Battle for NFC North title has become a hot ticket

Green Bay — With an NFC North Division title on the line, interest in Sunday’s Green Bay Packers-Detroit Lions game was driving ticket prices higher.

It wasn’t certain until Saturday’s 38-25 victory over the Minnesota Vikings that the Packers would be playing this weekend for a division title and home playoff game next week.

According to ticket reseller SeatGeek, in the past two weeks the median price for the game at Ford Field increased 71%. The get-in price went from $70 in mid-October to $250 on Tuesday.

“Right now, this is the third-most in-demand Lions home game we have ever seen, and I am guessing with the way the prices have shot up it will end up atop that list,” said SeatGeek’s Chris Leyden. “The current high is the 2011 visit from the Packers, which was on Thanksgiving.”

Vivid Seats reported similar results. It said the average price for Sunday’s game was $151 on Tuesday, compared to $146 for the 2013 game and $101 for last year’s game.

A survey of resale companies Tuesday found the following:

SeatGeek’s lowest price for seats was $189.

Vivid Seats’ lowest price was $177 for the upper reaches, no-alcohol section. Unrestricted seats started at $229.

NFL Ticket Exchange’s lowest price Tuesday was $196.

Interest from Wisconsin-based Packers fans, as well as those from other parts of the country, increased with the team’s improving fortunes.

Since the Packers began their current five-game winning streak, the importance of Sunday’s game grew.

No doubt, the game is of greater interest to Lions fans as well, which also drives prices higher.

Waiting until the last minute makes the game more expensive. Not only are ticket prices rising but also airline tickets and hotels are more expensive. Saturday being New Year’s Eve is a price booster as well.

Looking ahead to a possible playoff game at Lambeau Field on Jan. 7 or 8, SeatGeek’s lowest tickets are $120, Vivid Seats’ are $130 and NFL Tickets Exchange is not yet listing tickets.