin by a score of 30-15. But the reason for the supposed decrease in demand for this game likely goes much deeper.
The main culprit for low ticket prices this year can be attributed to one of the biggest changes in college football: the 12-team playoff expansion. Rather than the traditional four-team format, this year’s College Football Playoff will feature a monstrous 12 teams that will all have a shot at the national title. The format change implies that regardless of Saturday’s outcome, both Texas and Georgia’s likelihood of making the playoff remains exceedingly high. This has seemingly diminished the SEC Championship game to a glorified exhibition match rather than a tremendous spectacle that could decide the fate of a team’s hopes for a national championship as it had so many seasons prior.
On top of the lessened significance of the game, Saturday’s meeting has the potential to not be the final meeting between Texas and Georgia. With both team’s playoff spots seemingly secure, there is an increased likelihood that the winner of this game may have to win this matchup once again, should these two teams’ paths cross in the playoff. So, the looming potential of a third meeting between the Bulldogs and Longhorns in a much more consequential setting has likely played a factor in lowering the demand for conference championship ticket prices.
The 12-team playoff expansion has brought many new excitements to the college football world and has certainly increased the awareness, revenue, and overall allure of the sport. However, it has also caused some of the most beloved traditions to have their importance and relevancy greatly diminished. One of these traditions unfortunately seems to be the SEC Championship.
How to Watch Georgia vs Texas (SEC Championship)
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