National Football League

Packers to offer 'pay as we play' playoff plan

Published Feb. 3, 2014 4:42 p.m. ET

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GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) The Green Bay Packers expect to offer a ''pay as we play'' option for postseason tickets after fans complained about the team's playoff ticket policy, the team said Monday.

The Packers also announced plans to increase seat prices next season.

The Packers had trouble selling out the Jan. 5 home wild-card game against the San Francisco 49ers before sponsors stepped in and bought the remaining tickets, ensuring the game would not be blacked out in most Wisconsin TV markets. Team policy required the purchase of two possible home playoff games, with any games that are not played credited to next year's season ticket purchase.

While the policy is still under review, the Packers said they anticipate having payment applied only when a game is certain to occur.

The Packers, Indianapolis Colts and Cincinnati Bengals all needed an extra day to sell out their home playoff games this past season. In each case, corporations stepped up to buy big blocks of the remaining tickets, including retailer Meijer in Indy, Associated Bank in Green Bay and P&G in Cincinnati.

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell was asked why it was so difficult to sellout a playoff game.

''Those were mistakes that were made by us, the NFL and our clubs,'' he said last week.'' What we have to do is recognize that technology has changed and that we have to use technology more efficiently and more intelligently to make sure we don't put our fans in that kind of position. ... We shouldn't be in that position, and that's on us, and we have to fix it, and we will.''

The Packers also said there will be $3 increase for each general seating and suite ticket next season. Invoices were sent to season-ticket holders this week.

Packers President and CEO Mark Murphy said the team wanted to stay below the league average. With the increase, the Packers are now 17th in the league for average ticket prices, Murphy said.

The new ticket prices are $77 for the end zones, $85 for the south end zone and 700 level, $88 for the end zone to the 20-yard line, $92 for the south end zone and 600 level, $100 for seats between the 20-yard lines and $100 for a suite ticket.

Payment is due in the Packers' ticket office March 31.