Player trades and big free agent signings are a fact of life in the NFL, with stars often jumping between several teams over the course of their career.

While technically the NFL is a level playing field given every team in the league is held to a salary cap, some teams may have to rely on the draft more than others. Consistently underperforming, turbulent front offices, salary cap mismanagement, being located in a smaller market or in a state with higher income tax are just some factors that can lead to a franchise not being a dream destination for star players. This is why some teams may have to put more emphasis on the draft compared to others.

Of course, cultivating this sort of homegrown talent is by no means a bad thing, and it can often be the catalyst that launches newer players into future stardom. So, with the 2025-26 NFL season now underway, we decided to look at each team’s current roster to see which uses the most home-grown talent.

For each roster, we calculated the percentage of players who have spent their entire NFL careers with one team rather than being acquired from other franchises, helping us to work out which teams put the most effort into creating new stars by building, rather than acquiring , their talent.

Here’s what we uncovered!

The top 10 NFL teams with the most home-grown players

According to our data, the average NFL roster consists of a surprising 57% homegrown talent, with the Washington Commanders ranking as the franchise with the fewest homegrown players at just 39%. That figure also includes players signed to the practice squad, not just those on the active 53-man roster. In contrast, the following teams have the highest percentage of homegrown talent out there:

1. Baltimore Ravens

With a massive 77% of their roster being made up of players who have spent their whole careers with the team, the Baltimore Ravens rank as the NFL franchise with the most homegrown talent in the 2025-26 season!

Of the 61 players they currently have signed, 47 have never played for another team. Some of their most notable homegrown athletes include star QB Lamar Jackson, who has played for the Ravens since being drafted in the first round in 2018, and 2024 Pro Bowl wide receiver Zay Flowers.

The Ravens finished 2024 and 2025 as divisional champions, but have struggled to translate their regular-season success into a strong playoff performance, in spite of achieving an average win rate of 61% over the past five years. With such a young roster of developing talent, though, they’re likely to get even stronger in the coming seasons.

2. Buffalo Bills

45 players on the Buffalo Bills’ 62-person roster have never played for another team. This means 73% of their current squad consists of homegrown players, with standout players like 2024 MVP quarterback Josh Allen and 2x Pro Bowl running back James Cook ranking among their top stars.

Overall, the Bills have the second-best track record in the league for developing their own athletes, with their commitment to developing new talent seeming to pay off, as the Bills have had the second-highest win rate of the last five seasons (71%).

The team has also made it to the playoffs in every season since the beginning of the Sean McDermott era in 2017, with their biggest successes coming in 2020 and 2024, when they reached the AFC Championship game before losing to the Chiefs on both occasions.

3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The 2020 Super Bowl champions, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have made significant roster changes in the years that followed their title win, especially with legendary quarterback Tom Brady announcing his retirement from the NFL in 2022.

The Bucs now boast a roster made up of 71% homegrown players, earning them a podium finish on our list. 45 of their 63 signees have never played for other teams, including running back Bucky Irving and newly drafted wide receiver Emeka Egbuka.

Despite not being able to make it back to the Super Bowl since the 2020 season, the Bucs’ drafted players have been a big reason why Tampa Bay has remained in contention.

On the offensive side, Mike Evans who is playing his 12th season with Tampa has continued to hit 1,000 yard seasons and even though that streak is likely to die this year, Egbuka looks to be another home run pick. Tristan Wirfs remains one of the best offensive tackles in the league meanwhile on defense, homegrown stalwarts such as Vita Vea and Lavonte David (14 seasons with Tampa) continue to make plays.

4. Kansas City Chiefs

The Kansas City Chiefs have been one of the most dominant teams in recent NFL history, winning back-to-back Super Bowls in 2022 and 2023. They were also the 2024 AFC Champions, though they eventually lost to the Philadelphia Eagles.

Many would agree, however, that their success has hinged partially on homegrown stars like tight end Travis Kelce and quarterback Patrick Mahomes, both of whom have become household names in recent years.

Of the 62 athletes currently signed to the Chiefs, 42 have never played for another NFL team. This means they developed 68% of their talent, rather than signing in free agency or trading for them. And with the highest win rate of any team in the NFL over the last five years (77%), their methods have clearly paid off.

5. Green Bay Packers

With a 62% win rate across the last five NFL seasons, the Green Bay Packers are one of the most successful teams in our top 10. Their quarterback, Jordan Love, is arguably their biggest homegrown star, having played on the starting roster since 2023, while tight end Tucker Kraft and wide receiver Romeo Doubs are other notable Packers players who have never played for another team.

Overall, 67% of Packers talent on the 2025-26 roster consists of rising stars who have spent their whole careers with the franchise – that’s 42 of their 63 players. However, after reaching consecutive conference finals in 2019 and 2020, the team has struggled in the playoffs, with most of their wins coming from strong regular-season finishes.

6. Los Angeles Rams

Another team that focuses on supporting its players’ growth is the Los Angeles Rams, as two-thirds of its players (66%) have spent their NFL careers with the franchise. The 2021 NFL Champions failed to qualify for the playoffs the following year, but they’ve found moderate postseason success since undergoing roster changes.

Following the mini-rebuild after their Super Bowl win, the Rams’ mentality seems to have gone from ‘F them picks’ to ‘love them picks’ and this seems to have paid off.

Drafted talent such as Puka Nacua and Kyren Williams have helped the Rams offense light up the scoreboard. While on defense, the huge loss of Aaron Donald has been somewhat negated due to the selections of Jared Verse, Braden Fiske, Kobie Turner and Byron Young.

7. Cincinnati Bengals

59 players are currently signed to the Cincinnati Bengals, with 38 of them having played for the team since their NFL debuts. This means that 64% of the Bengals’ 2025-26 roster consists of homegrown stars. After finishing the 2021 playoffs as Conference Champions, eventually losing the Super Bowl to the Los Angeles Rams, the Bengals’ postseasons have been hit-and-miss.

But despite their patchy track record in recent years, fans still have plenty of homegrown players to be excited about. For example, the 2024 Comeback Player of the Year, quarterback Joe Burrow, has played for the Bengals since his 2020 debut, while the homegrown duo of Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins is arguably the best receiving duo in the NFL.

8. Seattle Seahawks

Boasting a roster of 64% homegrown talent, the Seattle Seahawks finish at #8 on our list. Throughout the 2020s, the Seahawks have failed to progress past the Wild Card round, despite typically finishing their regular seasons with positive records. However, the team has also lost some key players through roster moves, though there are still rising stars in the Seahawks roster to watch.

Case in point, running backs Kenneth Walker III and Zach Charbonnet have spent their NFL careers in Seattle since being drafted, while Jaxon Smith-Njigba has established himself as one of the most productive wide receivers in the league.

9. Jacksonville Jaguars

The Jacksonville Jaguars have reached the postseason only once since 2020, advancing to the 2022 Divisional Playoffs before losing to the Kansas City Chiefs. But regardless of their recent win rate, the Jags are still helping to develop many players into stars.

Of their 59 signed players in the 2025-26 season, 37 have played for the side since their debuts, meaning 63% of the roster is homegrown. Some of the Jaguars’ most notable stars have been trained by the team since the end of their college careers, such as quarterback Trevor Lawrence, who was drafted first overall in 2021.

