The upcoming quarterfinal round of the College Football Playoff (CFP) is set to kick off next week, with the New Year's Six bowl venues hosting these high-stakes matches. The ticket prices for these events have now been disclosed, revealing significant variations across different venues. Additionally, the first round of the CFP saw impressive television ratings despite facing competition from NFL games.
Ticket Prices Reflect Venue Prestige and Team Popularity
The cost of attending the CFP quarterfinal games varies widely, influenced by factors such as venue prestige and team popularity. Among the most expensive tickets is the Rose Bowl game, where the top-seeded Oregon Ducks will face off against the eighth-seeded Ohio State Buckeyes. Entry tickets for this match start at $228, making it the only game with a get-in price exceeding $200. Meanwhile, the Fiesta Bowl between Boise State and Penn State has an entry price of $172, while the Sugar Bowl featuring Georgia versus Notre Dame starts at $115. The cheapest tickets are available for the Peach Bowl, where Texas will play Arizona State, with entry priced at just $49.
This pricing disparity highlights the varying levels of fan interest and the historical significance of each matchup. For instance, the Rose Bowl, being one of the most iconic stadiums in college football, naturally commands higher ticket prices. The clash between Oregon and Ohio State adds to the excitement, as both teams have passionate fan bases. On the other hand, the lower-priced tickets for the Peach Bowl suggest that while the game is still highly anticipated, it may not carry the same level of historical or regional importance as some of the other matchups. Fans looking for more affordable options might find the Peach Bowl particularly appealing.
Television Ratings Highlight Fan Engagement Despite NFL Competition
The first round of the CFP showcased strong viewer engagement, despite competing directly with NFL games. The opening round featured several memorable matchups, with Ohio State's victory over Tennessee drawing the highest viewership at 14.3 million. Notre Dame's game against Indiana also performed well, attracting 13.4 million viewers. These figures are especially noteworthy given the concurrent NFL broadcasts on December 21st, which included two games averaging 15.4 million and 15.5 million viewers respectively.
The new five-year sublicense agreement between ESPN and TNT introduced additional viewing options for fans. TNT aired two games, including Texas's win over Clemson and Penn State's triumph over SMU. While these games did not match the NFL's ratings, they still drew substantial audiences, with the Texas-Clemson game pulling in 8.6 million viewers and the Penn State-SMU match averaging 6.4 million. This demonstrates that even in the face of stiff competition from professional football, college football continues to captivate a large audience. As the quarterfinals approach, fans can look forward to another thrilling series of games, starting with the Fiesta Bowl on New Year's Eve, followed by three more matches on New Year's Day.