RazorGator.com, the secondary ticket sales company, reports that the sales volume of tickets for the Super Bowl is up 86 percent, compared to last year year, with the average price on the secondary market at $2790.

We spoke to RazorGator President and CEO Brendan Ross about ticket sales on the secondary market for the Super Bowl.

The Biz of Football: When did the secondary market for the Super Bowl start trending dramatically upward compared to last year?

Brendan Ross: The match-ups coming out of the conference championships can always swing the market in either direction. The proximity of New Orleans to Miami and the excitement of it being their first Super Bowl has created a lot of unique demand compared to years past. The Cardinals were a surprise to even die-hard fans last season, so more people had to make last-minute plans and travel a farther distance, which softened demand.

BoF: Beyond the local markets ( New Orleans and Indianapolis ), what markets have seen the highest traffic (if numbers are available, that would be helpful)?

Ross: 84% of tickets we’ve sold are from outside Florida but Florida is still the top market for tickets (16% of sales). The rest of the top 5: 2) LA (13%); 3) NY (12%); 4) IL (11%); 5) GA (10%) – IN is 8th but increasing rapidly.

New Yorkers are paying for the best seats at an average of $4273 per ticket, Indiana is spending $3135 per ticket and Louisiana is spending $2782 per ticket

BoF: What has been the highest asking price for a Super Bowl ticket on Razorgator?

Ross: There is a lot of suite availability at this year’s Super Bowl and prices can start as high as $85,000 for an 8-person suite. Currently, the highest asking price is for Lower 40-yard-line seats at $5100 each.

Bof: What has been the highest selling price?

Ross: A customer from New York paid $7900 for Club seats on the 50 yard-line

Bof: What is the current volume at, and what was the volume for last year?

Ross: We project that orders will be 86% ahead of last year’s pace. Raw order comparisons can’t be made until after the event.

BoF: Finally, why do you think the trend is up so dramatically?

Ross: The 2009 Super Bowl came just 5 months after the stock market cratered. It was not OK to party in 2009, and corporate hospitality was off. Mid-recession is a completely different place than early-recession. At mid-recession, cementing relationships with business partners is all important, and that’s what corporate hospitality does. The big BCS game, this Super Bowl, and sales for the forthcoming Masters and Final 4 are all signaling that relationship building via hospitality at big events is in full swing.

We have long-standing relationships with Indianapolis and New Orleans businesses and season ticket holders because of our successful work at previous Super Bowls, the Sugar Bowl, the Final Four and the last time the Colts were in the Super Bowl. It’s a lot of repeat business for us.

The public trust in established sources within the secondary market is growing very quickly. Businesses and fans appreciate the convenience and accessibility of working through companies like Razorgator and PrimeSport for tickets and travel packages to events that were simply inaccessible in the past.