ANDERSON, Ind. — Chilly winter weather and a red-hot team have Indianapolis Colts fans looking south.

But many looking to combine Super Bowl XLIV with a south Florida vacation may find both tickets and accommodations prohibitively pricey.

JoAnn Owens, owner and manager of Pendleton Travel Co., said the agency has a Super Bowl travel package available for immediate booking. It includes three nights’ lodging (Feb. 6-8) in the Coconut Beach area near Miami, transportation to and from the airport, hotel and stadium, and options for a tailgate party for $3,999.

“What’s good about them is that they give clients their choice of tickets,” Owens said, noting that the package does not include airfare. “For example, you can get in the end zone, at the 20 or at the 5. You can upgrade for a higher price.”

Citizens Travel in Anderson offers a similarly priced package that includes airfare and four days’ lodging on Marco Island. A representative of Overland Tours in Daleville said it will not offer Super Bowl travel packages.

Travel promoters across the board seem to be charging a premium of $1,700 or $1,800 for game tickets with a face value of $500, $800 and $1,000. As of Thursday, a search of NFL Ticket Exchange, which is operated by Ticketmaster, showed 2,490 tickets available, ranging in price from $1,695 to $237,300.

PrimeSport, provider of the Indianapolis Colts “Official Fan Package,” is offering a package for $4,495 with a ticket and $2,625 without a ticket. The price falls for each traveler booked; $3,895 (with ticket) and $2,045 (no ticket) each for two people, $3,695 and $1,845 each for three people, and $3,615 and $1,755 each for four people.

“If you’re not going to buy tickets, you’re better off doing it on your own,” Owens said. “The prices are pretty inflated.”

Meanwhile, the Better Business Bureau of Central Indiana has warned consumers to be on the alert for counterfeit tickets and fly-by-night brokers.

“Scam artists understand the emotions and excitement that Colts fans are currently enjoying and they look to take advantage of these situations,” said Bill Thomas, president and CEO of the Better Business Bureau of Central Indiana. “Before choosing an online ticket broker or reseller, make sure your purchase is guaranteed.”

It’s not uncommon for NFL games to sell out, but the Super Bowl is an especially tough ticket. Around 75 percent of the tickets are distributed among the 32 NFL teams, with half of those tickets going to the two Super Bowl teams. The remaining 30 teams receive around 1 percent of the available tickets, with the exception of the host team — this year the Miami Dolphins — which receives around 5 percent.

That leaves 25 percent of tickets to be sold on the open market. The site of Super Bowl XLIV, Sun Life Stadium, has a capacity of 76,500, meaning 19,125 should be available to the public. The Colts’ official site reports that it conducts a random drawing to disburse its share of tickets among season ticket holders.

“All season ticket account holders who order 2009 postseason tickets are automatically eligible for the drawing: separate notification is not required,” the site reports. “The drawing will be ‘weighted’ so season ticket account holders with seniority will have a greater opportunity to be selected.”

The randomly selected “winners” then have the opportunity to purchase a limited number of Super Bowl tickets, to be paid for in a limited time frame. The Colts have said all winners were contacted by Jan. 25.

The “Truth in Ticketing” law requires travel promoters to have tickets in hand or a signed contract for tickets in order to extend an offer to the general public. Consumers who do not receive tickets as promised are entitled to a full refund on the package, including airfare and lodging, and have been encouraged to file a complaint through the Aviation Consumer Protection Division.

Owens hopes that fear buoys the travel industry, which she says has been struggling since spring break 2008.

“A lot of the stories you hear tell you why you need to buy from a reputable dealer and you should buy insurance,” Owens said. “If my clients refuse to take it, I make them sign a waiver. If something happens and the airline tickets are nonrefundable, they’re S.O.L.”

Fans who are unable to attend the big game can still get inside the stadium. Sun Life is open for tours in the weeks leading up to the Super Bowl, including a look inside a suite and the players’ locker rooms. Tours cost $15 and are limited to 20 people. Tours have already sold out for Feb. 5.

The Indianapolis Colts and the National Football League could not be reached for comment.

Contact Justin Schneider: 640-4809, justin.schneider@heraldbulletin.com



Do your homework

Protect yourself by researching any company you plan to do business with through the Better Business Bureau at bbb.org

Didn’t get your ticket?

-- The “Truth in Ticketing” law requires that travel promoters who advertise Super Bowl packages that include tickets to the game must have the tickets in hand or have a contract in place to receive tickets.

-- Consumers who do not receive tickets as promised are entitled to a full refund of the cost of the package, including airfare and lodging.

-- Report companies that do not honor ticket promises by contacting the Aviation Consumer Protection Division at airconsumer.dot.gov or by calling (202) 366-2220 or (202) 335-0511.