Vikings buy fans nearly $2 million worth of tickets for Lions game

article

Aaron Jones #33 of the Minnesota Vikings celebrates with fans after scoring a touchdown in the first quarter of a game against the Detroit Lions at U.S. Bank Stadium on October 20, 2024 in Minneapolis, Minnesota.  (Getty Images)

MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) - Some Minnesota Vikings fans are getting a chance to see them face the Detroit Lions at Ford Field Sunday night for a significantly lower price after the Vikings' ownership group made a big purchase. 

Vikings buy tickets for fans

What we know: Vikings season ticket holders, some staff and stake-holders got an email on Thursday announcing the opportunity to pick up some discounted tickets for the Vikings versus Lions game in Detroit Sunday night. 

The email said, "We’re excited to share that a limited number of tickets are now available for the Vikings vs. Lions game this Sunday, January 5, in Detroit! As a valued Season Ticket Member, we want to offer you the opportunity to purchase lower level seats for Sunday night's game."

The message then explains that the limited number of seats are available on a first-come, first-served basis, before adding that the tickets "are intended to be used by Vikings fans and not to be positioned for resale or sold on the secondary market."

Sources confirmed that in the days leading up to the game, the Vikings bought about 1,900 tickets on the secondary market for about $1,000 each, for a total just under $2 million, according to Sports Illustrated. 

The Vikings then offered a significantly lower price to season ticket holders, with some sold for as little as $200.

READ MORE: Vikings WR Justin Jefferson: ‘I won’t be able to sleep Saturday’

Sports Illustrated writer Albert Breer reports the Lions contacted league officials and were told "that the Vikings didn’t break any rules in the process of pulling this off."

The tickets are also reportedly for seats that are behind the visiting team bench zone at Ford Field, cutting into the number of Detroit fans in the stadium and potentially helping the Vikings communicate on the sideline. 

What they’re saying: Minnesota Vikings spokesman Jeff Anderson shared this statement: "Given the uniqueness of this game, we wanted to offer our stakeholders - staff, family, Season Ticket Members and team partners - an opportunity to attend."

Secondary ticket market 

The other side: Sports Illustrated reported one instance that "got the Lions’ attention" when one ticket holder sold their seat on the secondary market for $724.

That buyer then sold the ticket to Advantage Tickets, which is a company that reportedly worked with the Vikings, for $1,200. The Vikings then sold the ticket to a season ticket holder for $300, who then sold it on the secondary market for $690. Sports Illustrated said the buyer could be a broker, because the ticket was back on the market on Saturday.  

Pivotal game ahead 

Why it matters: Whoever wins the game Sunday night will win the NFC North title and secure the No. 1 seed as well as home-field advantage through the playoffs. The loser is the No. 5 seed with a 14-3 record, and will be on the road for Wild Card Weekend.