It’ll take big bucks to get you to big game

Eagles fans will have to swoop down on their bank accounts if they want to watch their favorite team beat the New England Patriots in the Minneapolis hosted Super Bowl on Feb. 4.

Local Craigslist postings for tickets and NFL-supported site Prime sport have tickets starting around $4,500 each, not including airfare and hotel accommodations which will cost thousands more per person.

But has a hefty investment to see the Eagles potentially win their first Super Bowl keeping fans away? Doesn’t seem like it.

“It’s been a whirlwind,” said Maria Henry of M&J Travel in Newtown Square. “There has been plenty of interest (in the game). It’s a very exciting time.”

Henry said Monday afternoon that phones have been ringing off the hook for people wanting to get in on the biggest football game of the year. A package she’s selling including one game upper-level ticket, a chartered flight, a three-night hotel stay (two people per room), access to the official pre-game party and transportation to/from the airport and game is running $7,600 per person. About 10 couples of tickets have been sold, and she expects more.

With a dedicated fanbase, Henry said the Eagles are going to bring home the win for the fans.

Over at Roma’s Travel in Havertown, owner Laura Dellosa said she hasn’t received much interest, yet, in Super Bowl trips.

“People don’t think of travel agencies of having connections (for tickets and accommodations); we do, we have a lot,” she said. “We can get people whatever they want.”

Like Henry, Dellosa has received inquiries into the Eagles playing the just-defeated AFC Championship contenders the Jacksonville Jaguars at Wembley Stadium in London in late October.

Speaking of London, the Eagles have been bypassed for another big event over the pond at one local agency.

“We have more interest in the royal wedding,” said Liadis Travel owner Ronnie Liadis. “Maybe it’s because Prince Harry is marrying an American, but there so many inquiries for the wedding and people who want to be there.”

On the topic of the Super Bowl she said there has been interest even during the Eagles regular season.

“But, the packages are so expensive,” Liadis said. “A lot of time it’s the same people (buying them) every year depending on the place and costs.”

The place and cost may be a contributing factor to a green migration to the Twin Cities.

During the Eagles last Super Bowl appearance in 2004 the game, notably against the Patriots, was in Jacksonville, Fla. The rate of inflation aside for airfare and tickets, Jacksonville is an obviously warmer climate for the game. With two teams from the cold Northeast going to an even colder city in the Midwest for a game, climate might deter people from going.

“There’s more interest in warmer destinations, because of our winter and where it’s going to be that has deterred people,” said Liadis.

“For the trip to Jacksonville a couple of hundred people signed up to go last minute,” recalls Henry, whose number of sign-ups at M&J Travel for Minnesota was barely at two dozen Monday afternoon.

A mad rush to get to the game should be done with caution. For a high profile game like this, it may be easy to be duped by tickets and trip packages on thirdparty sites that may actually be fake offers, including those spotted on the aforementioned Craigslist.

“Know the company that you’re working with, check the state’s Attorney General’s office of any complaints and be sure to use a reputable travel agency,” suggested Liadis when considering buying tickets or a trip package.

All of the travel agencies reached for comment for this story, including Tour N Travel in Woodlyn, noted they can be reached for helping to acquire tickets and travel accommodations for the Super Bowl.