10. Indianapolis Colts

Rounding out our list are the Indianapolis Colts, whose roster consists of 62% homegrown players. Some of their most notable players, such as running back Jonathan Taylor and wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr., have represented Indianapolis since joining the league. But despite a strong base of homegrown talent, the Colts haven’t seen much playoff success recently, with their only postseason appearance of the last five years coming in 2020 (a loss to the Buffalo Bills).

Still, when it comes to homegrown talent, the Colts managed to narrowly beat the Dallas Cowboys (62%), the Minnesota Vikings, and the Cleveland Browns (both 58%) to place at #10 in our rankings.

Do homegrown players impact a team’s win rate?

There are several advantages to building players from within a team rather than acquiring established stars or making a splash in free agency: it costs less money upfront, it can boost your team’s morale and help maintain the team’s culture, but does it impact how your team performs on the field?

Well, by plotting each of our teams on a chart ranked by their percentage of homegrown talent and comparing their rankings to their win rate over the last five seasons, we can see that the results vary wildly.

There’s no denying the success of some of our highest-ranking teams, like the Buffalo Bills and Kansas City Chiefs. On the other side, teams with much less consistent success scored towards the bottom of our list. The Washington Commanders were found to have the lowest percentage of homegrown players and are a franchise which have generally struggled in recent years. However, last season’s success with drafted stars such as Jayden Daniels and Terry McLaurin will give Commanders fans hope for the future, if they can stay healthy.

Overall, there does appear to be a moderate positive correlation (r=0.62) between the number of players who have played their whole careers on one roster and that team’s win rate, but it’s clear that this is on a case-by-case basis.

So, while cultivating new talent is crucial to securing your team’s future, it really does depend on how players are used in their matches in order to achieve success on the field, and a combination of newer and established athletes may be what really helps to create a roster with plenty of depth and versatility.

Join in with the NFL action

The 2025-26 NFL season is well underway, so why not cheer for your favorite team with Hard Rock Bet Sportsbook?Check out the betting app today for up-to-date NFL odds on all the biggest games of the season, or head to our blog for the latest betting insights, guides, and news.

Methodology

This study ranks all 32 NFL teams based on the number of homegrown players present in their 2025-2026 squad.

“Homegrown players” were defined as athletes who have been drafted by the team they currently play in and haven’t moved, as well as players who have joined the team as a free agent and have never played for another franchise.

The number of “Homegrown players” were then added up and compared to the total squad size to give a percentage, at which point, all teams were ranked from highest to lowest, based on the number of homegrown players present. Total squad size also includes players signed to the practice squad, not just those on the active 53-man roster. Data is accurate as of 23/10/2025.

How much does it cost to be a sports superfan?

A study in 2023 showed that around three quarters of Americans consider themselves sports fans. This means we’re more likely to follow our favorite leagues and teams than other countries with major markets, such as the United Kingdom, where only 64% of people say they actively watch sports.

And as any dedicated sports fan will tell you, there are definitely different levels of fan support out there. While some fans take a casual approach and might catch the occasional game at home, others devote their lives to cheering on their teams and are willing to pay for the chance to see the action live.

With controversial ticketing prices on the rise, such as the NFL’s decision to remove UK-based games from season tickets, we decided to take a look at which Big Four and Premier League teams are the most expensive to support, as well as comparing leagues to see which sets the highest prices for its fans. From the price of home and away games, to fan merchandise, and even TV subscriptions, we’ll be investigating the real cost of being a sporting superfan.

What is the average cost of an away game?

Following your team to an away game is one of the best parts of being a sports fan, but the price of a ticket can vary depending on which sport and team you’re watching. Not only do venues charge different rates for seats and food, but local hotels and travel costs can also impact the price.

Therefore, to calculate the average cost of an away day, we took the total cost of a season ticket for each team in the Big Four leagues, then added the price of parking, travel, food (one hotdog) and drink (one beer and one soft drink), before dividing this by the number of away games in a team’s calendar, to give us a rough estimate of how much a typical trip would cost.

Based on this, the most affordable league for away games wound up being Major League Baseball, with the average game costing $399. However, with 81 away games played by each team every season, it’s a particularly intensive schedule to follow.

Meanwhile, attending an NHL team’s away games averages out at around $468 per game, while NBA fans can expect to spend around $510 for ticketing.

Overall, though, the NFL ranks as the most expensive league to follow. Despite each team only playing eight to nine away games each season, fans can expect to spend as much as $590 per game if they’re looking to follow their team across America for an entire season.

The actual cost of being a superfan

It’s not just ticket prices that vary between leagues, but the prices of merchandise too. While each Big Four league maintains a similar price for its jerseys across each team, the average cost can rise or fall when comparing each sport to one another. However, this is usually very minimal and there’s multiple different options. In our data, we simply chose the most popular hoodie for each team.

However, one thing that does vary between teams is season ticket costs and parking, with some venues definitely fetching a higher price than others. A season ticket for the New York Yankees, for example, costs $5,670 – the most of any Big Four team! By comparison, the Chicago White Sox have season tickets available for just $584.

Which teams have the most expensive schedules for superfans to follow?

With differing season ticket costs in mind, which teams charge the most for theirs in each league? Well, we’ve already discussed how the Yankees have the highest season ticket prices in the MLB, but they’re also closely followed by the Boston Red Sox ($4,455) and Houston Astros ($3,403).

The Yankees also boast the highest parking costs for home games of any American sports team, with a season costing as much as $2,498 across all their games.

For NHL fans, the Toronto Maple Leafs charge the most for their season tickets, with prices reaching $3,854, while the Boston Bruins’ season tickets are the second most expensive in the league ($2,911), and the Seattle Krakens ranking third ($2,870).

By comparison, the Anaheim Ducks charge just $792 for their season tickets, making them the most affordable NHL team to support (and the only team to charge less than $1,000).

The New York Knicks’ season tickets fetch the highest price in the NBA, with a full season of games costing $4,092 to attend. They’re closely followed by the Golden State Warriors, who do have slightly cheaper season tickets ($4,050), but more expensive home game parking ($1,850 per season, vs the Knicks’ $1,570), while Memphis Grizzlies fans can enjoy the cheapest season ticket prices in the league for $688.

Finally, the NFL ranks as the league with the least expensive season tickets overall, but its small number of games means other sports offer better value for money. The San Francisco 49ers boast the league’s most expensive season ticket ($1,400), narrowly beating the Philadelphia Eagles ($1,300) and Dallas Cowboys ($1,300). Meanwhile, an Arizona Cardinals season ticket is the most affordable in the league, costing a minimum of $485 for the cheapest option.

The cost of being a Premier League superfan

Now that we’ve talked about the price of following a Big Four team, let’s compare it to one of the biggest leagues overseas.

The Premier League is England’s top soccer league, with millions of fans around the world watching each week. But while its away games are cheaper on average, the cost of viewership from home is much higher than in any American league.

The most expensive season ticket for a Premier League club comes from Arsenal, who charge £1,127 ($1,510) to attend each of their matches for a season. Their fellow London-based teams, Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur, then rank second and third, respectively. Chelsea charge £880 ($1,179) for their season tickets, while Tottenham’s cost £856 ($1,147).

