The Super Bowl is typically one of the most expensive events in sports every year, but players and club employees often get first crack at obtaining tickets. That opportunity comes with certain rules, however, which a large group broke earlier this year.
The NFL sent a memo to all 32 teams on Friday informing them of penalties to anyone who broke rules regarding selling tickets for Super Bowl LIX between the Eagles and Chiefs. Those who violated the policy not only face fines, but could also get suspended depending on whether they choose to pay the fine.
Here is more on why these players were given penalties.
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NFL Super Bowl tickets controversy, explained
The NFL has fined over 100 players and 24 club employees for selling Super Bowl LIX tickets above face value to "bundlers." That violates league policy, which states that players and employees who sell seats they got from the league cannot do so for more than face value.
As a result, those who violated the policy will be forced to pay 1.5 times the face value of the tickets and aren't allowed to buy Super Bowl tickets for the next two seasons if they aren't in the game.
The league revealed the news to teams in a memo on Friday afternoon.
"Our initial investigation has determined that a number of NFL players and coaches, employed by several NFL Clubs, sold Super Bowl tickets for more than the ticket’s face value in violation of the Policy," NFL head of compliance Sabrina Perel wrote in the memo, via the Associated Press.
"This long-standing League Policy, which is specifically incorporated into the Collective Bargaining Agreement, prohibits League or Club employees, including players, from selling NFL game tickets acquired from their employer for more than the ticket's face value or for an amount greater than the employee originally paid for the ticket, whichever is less. We are in the process of completing our investigation into this matter, but the investigation has revealed that club employees and players sold their tickets to a small number of 'bundlers' who were working with a ticket reseller to sell the Super Bowl tickets above face value."
Additionally, the "bundlers" face a more severe punishment.
The total number of players involved reportedly play for around half of the league's teams, ESPN reports, and could face suspension if they decline to pay the fine.
This is not the first time that the NFL has handed out punishments for re-selling tickets, as the league former Vikings head coach Mike Tice and two other coaches for scalping tickets in 2005.
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How much do Super Bowl tickets cost?
According to ESPN, secondary sites sold Super Bowl tickets this year for around $2,588 to $3,500, with some reaching above $10,000. The average ticket price over the year has increased with the game's popularity, but secondary markets typically resell the tickets for significantly more than face value.
Do all NFL players get Super Bowl tickets?
The NFL's Collective Bargaining Agreement states that all players are eligible to purchase two tickets to the Super Bowl every year.
"Each Club will provide players with the opportunity to purchase two (2) tickets to the Super Bowl game each year, subject to reasonable safeguards to avoid scalping of the tickets," the CBA reads.