NFL notes: Price of 'premium' Super Bowl tickets up to $2,600

Super Bowl fans can prepare to pay double for the best seats.

The NFL expects the most expensive tickets for its championship game will be about $2,600 each for 9,000 premium seats for the Feb. 2 game at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J.

That's more than twice the $1,250 cost for similar tickets at last season's Super Bowl in New Orleans.

"We are looking to close the gap between the face value of the ticket and its true value as reflected on the secondary market," NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy said Tuesday. "The uniqueness of the Super Bowl in the New York/New Jersey is also driving unprecedented demand and buzz."

The next tier of seats is expected to go for $1,500 compared to $950 in New Orleans. About 40 percent of general admission seats will be under $1,000, McCarthy said.

The capacity of MetLife Stadium is 82,000, but it will be trimmed by about 5,000 seats to make room for media, cameras and security. The priciest seats will have access to indoor restaurants, where fans can warm up during the outdoor game.

The lowest-priced ticket fell from $650 last year to $500. Some 30,000 fans entered a lottery that closed in June, and 1,000 winners — double from 500 — will be notified this fall.

In an attempt to ensure those fans don't resell tickets above face value, the NFL for the first time will require ticket holders to go to a gate to pick up those tickets as they enter the stadium. They won't be allowed to return to the parking lot, McCarthy said.

The Wall Street Journal first reported the increase in ticket prices.

Around the league

Falcons • Atlanta has lost linebacker Sean Weatherspoon (foot) for at least eight weeks and running back Steven Jackson (thigh) will miss the Falcons' next game — and maybe more.

49ers • Nose tackle Ian Williams was placed on injured reserve Tuesday with a broken left ankle.

Titans • Coach Mike Munchak says running back Shonn Greene has had arthroscopic surgery on his right knee and will be week to week.

Browns • Cleveland cleared a roster spot for suspended wide receiver Josh Gordon's return by waiving wide receiver Tori Gurley and releasing wide receiver Arceto Clark. Gordon was suspended from Cleveland's first two games for violating the NFL's substance-abuse policy. —

Week 3 schedule

Thursday

Kansas City at Philadelphia, 6:25 p.m., NFL

Sunday

San Diego at Tennessee, 11 a.m.

Arizona at New Orleans, 11 a.m.

St. Louis at Dallas, 11 a.m.

Cleveland at Minnesota, 11 a.m.

Houston at Baltimore, 11 a.m., Ch. 2

N.Y. Giants at Carolina, 11 a.m.

Detroit at Washington, 11 a.m.

Tampa Bay at New England, 11 a.m.

Green Bay at Cincinnati, 11 a.m., Ch. 13

Atlanta at Miami, 2:05 p.m.

Indianapolis at San Francisco, 2:25 p.m., Ch. 2

Jacksonville at Seattle, 2:25 p.m.

Buffalo at N.Y. Jets, 2:25 p.m.

Chicago at Pittsburgh, 6:30 p.m., Ch. 5

Monday

Oakland at Denver, 6:40 p.m., ESPN