The Las Vegas Impact: Raiders’ Ticket Prices Soar Since Schedule Release

The NFL released its 2020 schedule to much fanfare earlier in May. While we have no idea if this iteration of the schedule will be the same we see come fall time due to the ongoing pandemic, interest in the sport remains high.

That’s no more true than in Las Vegas, the new home of the NFL’s Raiders. Mere months after making their relocation from Oakland official, demand for Raiders’ tickets during their inaugural season in the desert metropolis is insane.

According to Daniel Kaplan of The Athletic, ticket prices on the second-hand market compared to last season have increased by 527% for the Raiders. TicketIQ has tracked the increase, noting that the average ticket price for Las Vegas-based games in the secondary market is nearly $1,100.00 per.

There’s a few factors in the skyrocketing ticket costs. It goes without saying that Las Vegas housing an NFL team will increase demand. Add in interest from Southern California, the former home of the Raiders, and that’s magnified further. Based on geography, Las Vegas is much closer to Los Angeles than Oakland.

Secondly, only 21% of teams put single-game tickets on sale this season compared to a whopping 85% in 2019. That’s the impact of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic plaguing the United States and the rest of the world.

Despite the economic downturn we’re seeing due to the above-mentioned pandemic, it appears that the Raiders have been largely unaffected. Again, that speaks to the proximity of Las Vegas to Southern California, the Raiders’ already built-in fan base in their new home city and the fact that we’re months from their inaugural season in Vegas.

It doesn’t hurt that the NFL scheduled four prime-time nationally televised home games for the Raiders at their new facility right off the Vegas Strip. This includes home dates against the New Orleans Saints, Tom Brady-led Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Kansas City Chiefs and Los Angeles Chargers.

As a city with a transient population, Las Vegas is home to fans from around the United States. Other fans see Sin City as a destination to watch their teams play on the road. This also plays a major role in increased demand for Raiders tickets.

All of this could prove to be moot depending on how the pandemic plays out in the coming months.

While the NFL plans on starting the season on time with a Sept. 10 opener between the Chiefs and Houston Texans, contingencies are in place. The season could start any week after that, forcing the playoffs and Super Bowl to be postponed.

Even if the 2020 NFL season were to start as planned, there’s an open question about whether fans will be in attendance. Leaders in California and Pennsylvania have thrown cold water on the idea that fans could be on hand this fall.

As it relates to Nevada, the state has started the process of reopening. That includes most outdoor retail outlets, barbershops, nail salons and restaurants with strict social distancing guidelines. The state still seems to be ways away from opening up sporting events and other entertainment venues to spectators.

Either way, ticket demand for the Raiders is at an all-time high. That has to be good news for owner Mark Davis and Co. as they prepare for the post-Oakland era.