Ticket waiting list is down
Green Bay Packers fans occasionally moan, sometimes loudly, about the state of this or that at 1265 Lombardi Ave., but the season ticket renewal rate doesn't reflect insurmountable unhappiness.
This season, 99.4 percent of season tickets holders renewed, a rate that's remained consistent over the years, said Aaron Popkey, director of public affairs.
The unhappy people might be those on the Packers' season ticket waiting list, which has about 137,000 names. This year, 747 names came off the list. Some of them chose not to buy tickets, but 548 people claimed 1,682 seats.
"It remains a pretty strong renewal rate," Popkey said. "We are thankful to have longtime, loyal season ticket holders."
The Packers have 36,200 season ticket accounts, including both Green and Gold packages, which averages about three tickets per account. Green packages include six regular-season games; Gold package tickets are for the second and fifth home games each season.
The willingness of season ticket holders to sell some of their tickets makes it possible for other fans to attend games whenever they want, providing they are willing to pay the price.
Buying tickets on the secondary market is all fun and games until your team, and some of their opponents, start the season on winning streaks. The average lowest ticket price for the Packers' games against the Dallas Cowboys, Detroit Lions and Oakland Raiders are all higher this week. The Packers, Cowboys and Lions have yet to lose.
As for the Raiders, who are 1-2, well ... the promoter of the preseason game in Winnipeg, who couldn't seem to sell tickets at any price, has got to be wondering where it all went wrong for him. The average lowest price at Lambeau Field for the Oct. 20 game is $181 this week, compared to $159 at the end of August. It is the last Gold package game of the year and perhaps the mostly southern Wisconsin ticket holders have decided to not part with their tickets easily.
That's a game that will bear watching in the next couple of weeks.
The Packers, who defeated the Denver Broncos 27-16 on Sunday, play again Thursday, hosting the Philadelphia Eagles at Lambeau Field. Prices for that game have fallen.
The average is $100 and tickets can be found for as low as $93, not counting standing room only, which starts at $85.
Packers-Cowboys is a long-time rivalry and both teams are undefeated, which is reflected in the $259 average lowest price (not counting standing room only) for the Oct. 6 game in Dallas. That's $25 more per ticket than last week.
Even the Lions game, scheduled for Oct. 14, is creeping up. The Lions beat the Packers in four consecutive games over the last two years, but as a rule it's not a matchup that excites ticket prices. Until this year.
The average lowest price this week is $115, $7 higher than last week and $15 more than at the end of August — and they might have gone higher if not for it being a Monday night game.