Attending sporting events such as the Super Bowl can cost a family a lot of money from tickets, food, parking and more.  If you can't attend the actual event, consider visiting the stadium where the Super Bowl (or other major sporting event) occurred some other time.

Tours are inexpensive (usually around $10 a person) and they offer a behind the scenes glimpse of areas you might not get a chance to see during a game.  Tours are offered at certain times and are subject to cancellations for events.  Usually, a reservation is required.  Not all stadiums offer tours so see the website or call ahead.

Here are a couple of the past Super Bowl stadium sites that offer tours:

Super Bowl XLV - Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas – The Cowboys Stadium is one of the priciest tours we found.  They offer both guided and self guided tours.  You can throw passes and run on the field as well as get your picture taken on the star.  Self guided tours are $17.50 per adult and $14.50 per child.  VIP guided tours are $27.50 per adult and $22.50 per child.    

Super Bowl XLIII – Raymond James Stadium in Tampa Florida – Get a chance to hit the field through the ‘home team’ tunnel, see the pirate ship and get club access during this one hour tour.  Tours are $6 per adult and $4 per child.

Super Bowl XLII – University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona –  Public tours are scheduled throughout the day several times a week and last 75 minutes.  The cost of the tour is $7 per adult and $5 per child.

Super Bowl XXXVIII – Reliant Park in Houston Texas – Visit the press box, club seating, locker room and weight room.  You will also be able to see a field side view of the NFL’s first retractable roof and removable natural grass field.  Adult tickets are $6 and children’s tickets are $5.

Super Bowl XXXIV – Georgia Dome in Atlanta, Georgia – Tours take you through the locker room, field, press box, and lounges.  They are offered several times a week and tickets are $6 per person.

And home of the 2012 Super Bowl – Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana – See the playing field, the locker room, and press box.  Tours are available two days a week and several time slots those days.  Tickets are $7 per adult and $5 per child.