Heisman Trophy enters a new era with fan access carrying an eye-popping price

There is no more storied, traditional symbol of college football than the Heisman Trophy.

It’s wading, nay, diving, into modernity.

For the first time, the Heisman Trophy Trust is preparing to open its doors next month to Joe Fan, at a cost.

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“The Heisman is a 90-plus year tradition that we’re excited to continue,” Heisman Trust CEO Jeff Price told USA TODAY Sports in an exclusive, wide-ranging interview. “It’s really a (reimagining of the Heisman weekend), and partnering with Revel XP will give us an opportunity to give fans of the schools from the four finalists, and just those college football fans that are passionate, access to the weekend they’ve never had before.”

That access won’t come cheap.

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There are three tiered packages for the New York City weekend, which unfolds Dec. 11-13. The Heisman winner will be announced in prime time Saturday, Dec. 12.

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Per RevelXP, the three packages are Legacy, Icon and Bronze. The Legacy package, the most deluxe offering, includes accommodations at a Times Square national-chain hotel, a theater box for the Friday, Dec. 11, Heisman Live event, a photo opportunity with the four Heisman Trophy finalists and a Sunday social event, among other amenities.

The get-in price for any package starts at $8,500.

It was empty tables at last year’s Heisman weekend that sparked the idea for Price, who was named CEO in October 2025. Organizers also are adding a “red carpet” element to the weekend, featuring the Heisman finalists and their guests making their entrance for the ceremony.

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“We can do all of those things programmatically that we’ve done, but you can also then get an intimate fireside conversation with the four finalists and really have a celebration of college football and the Heisman finalists, along with the amazing winners that we have and the impact that we drive,” said Price, noting Heisman’s $75 million endowment and its more than $30 million in philanthropic donations to youth sports across the previous decade. “As a charitable organization, Heisman Live is a brand new event that we’re creating and we recognize with that.

“We had the opportunity to reach out to a much broader set of alumni and fans and boosters for the schools from the four finalists and college football fans.”

Changes to the ceremony, and its traditional second-weekend-in-December presentation, aren’t the only issue at hand for Heisman leadership.

The expected expansion of the College Football Playoff, from its current 12-team format to 24 teams, could have a direct impact on the Heisman, which was first awarded in 1935.

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“We are closely collaborating with (CFP Executive Director) Rich Clark and the committee for the CFP, and I’ll let them carry forward how the new schedule will unfold,” Price said.

“It’s been a very collaborative process, and one that I think you know college football has great traditions like Heisman and Army-Navy (game) that are core parts of the regular season that should be maintained, and then the innovation that comes with a 24-team playoff. We know that for 2027 and beyond, the Heisman is an important part of the college football landscape. Certainly, if you talk to our winners, the Heisman weekend experience is something that’s life changing. We look forward to continuing that for decades to come.”

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Heisman Trophy enters a new era with fan access carrying an eye-popping price

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