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Tickets to National Football League games climbed a bit for the 2009 season, thanks to a pricey new stadium in Arlington, Texas.

The average ticket to a NFL game rose 3.9 percent to $74.99, according to Team Marketing Report’s exclusive survey, but with 21 teams either keeping prices the same or lowering them, the main push behind the percentage increase came from Cowboys Stadium, Jerry Jones’ $1.2 billion football palace.

The average ticket to a Cowboys game costs $159.65, a new record for the Fan Cost Index survey, which has been around since 1991. The Cowboys knocked the New England Patriots off their perch as the priciest ticket in pro sports. The Patriots kept their price the same at $117.84.

America’s Team certainly made its mark on the FCI. If the Cowboys’ 2008 price stayed the same, the average NFL ticket would only be 0.6 percent higher than last year’s $72.20.

Not every ticket in Arlington is that expensive. The team offered season tickets as low as $59, which is also the price of the cheapest Cincinnati Bengals season ticket, but of course, those sold out a long time ago. The Cowboys also offer a very affordable $29 “party pass,” which is a standing room only ticket.

The FCI formula takes a representative look at what a family of four could expect to spend at a football game this year. The FCI comprises the prices of four average-price “general” tickets, two small draft beers, four small soft drinks, four regular-size hot dogs, parking for one car, two game programs and two least-expensive, adult-size adjustable caps. Season ticket prices are used, and premium (or club) seats are broken out into their own category.

The Cowboys’ FCI is a whopping $758.58, outshining the Patriots’ $597.25 and the Chicago Bears’ $501.33.

The NFL average FCI is $412.64, a 4.1 increase from last season. Only 10 teams are above the average.

With a bad economy weighing on even America’s most-popular sport, most teams tried to keep prices stagnant.

An executive with the New York Jets, who will be moving into a new stadium with the Giants in 2010 told TMR the team’s decision to stay “status quo” was a result of the “tough times.”

Chicago Bears Senior Director of Sales and Marketing Chris Hibbs called his team’s decision to keep ticket prices flat, “a good decision in a tough economic environment.” The Bears, who play in a stadium owned by the Park District of Chicago, did have a 3.5 percent increase in their FCI, thanks to some concession changes.

Eighteen teams kept tickets prices the same as last year, with three lowering prices. The Detroit Lions, fresh off an historic 0-16 season, dropped prices 1 percent, while the Miami Dolphins reported a drop of 0.8 percent.

Aside from the Cowboys, the Atlanta Falcons had the biggest price increase after adjusting several seating sections. The Falcons reported a 13.3 percent increase and a new average price of $72.45. The Baltimore Ravens had a 12.6 percent increase to $86.92.

Last year’s Super Bowl contenders certainly aren’t gouging their fans this season. The Arizona Cardinals bumped up their average ticket by 3.1 percent to $67.10, while increasing premium tickets by 7.3 percent. The Steelers kept their ticket prices steady across the board after a small increase last season.

The Patriots still charge the priciest “premium” ticket, which does not include luxury suites. The Pats’ $566.67 premium average is even higher than the Cowboys’ $340, although that price doesn’t include the 30-year seat option that must be purchased with the ticket. The NFL average is $226.23.

Eighteen teams reported a lowest-priced beer of $7 or more. The NFL average remained $6.80 for the second-straight season. The St. Louis Rams reported the most-expensive, lowest-priced beer of $8.75 for a 20 oz. cup. The Bengals, which reported a $6.75 beer last season, changed their information to report a $5, 14 oz. beer. The Lions charge an $8.50 beer, which means that Detroit fans should avoid crying in them.

Editor’s note: For more information, or for other leagues’ FCI results, go to www.teammarketing.com. All past FCIs, and old copies of Team Marketing Report, are available for purchase through our store, under TMR archives. We do not give out old FCIs for free, as we did in the past. Past FCI information may have been retroactively changed for a later report, at a team’s request.