The real kicker for Premier League fans, though, is the cost of their TV and streaming packages.

An annual Sky Sports subscription, which features most games in the Premier League, costs £264 in the UK ($353.76), while fans who want to watch their team compete in European tournaments will have to pay another £216 ($289.44) for a TNT Sports subscription.

Keep up with the action from home

Of course, for many of us, it’s unrealistic to catch every game in a team’s season live. Whether it’s the high cost of travel or work and family commitments, most of us will have to settle for the home viewing experience.

But, if you’re looking to get more out of your sports fandom, then why not play along with your favorite teams using Hard Rock Bet? Visit our sportsbook page for the latest odds on all the biggest games across America.

Methodology

This analysis estimates the annual cost of being a dedicated fan across five major leagues: the NFL, NBA, NHL, MLB, and the English Premier League (EPL).

To create a fair comparison, we broke fan expenses into three key categories:

• Total Game Costs: This includes the average season ticket price, parking fees, and the cost of one beer, one soft drink, and one hotdog per home game. It also factors in estimated travel and ticket expenses for all away games, assuming fans attend every match their team plays.
• Yearly Merchandise Costs: We considered the typical yearly spend on official team gear, including a home and away jersey, team hat, and hoodie.
• Yearly Extra Viewing Costs: This covers the price of streaming or broadcast subscriptions used to watch games at home, such as MLB TV or equivalent league-specific platforms, plus general sports streaming services.

Because each league’s schedule varies dramatically, for instance, 162 games in MLB versus 17 in the NFL, the total estimated annual cost of fandom differs significantly between sports.

Data collected 1st October 2025.

WBC boxing president Mauricio Sulaimán spoke to Hard Rock Bet and discussed the biggest headlines in boxing.

Sulaimán revealed plans to continue the WBC Grand Prix, discussed the heavyweight division, including a possible return for Tyson Fury, and Mayweather-Pacquiao 2 rumors.

With Jake Paul preparing to face Gervonta Davis, the WBC boss also analyzed the upcoming showdown.

WBC Grand Prix’s future

The WBC Grand Prix has been well received ahead of the final set of fights in December; can we expect this to continue in 2026?

Mauricio Sulaimán: “Oh, it’s amazing. We got to the semi-final stage, which was tremendous — great fights — and we are all set for December 20th in Riyadh for the grand finals of the featherweight, super lightweight, middleweight, and heavyweight divisions. It’s unbelievable.”

“It has proven to be a real World Cup of professional boxing. Great fighters, great talent, great matchups. The administration has been flawless.”

“There’s been so much work from the different teams that have been assembled — it’s tremendous. From the medical perspective, NAS Medical from England has done a superb job.”

“The administration of the Boxing Commission, working with the Middle East and the Saudi Arabian Boxing Commission, along with international boxing and MMA consultants, the total synergy of the ring officials — it has all been tremendous.”

“In terms of production, setup, and logistics, it’s been a great, great success overall. I have spoken with His Excellency Turki Alalshikh.”

“He has expressed his desire to continue with it in 2026 as well. We’re yet to sit down and go through the specifics — the dates, the weight categories, the number of fighters, etcetera — but I am hopeful it will continue.”

Who will face Usyk next?

Agit Kabayel is interim champion, will you make him mandatory to face Oleksandr Usyk next?

Mauricio Sulaimán: “Yeah, we have the WBC Convention coming up in December, and that’s where we will review every weight category and make the assessment and ruling on each category.”

“The WBC, specifically on heavyweight, has been very flexible and lenient in order to secure the greatest fights in the division. We were very proactive in supporting the unification that led to the undisputed championship.”

“So, we had Oleksandr Usyk defeating Tyson Fury, then the rematch. For some reason, Daniel Dubois had become the IBF champion, and Usyk was not undisputed, but now he is once again undisputed. The WBC has the interim champion in Kabayel, and I believe he’s going to be defending his title in January. But as I said, we’re going to review the heavyweight category as well as all of them during the convention.”

Will Tyson Fury return to boxing?

How great would it be for boxing if Tyson Fury returned?

Mauricio Sulaimán: “He’s a tremendous champion, a great person, a great family man. There’s speculation about whether he will return or not. I saw him a couple of days ago posting that he’s very happy being retired, enjoying life as a family man, etcetera. We will see.”

“If he decides to return, the WBC, of course, will welcome him. He has been a tremendous champion for the WBC and for boxing. However, if he decides to stay retired, that’s also a great decision. He has a lot of money, a beautiful family, and a happy life to live forever.”

Absolutely. If Tyson were to return, though, where do you think he would be in the rankings? I know you have a convention in December, but would he go back to number one?

Mauricio Sulaimán: “We do not speculate. If he decides to return, then we’ll address the situation.”

Rumours of Floyd Mayweather vs Manny Pacquiao 2

There are rumours of Floyd Mayweather vs Manny Pacquiao 2, what do you make of this?

Mauricio Sulaimán: “Well, Mayweather–Pacquiao was the greatest fight as a business in the history of the sport. They are two icons, two legends of boxing, two Hall of Famers. So, if they decide to do another fight, I think of course it is good for the sport.”

“They are on the same level in terms of age and ability. Manny Pacquiao just fought for the WBC title, so he was very clear and capable. I’m sure they would look at thousands of medical issues to ensure there would be no obstacles for them to get into the ring. If they decide to do it, I do believe it’s good for the sport.”

How proud were you to be part of Manny Pacquiao’s comeback fight earlier this year against Mario Barrios?

Mauricio Sulaimán: “Very proud. It was challenging times, but we were very sure, very certain. We took that decision not lightly. We did everything that we were supposed to do, and we were proven correct. Manny Pacquiao performed, and it was something we prayed for.”

“Manny had a great outing. It was a draw against the champion, so I’m very proud and very happy for Manny Pacquiao, for the WBC, and for Mario Barrios. He got good exposure, a good payday, and boxing won that night.”

Jake Paul is set to fight Tank Davis, is this good for boxing?

Mauricio Sulaimán: “Jake Paul has had a tremendous influence on the sport, and as a promoter, he has given opportunities to many fighters to make good money.”

“He’s supported women’s boxing, which is great. As a fighter, he has been hesitant whether he wants to fight in the normal structure of boxing — looking for a world championship challenge — or to fight in a different scenario, like against MMA fighters, basketball players, or celebrities.”

“Gervonta Davis is a tremendous fighter, with a huge following. So, I hope everything goes well. It’s difficult to comment because of the differences in weight categories.”

What does the WBC have up its sleeve when it comes to the latest technology for boxing?

Mauricio Sulaimán: “The Reality Series WBC Boxing Grand Prix has been like a laboratory — a few things that we’ve worked on for a long time with great success. We have a new scoring system. We also used five judges instead of three in the semi-finals.”

“We have a 30-second buzzer before the end of the round, encouraging the fighters to engage. Instant replay has been a great success. Open scoring after the second and fourth rounds has been tremendous for fighters — so they know where they stand on the official cards and what they have to do.”

