LAST UPDATED ON MAR. 16, 2024 AT 9:31 AM | 6 MINUTE READ
What exactly is NFL stadium parking value?
And more importantly, why should it matter to you??
Basically, it’s a deep dive beyond the parking costs at NFL stadiums.
In particular, we’ll attempt to assign a value score to secondary market prices based on a number of factors, including team wins & median income.
Parking costs at NFL stadiums and value
Our criterion for value is based on more than just price, which we’ll explain below.
But before we begin, I’d like to point out that value is highly subjective. You know – “One man’s trash is another man’s treasure…”, yadda, yadda. Pointedly, perceived value is rooted in desirability and comparison.
To wit:
- The average cost on the secondary market for the cheapest available parking at Ford Field for a Lions game is $203. Not only is this the 3rd-highest, it’s also 52% more than last season. However, Detroit is having its best season in decades, so the desirability is there. Furthermore, it’s still 28% cheaper and a relative bargain, when compared to Gillette Stadium.
- And speaking of Gillette Stadium, a Patriots parking pass is still the most expensive by far. But the alternative to parking at Gillette is off-site parking that’s over a mile away or a 1-hour train ride from Boston. Accordingly for Pats fans, it’s more about a comparison to this alternative and less about the desire to watch a last place team.
That being said, a little analytical data can help you to decide, should you need it.
The Best NFL Parking Prices For Each Team
With this in mind, our parking value score isn’t an end-all ranking. But it can help to determine if the cost of an NFL stadium parking pass is a relative bargain – or not.
Wins vs. parking costs
There’s a strong correlation between a team’s parking pass price and success, in terms of wins.
Top 9 parking value scores
Notably, the teams with the top nine scores have an average win total of 10, or 1 more than the league median. Conversely, the average win total for the teams with the nine worst value scores is 7, or 2 below the median.
However, a score can be subpar in spite of a winning record (and vice versa). Here/s a couple of examples:
- The Ravens’ value score of 14 ranks in just the 25th percentile, despite a league-best 13-win season.
- In contrast, the NY Giants score (20) is tied for the highest, even though they won just 6 games.
NFL stadium parking value factors
Here are the 5 things behind the value score:
- The average cost of a team’s cheapest available on site parking, as it compares to the league average.
- The difference between the parking pass cost and (the cheapest available) ticket price.
- Real household median income for the area in which the team is based, relative to the U.S. as a whole.
- The team’s win total vs. the median number of wins for all teams.
- The distance from the parking spot to the stadium. Specifically, we rank based on the time it takes to walk from the furthest official lot. Accordingly, the differences can be significant. For example, the walk from Gold Lot P at Metlife Stadium is more than 10 minutes longer than the one from Platinum Lot G. Worse yet is the 28-minute walk from the Grant Park South Garage to Soldier Field in Chicago.
What the columns mean:
- Parking – the median price of the cheapest available parking pass from 12 ticket sites
- vs League Avg – the % above or below, the league median price
- Tickets – median price of the cheapest available seats
- Difference – the difference between the parking cost and a team’s ticket price
- Income – Approximated median household weekly income for city or county in which the team plays (Source: deptofnumbers.com)
- vs US avg – the % above or below, the average for all NFL cities
- Wins – number of regular-season wins for each team since the start of the 2022 season.
- vs Median – win total compared to median figure.
- Distance – the time in minutes it takes to walk from the parking lot to the stadium.
- vs Avg – walking time compared to overall average of 9 minutes.
- Score – overall value score based on:
- 5 points for >=40% better than average
- 4 points for 14% to 39% better than average
- 3 for 13% above or below average
- 2 for 14% to 39% below average
- 1 for <=40% below average
Best values for parking at NFL games
- Kansas City Chiefs (20) – Unquestionably, the Chiefs offer the best value when it comes to official NFL stadium parking passes. The cheapest Red Lot parking averages just $67, and that’s for all Arrowhead Stadium lots except for E & H. So, when you consider that…
- $67 is 5th-lowest, and 43% below league average,
- It’s 69% less than the average cheap seat,
- The Chiefs are 16-4 in their last 20 regular season games (not to mention they’re the SB champs). Hands down, a true bargain.
- NY Giants (20) – So, was a Giants parking pass really as good of a value as the Chiefs? For Big Blue fans, yes. No, they don’t have Patrick Mahomes. Yes, they haven’t won a Super Bowl since 2012, and won just 6 games in 2023. Despite this, the Giants still ranked second in average home attendance. To be sure, $49 parking in an area infamous for its high prices is dirt cheap.
- Houston Texans (19) – Speaking of dirt cheap, $43 parking for an up-and-coming team with an exciting young QB is just that. Why isn’t the score higher? Reason being, when you adjust for area income, $43 is roughly equivalent to paying $83 in San Francisco.
- Dallas Cowboys (19) – $106 is truly a bargain when you consider, among other things, that
- It’s only 41% above face value, and
- The ‘Boys were #1 in average home attendance.
- Cincinnati Bengals (19) – Like the Texans, their score suffers a tick due to average area income. That is, $56 in Cincinnati is like $111 in SF.
Worst NFL parking values
- LA Chargers (11) – $120 (5% above average, 18% more than their average cheap seat) is a bad value for one of the most disappointing teams of 2023.
- New England Patriots (12) – 283 bucks (146% over average) for the post-Brady, 4-win Pats? Why?!?
- Carolina Panthers (13) – 12% above average and 123% more than their average cheapest ticket for a team that won 2 games. The only saving grace is the shorter than average walking distance to the stadium entrance.
Conclusion
- After spending hundreds of dollars on game tickets, the last thing you need is to drop another $100 or more for stadium parking.
- That being said, there’s a couple of reasons why many NFL fans will still pay top dollar:
- Value, like beauty, is in the eye of the beholder.
- Tailgating is a major part of the game day experience for many. Consequently, a parking space is needed at most venues for traditional tailgating.
- Then again, there are those that prioritize budget, or aren’t going to tailgate (or are joining someone else’s party). In that case, NFL parking value scores can indicate whether a parking pass is worth the price.
- This, in turn, will help you decide if you want to:
- Take public transportation. This option saves you the most but costs you in terms of convenience and time.
- Find offsite parking. You can save big bucks if you don’t mind a longer walk to the stadium. Note: you can often find parking that will include a free shuttle.
- Park on site, or at a team’s designated partner facilities, at a discount of 22% on average.