The Detroit Lions’ final-week matchup against the Minnesota Vikings was a crucial game that both sides needed to win. The winner of this game would secure the highest seed and go on to get a bye-week and home-field advantage in the playoffs. Since the game was to be held at Ford Field, home of the Lions, the Vikings came up with a strategy to get a sizeable number of their fans there.
Minnesota Vikings‘ ownership authorized the purchase of tickets worth $2 million, which were to be sold to season ticket holders at lower prices so that the Boys in Purple could have a morale boost. It seemed like the perfect strategy to take away Detroit’s home-field advantage and balance the decibel level in Ford Field. However, some fans decided to profit from the team’s gesture.
Turns out a few of the team’s fans decided to re-sell the tickets they purchased for lower prices. As reported by Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer, an interesting trail of one ticket shed light on how Minnesota’s plan of providing their fans affordable tickets backfired.
Vikings fans took to the secondary market to profit off the tickets they purchased at lower prices
One ticketholder sold a seat on the secondary market for $724. The individual who purchased this ticket then sold it to Advantage Tickets, a company the Vikings worked closely with to facilitate this endeavor for $1200. This ticket then went on sale for $300 to a season ticket holder who in turn wound up re-selling it on the secondary market for $690.
This was not the end of the ticket’s journey as it was put back on the market again. This was an unexpected complication in the Vikings’ attempt to sell tickets to their loyal fans.
While it was a polite gesture on the part of the team, a few bad apples ended up ruining the experience and making the organization feel reluctant over its decision to facilitate this. While this was one ticket that formed a unique trail, there is a good chance that there were others with similar track records.
Irrespective of the team’s efforts to get their fans behind the Vikings’ sideline to serve as a morale booster, it was the Detroit Lions who dominated. In the most crucial game of the regular season, Sam Darnold ended up having his worst game of the year with no touchdowns.
Despite Jared Goff throwing 2 interceptions and 1 touchdown, it was Jahmyr Gibbs who saved the night as he scored 3 rushing touchdowns. The Vikings will now face the Los Angeles Rams in the Wild Card Round next week.