“We also have a new lighting system implemented inside the ring posts. Whenever a corner wants to stop the fight, they hit a button and the lights go on, because many fighters, when the fight is about to be stopped, receive unnecessary punches between the time the corner signals and the referee notices.”

“So I would say all these experiments have been tremendously successful, and we are looking forward to implementing them in WBC activity.”

As NASCAR’s first-ever playoff points suspension reverberates through the Xfinity Series, Dale Earnhardt Jr. is weighing in – with direct commentary on Austin Hill’s right-rear contact with Aric Almirola and how it aligns with the sport’s long-standing “unwritten code” on contact.

In a new video interview with Hard Rock Bet, Earnhardt Jr. offers detailed insight into:

• The distinction between “racing contact” vs. deliberate retaliation
• Why the right-rear hook is viewed as the most dangerous maneuver in oval racing
• His view of Hill’s maneuver as “intentional”—and how he would’ve ruled on it from the tower

Watch the interview on Hard Rock Bet’s YouTube

Given the historical context of NASCAR’s disciplinary precedent and the introduction of the 2025 playoff points rule, Earnhardt Jr.’s perspective provides useful framing as media and fans continue to debate NASCAR’s call.

Hard Rock Bet unveiled a thrilling new feature within its top-rated online sportsbook app on Tuesday: The Hundred. It’s essentially a race between Hard Rock Bet players for limited-time bets boosted up to 500%. Sound crazy enough? We’ve got all the details down below.

What is The Hundred and how does it work?

The Hundred is a new feature that offers existing Hard Rock Bet players boosted odds on a variety of preselected bets. The sport, league, bet type and odds associated with each offering will vary, but all of them have one thing in common: they’re listed at a boosted price up to 500%.

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As soon as the live player counter reaches 100, the displayed market will vanish and a new one will appear. From there, it’s a race against the clock to get your boosted bet locked in before it’s too late.

How to bet on The Hundred

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HOLLYWOOD, Fla., June 19, 2025 – Hard Rock Bet today announced the launch of Legendary Reward Drops, a new online rewards program that will engage players with monthly Levels and guaranteed weekly rewards and promotions. In addition, Hard Rock Bet has fully integrated into Unity by Hard Rock, where play on Hard Rock Bet will simultaneously earn players Unity Points, Unity Tier Credits, and Level Credits to ‘level up’ towards more valuable weekly Legendary Reward Drops. As a combined rewards and loyalty experience, Legendary Reward Drops and Unity by Hard Rock will create unparalleled value, benefits, and omnichannel opportunities for Hard Rock Bet players.

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With basketball season nearly over and football season still a couple of months away, how do adrenaline junkies fill the summer gap? Many are turning to extreme bucket list activities like skydiving and other thrill-packed experiences that offer the perfect off-season rush.

Often considered a rite of passage, there’s an ever-growing list of dream experiences that look to blend adrenaline with awe-inspiring sights, unparalleled selfie opportunities, and the chance to make memories that truly stand out.

Whether it’s the freefall excitement of skydiving over Florida, or the soul-stirring challenge of hiking the Grand Canyon, thrill-seeking activities and extreme sports have officially gone mainstream. For a generation hungry for moments that matter, ticking off one-of-a-kind adventures has become a serious goal rather than simply a fantasy.

In this article, we’ll explore which bucket list experiences are capturing the imagination of Americans. And for added inspiration, we’ll reveal the best states to head to if you’re ready to make them happen. Ready to dive in?

Here’s your guide to the most-searched-for activities and once-in-a-lifetime trips across the States!

The best states for extreme bucket list activities

If you’re looking for extreme sports and list-worthy activities to check off your bucket list, then you definitely need to head to these states asap:

1. California

California’s diverse landscape offers everything from rugged mountains and serene beaches to vast deserts and towering forests, making it an extreme sports paradise. Whether it’s surfing on the Pacific coast, skiing in the Sierra Nevada, or paragliding over scenic valleys, the state’s size and biome variety provide endless opportunities for adventure.

California has 115,310 bucket list activities and a search volume of 701.79 per 100,000 inhabitants, giving it a score of 8.03 out of 10. Popular activities include taking on the state’s many hiking trails (an incredible 18,467 miles in total) and 31,920 climbing routes.

However, it also offers 26 skydiving centers, 219 canoe and kayak trails, 3 bungee jumping centers and 33 hot air balloon locations, earning it the number-one spot in our rankings!

2. Florida

As a peninsula surrounded by water, Florida is a haven for water-based extreme sports. From jet skiing and parasailing to skydiving over breathtaking coastal views, the state’s year-round warm weather and flat terrain make it a top destination for thrill-seekers looking to combine adventure with sunshine.

Florida has 40,280 bucket list activities and a search volume of 582.35 per 100,000 inhabitants, giving it a score of 4.37 out of 10. The state has 2,670 miles of hiking trails and 17 climbing routes. Add to these 22 skydiving centers, a whopping 4,180 canoe and kayak trails, 4 bungee jumping centers and 14 hot air balloon locations, and there’s no wonder it ranks so highly for bucket list destinations.

3. Colorado

Known for its towering peaks and expansive wilderness, Colorado is synonymous with outdoor adventure, and the Rocky Mountains in particular offer world-class opportunities for skiing, snowboarding, hiking and mountain biking. With its blend of high-altitude terrain and dramatic landscapes, Colorado is the ultimate destination for anyone craving a heart-pounding, nature-filled challenge.

Colorado has 44,052 bucket list activities and a search volume of 863.20 per 100,000 inhabitants, giving it a score of 4.02 out of 10. With 11,516 miles of hiking trails and a truly impressive 27,776 climbing routes, there’s plenty to do if you’re looking for action. Colorado also has 9 skydiving centers, 8 canoe and kayak trails, 2 bungee jumping centers and 18 hot air balloon locations.

4. New York

It may be home to the Big Apple, but New York is also a great place for big adventures! From the Adirondack Mountains to Finger Lakes, its many sites of natural beauty provide ample opportunities for extreme sports. Hiking, rock climbing and kayaking are popular in the upstate region, while the state’s proximity to water also makes it a prime spot for extreme water sports, such as wakeboarding and white-water rafting.

The state of New York has 48,821 bucket list activities and a search volume of 685.46 per 100,000 inhabitants, giving it a score of 3.59 out of 10. If you’re looking to get some exercise, there are 4,447 miles of hiking trails and 5,276 climbing routes. As for other extreme sports destinations, New York has 12 skydiving centers, 362 canoe and kayak trails, 2 bungee jumping centers and 26 hot air balloon locations dotted around the state.

5. Washington

Washington combines rugged coastlines and volcanic peaks with dense forests and alpine lakes, all within reach of its cities. It’s ideal for adventure travelers who want to kayak in the San Juan Islands, climb Mount Rainier or hike in the wild beauty of Olympic National Park.

Washington State has 23,168 bucket list activities and a search volume of 711.22 per 100,000 inhabitants, giving it a score of 3.05 out of 10. Lovers of the great outdoors will appreciate the 10,590 miles of hiking trails and 7,215 climbing routes. We then have the other bucket list classics, including 10 skydiving centers, 137 canoe and kayak trails, 3 bungee jumping centers and 15 hot air balloon locations.

