Ticket prices for the sold-out Fiesta Bowl, which is hosting college football's national championship game Jan. 3, appear to be as high as the lights around Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe, Ariz.

Although not many seats are being offered for sale on the secondary market yet -- tickets haven't been physically issued -- ticket brokers are reporting that upper-level seats that sold for $200 to $300 on the open market last year are already going for $750.

Lower-level seats are selling for nearly $1,700 each, both through ticket brokers and on auction sites such as eBay.

The likely matchup of unbeaten Ohio State and potentially unbeaten Miami is pushing up the price. The Buckeyes have rabid fans known to travel.

"I've been selling tickets like a madman," said J. Cobb, co-owner of Team One Tickets in Tempe, who has been buying as many seats as he can. "As soon as Ohio State scored their last touchdown, my phone started ringing."

Miami plays Virginia Tech at home this weekend to try to complete its season unbeaten.

When purchased from the box office, all Fiesta Bowl seats are $150.

Of the approximately 75,000 seats in the stadium, 16,000 are allocated to each school; the rest are held by season ticket holders and through corporate allotments.

Originally published Saturday, December 7, 2002