Heading to the Big Easy for the Super Bowl? Be prepared to spend big bucks
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) - The Kansas City Chiefs will be playing for their third consecutive Super Bowl, and fans are looking for their ways to see history take place in New Orleans.
Tickets For Less cheapest ticket listed Monday morning was $6,599, the most expensive ticket was $24,750.
A roundtrip bus ticket to New Orleans through Heartland Trails is $500, and leaves Feb. 6 at 8 p.m. Airfare is a little more expensive. Google’s lowest roundtrip price through Delta was $654, again listed Monday morning.
Hotels and short-term rentals were a little more difficult to pinpoint, and likely will continue to increase.
JoAnne Weeks, the Vacation Division Director for Acendas Travel, says they’ve had Chiefs fans coming to them for weeks planning their travel to New Orleans.
“We had secured the first seed, but we weren’t even close to playoffs,” said Weeks. “I guess they just had a premonition that the team was going! Most times it’s been people who are average Joe’s that this is in their bucket list, and they have waited their lifetime, and they are going.”
She says many fans have come to them using ‘On Location’, the official hospitality provider for the NFL. On Monday, the Chiefs announced official Super Bowl fan ticket packages with the organization, but it will cost you.
“It’s costly, but it’s the most seamless,” said Weeks. “Using something like On Location, which has access to the best tickets, the opportunity to provide you with all your transportation, your transfers, your special events that are VIP only, your hotel stay and your airfare. Something like that, and I checked earlier, and it was running just under $16,000 per person for a 3-night stay.”
Airlines have announced they are adding direct flights from Kansas City to New Orleans. To avoid the peak flight rates, Weeks recommends staying an extra day or two in the Big Easy. From Arrowhead to the Superdome, you’re looking at around a 13-hour drive.
If you’re looking to get an Airbnb with friends, Weeks cautions to check the surrounding area.
“Make sure you’re staying in a secure area,” said Weeks. “With any big cities, there are questionable areas. They may have a wonderful Airbnb location itself, but in and around may not be the best, so please be mindful of that.”
Depending on your budget, Weeks says to look at staying in surrounding cities, like Baton Rouge or Gulfport.
“They are an hour, hour and half away, super easy drive,” said Weeks. “You can stay there and come in for the game.”
Be sure to pack some good shoes, because New Orleans is a very walkable city.
“But, like any major city, it struggles for parking,” said Weeks. “So parking is going to be an issue. If you plan on using rideshare, plan on paying an exorbitant amount. If you have Uber, you can pre and preplan your ride. I would highly recommend doing that.”
Weeks’ most important tip: explore the city before heading back home.
“If you haven’t been to New Orleans, there are a lot of fun things to do,” said Weeks. “Make it into a little vacation. The food is just fantastic, the seafood, anything Creole. Just try something different. The people are great.”
David Leach, the Chiefs superfan known as the Champ Stamp guy, plans to go to the game.
“My plan so far is to drive to the game, it’s 11 hours,” Leach said. “I drive 11 hours a day for work, so it wouldn’t bother me.”
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Similarly Michael Wheeler plans to go to New Orleans. He said he’s gone to the last 30 Super Bowls.
“Never inside yet, so just a shout out for maybe an invitation to come inside,” Wheeler said with a smile.
The Super Bowl is a big money maker for the host city. Jay Cicero with the Greater New Orleans Sports Foundation is the president/CEO of New Orleans’ Super Bowl Host Committee.
The last time New Orleans hosted the Super Bowl was in 2013, and the economic impact of the game was $480 million, according to a study through the University of New Orleans.
“That’s a pretty big number as it is, and it was 12 years ago,” Cicero said. “We know it’s gonna be higher than that. We just don’t know how much higher.”
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