The most popular extreme bucket list activities in the US

Now let’s see which bucket list activities and extreme sports are getting the most attention right now:

1. Rock climbing – 236,330 searches

Swinging in at number one, rock climbing and vertical thrills top our list. Clearly, rock climbing appeals to both beginners and seasoned climbers thanks to its scalable nature, from indoor walls to natural wonders like Yosemite in California, Red River Gorge in Kentucky, and the Garden of the Gods in Colorado, it’s a challenge for both body and mind, plus the views are genuinely unbeatable!

2. Skydiving – 212,900 searches

There’s no forgetting your first jump. Whether you’re freefalling over Florida’s coastline or the California desert, skydiving offers the kind of bucket list moment that defines a lifetime. It’s widely available across the US, with standout drop zones in Arizona, Hawaii and Texas.

3. Ziplining – 154,220 searches

Less intense than skydiving but just as scenic, ziplining gives you a taste of flight, except that it’s usually through treetop canopies or mountain ranges. Popular in places like North Carolina, Oregon and the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee, it’s a crowd-pleaser for all ages.

4. Hot Air Ballooning – 133,280 searches

More serene than extreme, hot air ballooning offers a bird’s-eye view of nature in slow motion. It’s particularly iconic in states like New Mexico, which is the home of the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta, while Arizona and Utah have vast desert landscapes that make for the perfect backdrop.

5. Caving – 103,930 searches

For those drawn to depths rather than heights, caving is the ultimate underground adventure. Whether exploring lava tubes in Hawaii or mammoth systems in Kentucky, spelunking delivers eerie beauty and a test of nerves.

6. Spartan Racing – 99,770 searches

This high-intensity obstacle race blends physical endurance, mental grit and a fierce community spirit. Popular nationwide, Spartan Races are held in states like California, Florida and Colorado, often in rugged outdoor settings to add to the atmosphere.

7. Whitewater Rafting – 94,500 searches

Churning rapids and crucial teamwork define this wet and wild activity. From the Arkansas River in Colorado to West Virginia’s Gauley River, rafting draws thousands of adrenaline lovers each season.

8. Paragliding – 87,750 searches

If you want to fly without jumping from a plane, paragliding offers long, scenic flights with just wind and wings. It’s best experienced in mountainous states like Utah, Washington and California, as the views are spectacular.

9. Snowmobiling – 84,000 searches

Snowy states like Colorado, Wyoming and Montana become high-speed playgrounds in winter. Snowmobiling combines exploration and excitement across snowy backcountry trails, making it great fun as well as exhilarating.

10. Triathlons – 73,780 searches

Triathlons require months (if not years) of training, as they blend swimming, cycling and running into one grueling test of endurance. Races take place nationwide, but hot spots include New York, Florida and Oregon.

Which states offer the most affordable extreme bucket list activities?

Bucket list dreams don’t have to come with sky-high price tags. While some adventures require specialist gear or flights across the globe, many of America’s most exhilarating experiences are surprisingly affordable, especially if you know where to look:

Rock climbing – Free to minimal cost

This is one of the most accessible adrenaline rushes, especially if you’re climbing in the great outdoors. Many routes are free to access and gear rental is widely available:

• Utah: Moab’s dramatic sandstone formations, including Indian Creek and Castle Valley, offer world-class climbs at little to no cost.
• California: Yosemite and Joshua Tree are legendary among climbers, offering routes for every skill level.
• West Virginia: The New River Gorge boasts hundreds of climbing routes and a welcoming climbing community.
• Oregon: Smith Rock State Park is a bucket list destination for climbers in the Pacific Northwest.
• Colorado: Around the areas of Red Rocks Amphitheatre and Boulder Canyon, climbers can find endless challenges with breathtaking views.

Caving – Starting at just $8

Caving, also known as spelunking, lets adventurers explore the hidden depths of America, often for less than the price of lunch:

• Kentucky: Home to Mammoth Cave National Park, where guided tours start at just $8. It’s the world’s longest cave system, offering a range of tours for beginners and thrill-seekers alike.
• Tennessee: Cumberland Caverns offers immersive (sometimes overnight) caving experiences.
• Missouri: Known as the “Cave State,” Missouri features hundreds of public and private caves to explore, many at budget-friendly prices.

Ziplining – $80-$120 per tour

Affordable, accessible and packed with scenery, ziplining is a thrilling way to see the world from above without the commitment of a parachute:

• New York: Adventure parks in the Catskills offer some of the longest zip lines in North America, up to 975 metres.
• California: Sonoma Canopy Tours features 14 lines stretching over 1km, plus sky bridges and spiral staircases through redwood forests.
• North Carolina: Zip through the scenic Blue Ridge Mountains, with stunning views and reasonable rates.
• Hawaii: Despite the island location, zipline tours in Kauai and Maui often remain affordable and unforgettable.

Whitewater rafting – $79-$135 for half-day trips

High-energy, water-soaked adventures don’t need to drain your wallet. Whitewater rafting is widely available and often includes gear, a guide and unbeatable memories:

• Colorado: Affordable and thrilling rafting experiences can be found along Clear Creek and the Arkansas River.
• Wyoming: Snake River trips near Jackson Hole deliver spectacular views and exciting rapids, often at lower costs than comparable destinations.
• West Virginia: The Gauley River offers one of the most challenging whitewater runs in the country, with budget-friendly trip options for adventure-hungry rafters.

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Methodology

This study ranks all 50 US states based on how good they are for extreme bucket list activities. To do so, the following 8 factors were used based on data from Google Maps and TripAdvisor:

• The number of mountain bike routes in each state.
• The total length of hiking trails in each state.
• The number of climbing routes in each state.
• The number of skydiving centers in each state.
• The number of canoe and kayak trails in each state.
• The number of bungee jumping centers in each state.
• The number of hot air balloon centers in each state.
• The average search volume for 29 bucket list activities in each state from Google Keyword Planner; normalized per 100,000 residents.

Once the data was collected, each factor was normalized and given a score between 0 and 1. The scores were then added and multiplied to give a final score out of 10.

This study also ranks 29 extreme bucket list activities based on how popular they are in each US state. To do so, search volumes were collected for each state and the activities were ranked from highest to lowest. Data is accurate as of 05/23/2025.

It’s not exactly news that Amerant Bank Arena, home of the Florida Panthers, gets loud… like, really loud. So when we pulled out our handy decibel meter during Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Finals we were expecting a big number… but what we got, well, was one of the biggest numbers ever recorded at an indoor sporting event.

Resounding roar hits during 2nd period

The crowd reading was measured during the second period of Monday’s Stanley Cup Game 3 between the Florida Panthers and Edmonton Oilers at Amerant Bank Arena. The home team got off to a blistering start, opening the scoring less than a minute into the game and adding to the lead as the first period began to wind down. Edmonton pulled a goal back to make it 2-1 at the start of the second, but the Panthers answered less than two minutes later to extend the lead to 3-1, easing the nerves in the building.

Seven minutes and twenty-six seconds in to the second period Sam Bennett found the net for the Panthers, widening the margin to 4 goals to 1, and sending the home crowd into an absolute frenzy. Our decibel meter ticked up, and up, and finally surged to an incredible 130.9 dB.

