Ohio State and Texas are set to meet in Friday night’s College Football Playoff Semifinal at the Cotton Bowl.
The game features a matchup of two college football powerhouses with loaded rosters and rabid fanbases. Ohio State typically travels well for games, and many Longhorn fans are located in Texas, making it a potentially easy commute to Arlington. All of this would seem to indicate tickets would be expensive and in high-demand, and at first, they were.
As of last Thursday, after the matchup was set, the prices for two tickets (including fees) ranged anywhere from $482 to $540 in the 400s, depending on website, and $428 for standing room only on StubHub.
However, those prices have dropped precipitously. On Ticketmaster, you can get in the building for $165 standing room only and about $185 in the 400 level. That goes down to $140 standing room and $175 for the 400s on StubHub, with comparable prices on Vivid Seats.
What’s the cause for the drop? One major reason is likely the weather, as a serious winter storm is scheduled for the Dallas-Fort Worth area on Friday.
“Bowl officials met with emergency management, law enforcement, CFP leaders and meteorologists today as they continue to monitor the winter storm approaching Dallas. Teams are still scheduled to arrive Wednesday,” Yahoo Sports’ Ross Dellenger said on Tuesday night. “There has been little to no serious discussion about postponing the game as of now, according to those with knowledge of the discussions. The forecast is for 3-6 inches of snow Thursday and no ice. There are no plans, as of now, to cancel any fan events or other Gameday events.”
While the game is still to be played as scheduled, it’s possible the uncertain forecast has caused a hesitation in fans to travel or buy tickets.
Also, these two teams already played bowl games on the road–Texas in Atlanta and Ohio State in Pasadena–so maybe some fans don’t want to make the trip for Friday’s game regardless of weather.
Either way, we’re expecting a potential classic between two excellent teams. If you’re in the area, you might be able to see it in person for relatively little money.
[ OutKick ]
Related: ESPN Analyst: Steve Sarkisian Has More At Stake In Cotton Bowl Than Ryan Day