As an avid sports fan, I’ve made it a priority to attend as many football games as I possibly can in my lifetime. Throughout the years, I’ve been fortunate enough to attend eight NFL games and several dozen collegiate football games during the fall season.
For many fans like myself, an annual fall trip to the city to see my favorite team play is an unwritten requirement of fandom. Fans like myself will pack their bags with their favorite apparel and make the weekend journey to cheer on their favorite team, even as the weather turns chilly in the months of November and December.
Unfortunately, with the popularity of football in this day and age, ticket prices have skyrocketed throughout the nation. The increasing costs have forced a large majority of sports fans to reconsider their ticket purchases, as consumers are uncomfortable with spending that much money unless they know the experience will be worth it.
With the sports industry receiving millions of dollars in revenue from tickets sales, it is up to the fans to decide what games merit the skyrocketing ticket prices. For some, the choice is easy, based on family traditions or the town’s proximity to specific programs. But for others planning a trip to a larger, metropolitan area, the choice is more difficult. This often prompts the question: will my money be better spent at an NFL game, or at a college football game?
There are several key factors to analyze when discussing the answer to this question:
1. Number of Teams
Throughout the nation, you can almost always find an NCAA Division I football program within 100 miles of your hometown. In fact, there are a total of 128 FBS football programs in the United States, comprised of teams from the Pac-12, SEC, and ACC, among other elite conferences.
On the other hand, the NFL is only composed of a total of 32 teams, with the majority of these organizations located on the East Coast. This leaves fans in states such as Nevada and Oregon confused as to which team to support.
The vast number of college programs allows sports fans to easily find the closest university and connect with its respective fan base.
Score: College Football 1 – NFL 0
2. Popularity of its Teams
The next aspect to consider when comparing the two leagues is the popularity of each. The NFL has notoriously claimed Sunday as a weekly holiday, as more fans seem to tune in to the national broadcast than go to church. In addition, the NFL has staked its claim on Monday and Thursday nights, attempting to cash in on the public’s interest by spreading out as many games through the week as possible.
Meanwhile, college football is almost exclusively limited to Saturday, with very few exceptions. The sheer number of college football programs also makes it harder for colleges to expand their fan base beyond the students on campus and the residents in the local town. This limits the popularity of each program, as people throughout the nation claim different allegiances based on their location or alma mater.
The smaller number of NFL teams allows for fewer regional conflicts, and the opportunity for each organization to easily grow its fan base, since there is less competition.
Score: College Football 1 – NFL 1
3. Stadium Atmosphere
The NFL boasts some of the largest stadiums in the nation, consistently reaching their capacity of roughly 80,000 fans. The large venues allow for deafening noise and a wide range of seating options.
However, the NFL lacks the wild dedication typically seen of college students, who consistently provide an electric presence at any university home games. While fans of the NFL tend to come from all age groups and demographics, college football fans tend to be young and wild, releasing their stress every Saturday as they yell and scream at the opposing team.
As a sports fan, I enjoy when a crowd seemingly energizes a team and provides consistent noise that will confuse the offense of opponents. I find that this generally occurs more on college campuses than at NFL venues, as college students pour more energy into their program than even the most dedicated of NFL fans.
Score: College Football 2 – NFL 1
4. Affordability
The NFL has made quite a profit in recent years, as teams have jacked up prices to meet the public demand for tickets. Currently, the lowest average ticket price belongs to the Jacksonville Jaguars, who sell their tickets for approximately $60. Meanwhile, the highest average ticket price belongs to the New England Patriots, who list their average price at $124.
On the other hand, college programs typically sell their tickets for much less than their NFL counterparts. For example, Washington State sells football tickets to the general public at a price range of $20-$40. In addition, tickets to the Pac-12 Championship two years ago in Tempe, Arizona were selling for an average of $119, which is slightly less than the home game tickets of the recent Super Bowl champion.
Although several elite college programs boast average ticket prices that exceed those of the New England Patriots, the fact that these programs are few and far between means that college football tickets are generally more affordable.
Final Score: College Football 3 – NFL 1
As a whole, the atmosphere surrounding college football tends to be more enjoyable from the perspective of a sports fan. In addition, the relative affordability of college football makes it a more desirable option for fans looking to attend a game in-person. If you find yourself torn between the two ticket options this fall, I recommend spending your time at a college football game. You won’t regret it.