Measuring history

The ear-splitting measurement was taken from Section 111/112, Row 17. Prior to the goal, noise levels during the game were fluctuating between 105 and 111 dB. However, the eruption after Bennett’s goal sent the needle into unprecedented territory, reaching 130.9 dB.

Rivals for the loudest NHL playoff crowd

Prior to Monday’s outburst, the Nashville Predators registered 129.4 dB at Bridgestone Arena in Tennessee during the 2017 Western Conference Finals… but even that fell just short of the 130 dB that was measured at Chicago Stadium in 1989 during a Blackhawks playoff game.

Montreal’s Bell Centre has long been cited anecdotally as the NHL’s loudest arena – with one unofficial claim of a 143.6 dB spike, however, that reading, similar to our own, was never independently verified. 120+ dB spikes have been measured during playoff games for both Winnipeg and Edmonton, underscoring how passionate NHL crowds can be.

This new 130.9 dB mark even exceeds the Guinness World Record for Loudest Crowd Roar at an Indoor Sporting Event, which stands at 130.4 dB, set by fans of the Kansas Jayhawks in 2017.

While we’ll stop short proclaiming any official records, the evidence seems pretty clear that Florida can bring it. Well done, Panthers fans.

How loud is 130.9 dB?

Let’s put this remarkable figure in perspective.

• 110 dB is equivalent to a car horn or live concert.
• 120 dB is comparable to thunder or a chainsaw.
• 130 dB+ approaches the threshold of pain and the intensity of a military jet on takeoff… at close range.

While some NFL teams have hiked fan costs by over 500% since 1991, others have lowered them in real dollars.

From the NFL and NBA to MLB and NHL, owners of the Big Four often find themselves under fire for the rising costs of attending games. But it’s not just about ticket prices, as even the cost of hot dogs, jerseys and foam fingers seems to be constantly on the rise.

And if we’re being honest, it’s true that fans across the country are feeling the pinch, and recent headlines like the Buffalo Bills’ 12% season ticket hike only add fuel to the fire. But is this increase in cost really driven by greed, or is it part of a broader economic trend?

To find out, let’s take a step back and look at the bigger picture, and more importantly, shine a light on the owners who are actually doing right by their fans.

By comparing the Fan Cost Index (a measurement that combines ticket prices, food and drink, and merchandise) across football, basketball, baseball and hockey from 1991 to 2024, we can explore how gameday costs have tracked against U.S. inflation in recent years.

Which owners have kept gameday costs fair despite decades of inflation?

While prices have undoubtedly risen, our analysis identifies which owners have kept increases in line with inflation or even below it, offering fans better value in tough times. In a climate of criticism, this is a chance to celebrate those who’ve stayed grounded (and even been pretty generous) in an industry that’s only getting more expensive.

When you take into account that the cumulative inflation rate between 2015 and 2024 was 26.7%, you’d expect to see some pretty hefty price increases in the sports world. However, prepare to be surprised (and perhaps even proud), as many Big Four owners have managed to keep the Fan Cost Index (FCI) impressively low.

1. Bruce Sherman – Miami Marlins

Bruce Sherman, owner of the MLB’s Miami Marlins since 2017, is the number one most generous owner in the Big Four. The Fan Cost Index was $79.12 in 1991, which increased to $224.83 in 2015. Despite high levels of inflation, in 2024, the FCI for Miami Marlins fans was only $184.90, which is an 18% decrease over nine years for the Florida based franchise.

2. Francesco Aquilini – Vancouver Canucks

Francesco Aquilini owns the NHL’s Vancouver Canucks in British Columbia. This team had a Fan Cost Index of $139.94 in 1991 and $456.35 in 2015. By 2024, this had gone down by 7% to $424.39, helping fans to save a few dollars compared to nine years ago. This is the only NHL team to appear in the top 10 list of generous Big Four owners, so props to Aquilini!

3. Ted Leonsis – Washington Wizards

Ted Leonsis of the NBA’s Washington Wizards is another generous owner. A Fan Cost Index of $123.50 in 1991 and $322.82 in 2015 went down to $300.36 in 2024, which is a drop of 7% over nine years.

4. Micky Arison – Miami Heat

Another Florida team that has seen lower fan costs is the NBA’s Miami Heat, owned by Micky Arison. A Fan Cost Index of $118.20 in 1991 and $465.92 in 2015 reduced to $449.36 in 2024, which is a decrease of 4% over nine years.

5. Jim Pohlad – Minnesota Twins

The Minnesota Twins in MLB, owned by Jim Pohlad, had a Fan Cost Index of $74.17 in 1991 and $229.36 in 2015. In 2024, this had dropped to $228.86, which is a 0% change over nine years but still a few cents less at a time when everything else is becoming more expensive.

6. John Mara & Steve Tisch – New York Giants

The NFL’s New York Giants are owned by John Mara and Steve Tisch. These two owners have kept prices low, too, as the Fan Cost Index was $151.80 in 1991, $629.62 in 2015, and only $655.06 in 2024, which is only a 4% increase over nine years.

7. Jerry Jones – Dallas Cowboys

Everything is bigger in Texas, except the cost for fans to attend games for ‘America’s Team’ – the Dallas Cowboys. American Businessman Jerry Jones, known for helping reshape the business of sport through sponsorship rights and elevating franchise valuations league-wide, is one of the Big Four owners who has overseen a relative price stability in the last 9 years. In 1991, the Fan Cost Index was $184.32; in 2015, it was $634.80, and since then it’s increased by just 5% to $665.60 in 2024.

8. Ilitch Family – Detroit Tigers

Christopher Ilitch, the owner of the MLB’s Detroit Tigers, has also ensured that the Fan Cost Index has only increased by 5% over nine years. It was $83.49 in 1991, $213.03 in 2015, and $224.74 in 2024.

9. Rogers Communications – Toronto Blue Jays

Ontario’s Toronto Blue Jays are an MLB team owned by Rogers Communications. Their Fan Cost Index went from $106.69 in 1991 to $208.23 in 2015, but then only increased by 6% over nine years, becoming $220.70 in 2024.

10. Glen Taylor – Minnesota Timberwolves

Last but not least, Glen Taylor is another Minnesota-based Big Four owner who looks after his team’s fans. The Fan Cost Index for the Minnesota Timberwolves was $121.74 in 1991, then $281.06 in 2015, and increased by just 6% to $298.80 by 2024. Taylor sold his stake in the Timberwolves in 2025, so we’ll see if the new ownership group, including former MLB star Alex Rodriguez, continues this fan-friendly trend.

The most generous franchises of the last three decades

Moving on to the franchises themselves, rather than their owners, some have been more generous than others. It’s safe to say that prices have skyrocketed across the board over 33 years, but some franchises have managed to keep the costs down so that fans can still afford to attend games in person.

The Charlotte Hornets (NBA) saw the Fan Cost Index go from $125.26 in 1991 to $237.55 in 2024. This is just a 90% increase in 33 years, which is quite the achievement, compared to the cumulative rate of inflation surpassing 120.8%

Also in our list of franchises that are considered the most generous over the last 33 years are the NBA’s Detroit Pistons (98%), the MLB’s Toronto Blue Jays (107%), NBA’s Atlanta Hawks (121%), and San Antonio Spurs (134%).

