SEC title game tickets sold out through officials channels

MOBILE, Ala. (WALA) - If you've secured tickets to the SEC Championship game Saturday and paid face value, consider yourself a discount shopper, because people are now forced to pay a lot more for tickets that at face value cost $100. 

For 15 years, one Gulf Coast family has had access to SEC championship tickets; they said four to be exact.

The family's patriarch, an LSU alumnus, signed up for advance ticket purchase years ago.

“He is a big LSU fan, and he loves to go to the football games. And we go as often as we can,” said Mary, who asked that her full name not be used.

She said the tickets they’ve secured aren’t just any tickets, but lower level seats near one of the field entrance tunnels.

“It's a great place to be sitting.  You're not up there close to heaven. I don't mind being close to heaven, but that Georgia Dome gets pretty high up there,” said Mary.

But, because they are not fans of the teams playing this year the family put them up for sale.

“They're just listed on Craigslist for right now, and I've just been receiving phone calls. And right now, I'm down to the point where I'm going to make the decision because it's the best offer that I can get from any one,” said Mary.

Free-market forces have increased the best offer for one ticket, in many cases, 500 percent more than the face value.

At least one Alabama fan said she won't pay that for her team.

“I love Alabama will all my heart, but I just couldn't afford that kind of money for tickets,” said Lillie McWilliams of Mobile.

McWilliams shopped for Alabama fan gear at the Bel-Air Mall Bama Fever-Tiger Pride store, on Monday.

“We've been to a lot of games. I've even flown to the Rose Bowl to watch them play Southern Cal, but $500 just for one game is more than I can go for,” said McWilliams.

McWilliams will instead spend the day with family watching the big game on her big TV.

“The way I see it, life's awful short. The way I look at it, you really should go to an SEC game once in your life. It is a ton of fun, and we have a ton of fun in Atlanta when we go,” said Mary.

The SEC website lists the game as “sold out” but if you have the money to spend there's still time to get a good seat.   

A University of Georgia spokesperson said they were allotted about 16,000 tickets for the game and have also sold out.