Sports ticket prices in Indy and nationwide are soaring
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Supporting the Colts and Pacers is getting more expensive.
Why it matters: Ticket costs that outpace inflation across leagues are pricing some fans out of the action while delivering a blow to sports towns like Indianapolis.
Driving the news: According to data that ticketing platform Gametime shared with Axios, average NFL ticket prices on the platform nearly tripled from 2015 to 2025 after adjusting for inflation.
- College football prices jumped 119%, MLB climbed 111%, and NBA prices rose 70%.
Zoom in: The average Colts ticket price climbed from $60 to $107 from 2006 to 2023 per Statista, representing a 78% increase without adjusting for inflation.
- Average ticket price comparisons beyond the 2015-16 season were unavailable for the Pacers, but a Statista analysis released in November finds that the team's ticket sales totaled $64 million in 2024-25, up from $25 million in 2015-16.
What they're saying: "The teams have been on a trend of testing out higher prices," Brian Berry, executive director of the Ticket Policy Forum, tells Axios. "Leagues absolutely are interested in maximizing ticket revenue," which is their prerogative, he adds.
- Berry suggests fans wait for resale tickets to come down a month after they go on sale, but says that high-demand games are going to stay expensive.
Between the lines: Recently published data from Sports Fans Coalition, which analyzed more than 57 million tickets, found resale tickets save fans across leagues an average of 37% compared to face value.
Reality check: Rising prices and years of missing the playoffs didn't stop Colts season tickets from selling out for the 2025 season.
- About 90% of Colts tickets in Lucas Oil Stadium are allotted to season ticket sales.