These are followed by the Washington Wizards (143%) and the Minnesota Timberwolves (145%). With the Indiana Pacers (158%), this brings the total to seven NBA teams in the top 10, for three MLB teams. Interestingly, no NHL or NFL rank in the Top 15.

All of these franchises have managed to keep their FCI relatively low between 1991 and 2024, which is great news for fans who love the excitement of being in the audience for a live game.

For reference, the worst 33-year increase recorded in our study is an NFL franchise that saw a 543% price hike, which goes to show just how generous these top 15 franchises have been over the years.

Ticket inflation: which league’s prices have skyrocketed?

As for the Big Four leagues in general, the Fan Cost Index has, unsurprisingly, risen quite a lot over the years. The NBA has seen the smallest Fan Cost Index increase of the four, going from $141.91 in 1991 to $339.02 in 2015 and $448.61 in 2024. This is a rise of 216% over 33 years and just 2% in the last nine years.

Next up, MLB went from $79.41 in 1991 to $211.89 in 2015 and $266.56 in 2024, which is a 236% rise overall and a 10% increase over the last nine years. Meanwhile, the NHL had a Fan Cost Index of $139.94 in 1991, then $387.72 in 2015, and $498.04 in 2024. That’s an increase of 256% since 1991 and 13% since 2015.

Finally, we then have the NFL, which has seen the largest increases. The Fan Cost Index went from $151.33 in 1991 to $480.89 in 2015 and $631.63 in 2024. This is a 317% increase over 33 years but only a 14% increase over the last 9-year period.

These price hikes have been similar across major events in the Big Four leagues over the past decade, with average Super Bowl ticket prices rising by 215%, World Series tickets up 150%, and Stanley Cup Final tickets now averaging $2,324, a 132% increase since 2015. More details on these findings can be found onsite: Top Sports Events in the U.S. Experiencing Shocking Ticket Inflation.

However, though these sound like sharp rises, bear in mind that all areas of the economy have seen major cost increases over the last 33 years. While inflation has pushed prices up across the board, teams that prioritize fan experience, accessibility, and value through thoughtful pricing, game-day experiences, or community engagement can maintain strong connections with their base. Smart ownership decisions aren’t just about maximizing revenue; they’re about nurturing long-term loyalty in an era where fans are increasingly selective about where they spend their money.

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At Hard Rock Bet, we’re all about creating value for fans and supporting affordability in sports fandom, a cause we’re passionate about and why we created this study.

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Methodology

This study ranks all current NFL, MLB, NBA and NHL franchises based on how generous their owners are. To do so, the Fan Cost Index for each year between 1991 and 2024 was taken into account to find out how it varied throughout the years. The Fan Cost Index differences were then compared to cumulative inflation rates in the last 9 years (2015-2024) and 33 years (1991-2024). The owners were then ranked from most generous to least generous based on the percentage increase of fan cost over the years. Data is accurate as of 16/05/2025.

Sources:

Fan Cost Index: https://teammarketing.com/fci/
Inflation rate: https://www.investopedia.com/inflation-rate-by-year-7253832

We’ve all been there: you sign up for the tickets for a huge sporting event, you sit through hours of online queues, you find the perfect seats – and then you see the price at checkout. There’s nothing more annoying than getting hyped to cheer on your team, only to have extortionate ticket prices get in the way. Nobody wants to pay hundreds or thousands of dollars for a seat that would have been dirt-cheap years ago.

After WrestleMania 41 took place in Las Vegas this year, fans were shocked by ringside seats costing as much as $15,000 for the two-night event. Even the nosebleed tickets – usually the cheapest possible option – were priced at $1,050. WWE legend Randy Orton was even filmed telling a fan he thought the prices were “embarrassing” in a viral TikTok, saying it was “so much f***ing money for a seat”.

In the wake of WrestleMania, we decided to highlight the sporting events that have seen the steepest price hikes over the last decade. From tennis and boxing to ice hockey and baseball, no sport is safe from inflation. Here are the ten events that have been impacted the worst in recent years:

The top 10 most inflated events in the U.S.

1. United States Grand Prix – Formula 1

Want to catch some F1 action this year? You might want to buy a bigger wallet before you think about grabbing tickets…

The US Grand Prix was added back to the Formula 1 calendar in 2012, after the competition’s president Bernie Ecclestone said it would “never return” to Indianapolis in the past. By the 2015 edition, costs had gone up to an average of $200 for a ticket, so the writing was on the wall for its massive inflation rate.

In 2025 though, the event has become one of the most expensive on the American sporting calendar. A typical ticket will set you back a massive $1,018 – and that’s just for the average seat. Imagine how much the best seats must cost…

With such a steep rise in price, tickets now cost 409% more than they did just 10 years ago. That makes the United States Grand Prix the worst-affected event by ticket inflation in America.

2. Super Bowl – NFL

The Super Bowl is one of the most expensive events in the world, but its costs are somehow only getting higher. With estimates that the game draws more than $1 billion in revenue every year, though, it doesn’t seem like the NFL wants to back down when it comes to charging such high prices for tickets.

In 2015, anyone who wanted to see the Patriots beat the Seahawks would have to put up an average of $2,000 for a ticket. This year, seats in the Superdome for the biggest game of the year were priced at $6,304 on average, marking a 215% increase in costs over just 10 years.

The NFL finals continue to draw in more and more money every year, but is a Kendrick Lamar halftime show worth an extra $4,300 price tag? For most of us, we’ll just catch the game from home.

3. World Series – MLB

During the regular season, baseball games are usually a lot cheaper than the other biggest sports in America. With the right tickets, you could take your family to a three-game MLB series for less than the cost of one NFL game.

The World Series is the biggest baseball stage in the world though, which obviously means there’s an opportunity for the league to make some extra money. MLB fans were probably furious about paying an average of $800 for their World Series tickets in 2015, but they must be hoping they could turn back time with how much the game is looking to cost in 2025.

In the last 10 years, tickets have gone up in price by 150%, with this year’s finals estimated to have an average cost of $2,000. If this rate continues, then fans can expect to pay $5,000 by 2035.

4. Major UFC Events

Dozens of UFC events are scheduled every year, and the price of a ticket can vary depending on the demand from fans for a particular card. For the biggest cards on the calendar, though, you can expect to have to shell out more than $1,000.

The average major UFC fight in 2015 would set you back around $500 for a ticket. Over the last decade, this has risen to a massive $1,200, having increased by 140% in 10 years. While one ticket typically gets you a seat for multiple fights, which is more than can be said for other expensive events, it’s tough to justify such high costs for many fans.

5. WrestleMania – WWE

We’ve already mentioned the absurd price of a WrestleMania ticket this year, but what makes the costs even more frustrating for attendees is how much more expensive the tickets are becoming with each installment.

In 2015, a ticket for WrestleMania 31 was worth an average of $500. In that time, the event has changed from one night of wrestling to a whole weekend, with two separate nights and two main events. While WWE has used this to boast an even higher attendance for the event, most of the available tickets are bundles that cover both nights of action. This means that the average seat for WrestleMania 41 was priced at $1,200, leading to a 140% increase in cost over the last decade.

