Watching Georgia's football program defend a Southeastern Conference championship will cost more than watching the Bulldogs win one.
The UGA Athletic Association announced Tuesday afternoon that tickets at Sanford Stadium will cost $75 for games against Power Five conference opponents and $55 for all other games. All home games cost $50 this past season, when Georgia won its first SEC crown since 2005, defeated Oklahoma in double overtime at the Rose Bowl and lost to Alabama in overtime in the national championship game.
The average ticket price for the 2018 season will be $66.42, with the Bulldogs scheduled to host defending SEC West champion Auburn along with Tennessee and Vanderbilt in league play. Georgia's out-of-conference schedule includes state rival Georgia Tech along with Austin Peay, Middle Tennessee State and Massachusetts.
Notre Dame is scheduled to visit Sanford Stadium for the first time in 2019.
"The UGA Athletic Association is committed to making the necessary investments in personnel, facilities and support resources that will maintain a championship-level football program and a comprehensive athletic program that is nationally competitive," Georgia athletic director Greg McGarity said in a message to Bulldogs fans. "Because the football program generates the majority of revenue that funds the overall departmental finances, this adjustment will also enable the UGA Athletic Association to continue to invest in the talent, facilities and resources needed to support championship-level programs across all 21 sports."
Georgia's ticket prices this past season were among the cheapest in the conference, ranking ahead of only Kentucky and Vanderbilt. The $66.42 average would have ranked fifth in the league behind LSU ($70.83), Texas A&M ($70), Auburn ($67.85) and Alabama ($63.57).
Ticket prices for Georgia home games jumped from $40 to $45 in 2015 and from $45 to $50 just last year. All prices, including the latest increase, are in addition to the required donations to the Hartman Fund.
The UGA Athletic Association's board of directors approved the price increase Tuesday during its winter meeting in Athens.
Contact David Paschall at dpaschall@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6524.