A familiar complaint about the Super Bowl is that the neutral-site venue and exorbitant ticket prices assure that average diehard fans are priced out of the market, while fat-cat casual fans and corporate suits fill the seats. Doing their part to further this dynamic is NFL.com, which is giving away a four-day, three-night deluxe package for two including Super Bowl tickets, $500 cash and free travel accommodations to the winner of their “Ultimate Experience” fantasy game. The big catch? You need to pony up $2250 to enter the 10-person league.
Personally, I can’t quite afford it. But even if I could, why would I want to? Why would I spend that much cash just for the chance to win Super Bowl tickets, some cash, some tickets to some clinics, and a few gift bags — all of which has a retail value of $9500? If I had $2250, I think I’d take the safer bet and just buy the tickets outright beforehand (as long as they’re not from Jerry Jones and the seats actually exist).
NFL.com has a series of different fantasy games you can enter, all with varying fees and prizes. In one league, you pay $5 and win — wait for it — an official on-field flag. In another, pay $20 for the chance to win an authentic autographed football. I guess it’s better than nothing. Still, it’d have been nice to see a random drawing or something that allowed average people to enter leagues that rewarded them with Super Bowl tickets — instead of hoping some rich guys are going to fork over $2250 for the chance to win $9500 after a 16-week fantasy season.
So far the league has one entrant.