6. Copa América Finals – Soccer

The Copa América is contested every four years to find the best national soccer team in South America. The tournaments draw in huge crowds, with the most recent finals having more than 65,000 in attendance, but it seems that fans are having to pay more for their seat with each edition of the cup.

Compared to an average price of $120 a decade ago, a typical ticket to the finals now costs $283. That means its cost has shot up by 136% over 10 years. While tickets aren’t as expensive as other international soccer tournaments, like the World Cup and Euros, the price hike makes it the most inflated soccer event on our list.

7. Stanley Cup Finals – NHL

Even before the price rise in recent years, the finals of the biggest hockey tournament in America was already a huge investment. If your team made it to the last NHL game of the postseason in 2015, you’d have to pay an average of $1,000 for a seat to cheer them on.

10 years later and the inflation rate shows no signs of stopping. This year, tickets are estimated to cost an average of $2,324, which means you’re paying 132% more than a decade ago.

8. US Open – Tennis

As one of the four Grand Slam tournaments in tennis, a ticket to the US Open is a valuable commodity. The high stakes mean there’s always a high demand for seats every year, with smaller tennis events like the Miami Open typically having a much lower asking price for tickets.

If you attended the tournament ten years ago, you likely paid around $300 on average, compared to a typical price of $631 per ticket in 2025. That means prices have risen by 110% over the course of just a decade.

9. Super Fights – Boxing

When two championship holders clash in a boxing ring, it can prove to be one of the biggest money matches in the sport. With so much on the line, it’s no surprise that promoters try to earn as much as they can from seats, but modern-day tickets have doubled in price over a decade.

This time ten years ago, an average ticket to such a major fight would cost roughly $1,000. Nowadays, the same seats are likely to sell for $2,000 on average. The same inflation rate applies to major events like the MLB All-Star Game and the March Madness Final Four, but the high cost of super fights earns them a spot rounding out our list of the most inflated events in America.

10. All-Star Game – MLB

Every MLB regular season is split up by the All-Star Game in July – an event pitting the best players from the American League and National League against each other for a one-off game. With so many of the most popular athletes in America on one field, it’s no wonder tickets are expensive, but the rate at which the price has shot up in recent years might surprise you.

In 2015, an All-Star ticket would have cost around $500 on average, which is already much more than a regular season game. In the past decade though, that price has risen by 100%, with 2025 tickets fetching around $1000. This earns it a place on our list, rounding out the top 10 most inflated events in the USA.

The most expensive events in 2025

So, looking past the price hikes, which events will burn the biggest hole in your wallet for a ticket today? It probably won’t come as a surprise that the Super Bowl ranks as the most expensive major event in America, with the average ticket to this year’s Eagles win costing a massive $6,304. The Summer Olympics, which will be held in Los Angeles in 2028, takes second place, but still costs under half as much with an average asking price of $2,500.

The Stanley Cup finals are the third most expensive event on average, with tickets typically setting fans back $2,324, while you can expect to pay roughly $2,000 each for both a World Series ticket and a seat at a boxing super fight. Some of these tickets give their holders access to multiple events in one package, though, such as the undercard for a boxing match or the multiple games in a baseball series, which could explain why they’ve become so expensive.

How have ticket prices changed since their inaugural events?

When you look back at the first ever editions of some of the biggest events in the world today, you start to realize just how inflated their prices have become. While tickets in the early 1900s could cost anywhere from $1 to $12, the same events now cost hundreds or thousands. Why has this changed?

Inflation is the most obvious answer, as a dollar used to be worth more than it is today, but there are other factors too. Now that travel is more readily available, it’s more common for people to take huge detours across the country, or even across borders, to get the chance to attend their favorite events. Plus, athletes and event organizers will always want the best salary possible, meaning companies can use high profits to build better teams or pay their players more.

The World Series has seen the highest hike in price since its inception – where the inaugural event cost just $1 for an average ticket in 1903, a seat is now worth around $2000. That means prices have risen by a staggering 199,990%. Stanley Cup tickets are now worth 116,100% more than their original price, while Super Bowl tickets have inflated by 52,433%.

Luckily, some events remain affordable. The Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, for example, began life as a race with free admission, but still costs $100 for a ticket after almost 100 years.

On the flipside, the Wimbledon finals are surprisingly getting cheaper – while tickets cost $150 in 2015, they now cost $77.33, marking a -48% drop in price. Although Wimbledon takes place in London rather than the USA, many of its top stars are American, and it’s part of the Grand Slam series that the US Open also belongs to.

The most expensive tickets per minute

With how expensive it is to buy tickets at the moment, you want to be sure you’re getting your money’s worth. Some events charge high prices because of their long runtimes, but if you’re spending huge amounts of money on just a short amount of time, each passing minute becomes expensive in its own right.

With bouts lasting just 60 minutes, a boxing super fight is the most expensive event you could attend when comparing cost to duration. When you take into account the $2,000 average ticket cost, every 60 seconds is worth roughly $33.33. If the fight is cut short, this could be even higher.

The Super Bowl is the second most expensive ticket in America by the minute, with a price of $26.27/min, while the Stanley Cup ranks third with each of its 150 minutes costing $15.49.

If you’re looking to save on a sporting trip, there are much more cost-effective ways to spend your time. The MotoAmerica Superbike race costs just 10 cents per minute, with tickets to the 480-minute event setting you back an average of $50. This makes it the best value for money per minute on our list. The Sturgis Motorcycle Rally finishes a close second, with each of its 720 minutes costing just 14 cents from its $100 average ticket price.

For other cost-cutting ways to enjoy yourself, why not try some other non-sporting events? The New Orleans Jazz Fest costs 14 cents per minute of its duration, making it a perfect way for music lovers to unwind, while San Diego Comic Con costs 35 cents every minute.

Prefer watching from home?

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Methodology

This study ranks the 47 most popular events in the U.S. based on how inflated their ticket prices have been in the last 10 years. To do so, three price points were collected:

• First edition ticket price (Estimated) – the average ticket price for each event during their inaugural year based on a mix of secondary sources. Due to being an estimated number, this data point was not included in the final ranking.
• 2015 ticket price – the average ticket price for each event in 2015 according to a mix of secondary sources and the official website for each event. All prices are based on available data, adjusted for inflation and market trends.
• 2025 ticket price – the average ticket price for each event in 2015 according to a mix of secondary sources and the official website for each event. All prices are based on available data, adjusted for inflation and market trends.

Using these three values, we were able to calculate both the 10-year increase, and all time increase percentages. The events were then ranked from highest to lowest percentage increase.

The study also ranked the events based on their cost per minute. To do so, the average duration (in minutes) of each event based on typical event lengths was taken into account and divided by the average ticket price to give a cost per minute. For multi-day events, the duration and cost per minute were calculated on a per-day basis. The events were then ranked from most to least expensive.

The data was sourced from a variety of secondary sources including but not limited to: Sports Illustrated, Fox Sports, Yahoo Sports and official event websites.

Data is accurate as of 05/05/2025.