One of the best rivalry games in college football doesn’t occur in either team’s home stadium and doesn’t take place during the last week of the regular season. The 2024 edition of the Red River Rivalry, annually contested between the Texas Longhorns and Oklahoma Sooners, is on Saturday, and tickets are … not cheap.
As the showdown approaches, ticket costs are climbing, leaving many fans priced out and casting doubt on whether the Cotton Bowl Stadium will be sold out for the top-15 matchup.
How Much Are Tickets to the Red River Rivalry Game?
So you want to attend the Red River Rivalry? Be ready to open up your checkbook as ticket prices are high … and climbing higher.
According to StubHub, tickets are “selling fast,” and over 600 people have checked out the game on their website in the hour before this writing.
StubHub lists tickets for sale in all but three sections of the Cotton Bowl stadium. Tickets range from $328 to $4,996, but most people are paying between $400 and $500 for a seat in the upper bowl. As each ticket goes and supply dwindles, the price goes up.
For example, two tickets sold for $416 each in Section 121, Row 1. Now, the cheapest tickets in that section are $476, in Row 13.
What about the premium seating? Let’s look at some lower bowl tickets on the 50-yard line — the cheapest you can get there check in just below $1,000.
Let’s check SeatGeek. At first glance, some Section 141 tickets at $288 look appealing, but SeatGeek doesn’t default to “all in” pricing. Check the box to include fees, and the cheapest Red River Rivalry tickets soar to nearly $400.
Why Are Red River Rivalry Tickets So Expensive?
Exorbitant ticket prices aren’t a new trend, but they do seem to be getting higher by the year. Part of the issue is that bots buy up the face-value tickets immediately upon release, turning all tickets into re-sale tickets.
It’s a shady practice, but while there’s currently a fight in the courts about this, it’s not currently illegal.
The fans suffer as the average college football fan is being priced out of watching their team. In addition, with fan-funded Name, Image, and Likeness collectives, extra donation drives, and generic inflation, many fans have simply chosen to take in the game from the comfort of their couch.
After all, TVs aren’t as expensive as they used to be. There’s air conditioning, no line for the bathroom, and the beer is substantially cheaper.
So, if you’re going to the Red River Rivalry, have fun! I’ll watch from the comfort of my home.