American Sport Finals Dominate the List of World’s Most Expensive Events

The Super Bowl has been revealed as the most bank-breaking sporting event for fans, with tickets costing $6,304 on average.  

A new study by online casino guide, CritiqueJeu, examined ticket prices and additional expenses for 13 major sporting events worldwide to find out which ones offer the best value for spectators. 

Super Bowl tickets, priced at $6,304, cost NFL fans a whopping 171% more than the next most expensive event on the list. Prices for the American football final keep climbing year after year, putting Super Bowl attendance beyond the reach of many sports lovers. 

Fans who traveled to New Orleans faced more than just the ticket cost. Money spent on transportation, filling up the car, and purchasing food pushes the total bill for Super Bowl attendance past $6,330. 

Hockey has the second-most expensive final, with Stanley Cup tickets in Sunrise, Florida, commanding $2,324. People who watched last year’s Stanley Cup paid about 15% less than current prices – showing a big jump in just 12 months.

The Champions League 2025 final in Munich grabbed third place at $2,272 per ticket. The World Series in New York followed at $2,000, with the NBA Finals in Boston costing $1,459. 

Four of the five most expensive events take place in the United States. These astronomical American ticket prices show both how popular these events are and how Europeans take a different pricing approach. 

Conversely, Wimbledon stands out as the biggest deal among major sporting events. Tennis fans pay a modest $77.33 for tickets to London’s prestigious tournament. This tiny price tag is less than 1.3% of what Super Bowl tickets cost—highlighting the massive gap between the cheapest and most expensive events. 

UK events rule the affordable end of the list. The Six Nations rugby tournament in Cardiff costs $120 per ticket, making it the second most affordable option. Sheffield’s Snooker World Championship follows at $210, which means the UK has the top three most affordable finals. 

The MLS Cup 2024 in Carson, California, ranks as the most affordable American sporting event with tickets priced at $240. This makes it the fourth cheapest event overall and far less expensive than other American sporting finals. 

The study included extra costs fans incur when attending these events. The price gap between the priciest and cheapest event stands at $6,230, but local expenses can stretch or shrink this difference. 

London tops the transport cost charts among all locations checked. A single ticket on London’s public transport runs $4.22 – nearly four times more than New Orleans where it costs just $1.12. Munich comes in just behind London at $4.21, showing European cities generally cost more for getting around. 

European locations have the highest fuel prices too, with London and Munich both charging roughly $1.89 per liter ($7.15 a gallon). American locations offer cheaper fuel, with Augusta, Georgia having the lowest price at $0.83 per liter ($3.14 a gallon).  

New York City grabbed the top spot for food costs, with meals at budget restaurants costing around $30. Augusta offers the cheapest options at about $12 per meal, which is a 60% difference that can really add up for fans on a budget. 

Paul Lenglet, co-founder and editor of CritiqueJeu, commented on the findings: 

“The price difference between attending the Super Bowl versus Wimbledon is staggering—nearly $6,230. Sports fans need to carefully budget if they are planning to attend major finals. Many passionate fans save for years to attend bucket-list sporting events like the Super Bowl or World Series. 

“Future sporting finals, such as the 2026 FIFA World cup, are expected to attract fans from all over the world. Although ticket prices have not been released, fans expect an increase from 2022’s World Cup, which ranged from $55-$1,607.

“The World Cup final will be held in East Rutherford, NJ—the area offers many hotels for fans to book accommodations and unique shopping experiences such as the American Dream mall, located next to the stadium. Travelers should take advantage of this New Jersey perk, as the second-largest American mall offers no sales tax on clothing.  

“The true appeal for most travelers will be the stadiums 10-mile location from New York City. Fans that want an all-encompassing, but affordable experience should be wary of restaurant prices in NYC and the overload the public transportation system will face.”