NCAA Championships Ticket Prices

[BuckyBadger]

I’m not far from Philly so was thinking of going to NCAAs this year. When I looked up tickets I see all session passes for $1500!?! Is it really that expensive now?

Last time I went was 2005 in St. Louis. I was a student and got them through UW for something like $100 bucks. How do others get their tickets and are you paying that much?

[Stockton]

My group has been going since mid 90's, tickets were $75 or less. I then looked into suites and have been going that route since early 2000's. I believe our first suite was around $2400-$2500 for 16 tickets.

Am on a list for Philly for a suite, got a call a couple months ago, salesman wanted $125,000 for 16 tickets, NCAA's, 3-Flyers games, 3-76's games and a concert. I said no I just want the wrestling tournament.

Salesman calls back a month ago and is asking $65,000 for 16 tickets for just the wrestling tournament. I said part of my group got their 2025 suite booked last year at the 2024 NCAA meet for $40,000, he said they had limited number they could get rid of at last years event for promotion.

Also, he didn't think price would go lower than the $60,000 ish amount.

My group is going to Big 10's this year.

[BuckyBadger]

Wow, I did not realize what a hot ticket NCAAs have become.

[CHROMEBIRD]

I know those suites usually get picked up by celebs or businesses, but it's wild that NCAA wrestling of all things is looking to pull $60k a pop. I can't tell if that's a good or bad sign for the sport.

[The Kid]

3 minutes ago, CHROMEBIRD said:

I know those suites usually get picked up by celebs or businesses, but it's wild that NCAA wrestling of all things is looking to pull $60k a pop. I can't tell if that's a good or bad sign for the sport.

I was in a suite in Philly the last time they had ncaas (2011 ?).   I paid $500 for one ticket. It was fantastic.   

[Silver]

1 hour ago, The Kid said:

I was in a suite in Philly the last time they had ncaas (2011 ?).   I paid $500 for one ticket. It was fantastic.   

Yes, 2011,was there also and the 500.00 was for ticket, food and booze.

Unbelievable how crazy they have gotten. My first suite in 04 $175.00, ticket only.

[BuckyBadger]

What did others pay for regular seats?

[macwoodfleet]

If you get them through a university it's much cheaper. Less than $500 for good seats.   

[BuckyBadger]

35 minutes ago, macwoodfleet said:

If you get them through a university it's much cheaper. Less than $500 for good seats.   

I’ll try that

[macwoodfleet]

10 minutes ago, BuckyBadger said:

I’ll try that

Good luck, especially this year for philly. Demand is out of control. Penn State too good, Philly metro too big, nationals too close

[The Kid]

14 hours ago, BuckyBadger said:

What did others pay for regular seats?

$50 off of scalpers.

[ionel]

36 minutes ago, The Kid said:

$50 off of scalpers.

[BuckyBadger]

2 hours ago, The Kid said:

$50 off of scalpers.

For this season?

[billyhoyle]

This is what happens when you have NCAAs close to where fans of NCAA wrestling actually live.  Huge mistake to do this if you want to see the sport die. Good news if you want to demonstrate to universities that wrestling can generate revenue. 

[ionel]

1 minute ago, billyhoyle said:

This is what happens when you have NCAAs close to where fans of NCAA wrestling actually live.  Huge mistake to do this if you want to see the sport die. Good news if you want to demonstrate to universities that wrestling can generate revenue. 

When did the tournament last not sell out?  Are the scalpers giving money back to individual programs? 

Edited November 26 by ionel

[billyhoyle]

Just now, ionel said:

When did the tournament last not sell out? 

There's a difference between an event with huge demand and one where the tickets are being resold for less than face value (but eventually the stadium does fill up).  One has the potential to generate significantly more revenue, and one does not. 

[ionel]

10 minutes ago, billyhoyle said:

There's a difference between an event with huge demand and one where the tickets are being resold for less than face value (but eventually the stadium does fill up).  One has the potential to generate significantly more revenue, and one does not. 

NCAA tournament has been selling out pretty much every year since quit having at university arenas starting with St Louis.  Difference is we used to get all the tickets allocated to the universities and distributed/sold to fans.  I don't see how scaplers making a boat lad on the tickets helps wrestling.  

[The Kid]

11 hours ago, BuckyBadger said:

For this season?

Yes, one session.

 

Around $200 / 250 for all session tickets.

Edited November 26 by The Kid

[billyhoyle]

34 minutes ago, ionel said:

NCAA tournament has been selling out pretty much every year since quit having at university arenas starting with St Louis.  Difference is we used to get all the tickets allocated to the universities and distributed/sold to fans.  I don't see how scaplers making a boat lad on the tickets helps wrestling.  

The NCAA raising ticket prices because they notice tickets are being resold for higher than face value helps wrestling. In a word where all that matters for NCAA athletics is now revenue generation, you don't want tickets to your championship event selling for $50. Having the event at a location closer to where most of the fans are located is a great thing.

[skandar]

2 hours ago, billyhoyle said:

The NCAA raising ticket prices because they notice tickets are being resold for higher than face value helps wrestling. In a word where all that matters for NCAA athletics is now revenue generation, you don't want tickets to your championship event selling for $50. Having the event at a location closer to where most of the fans are located is a great thing.

Great thing to generate slightly more short term revenue. Also a great thing to destroy fan interest in other parts of the country long term.

[CHROMEBIRD]

14 hours ago, skandar said:

Great thing to generate slightly more short term revenue. Also a great thing to destroy fan interest in other parts of the country long term.

A lot of people have never been to a Super Bowl, but that hasn't destroyed fan interest around the country. Funny how televised sports work.

[Sheerstress]

Right now my school is selling all session for $400 (upper tier) and $500 (lower tier).  

Ticket availability has sometimes varied depending on the year, but in the last few years, the price seems to have jumped a bit.

[flyingcement]

1 minute ago, Sheerstress said:

Right now my school is selling all session for $400 (upper tier) and $500 (lower tier).  

Ticket availability has sometimes varied depending on the year, but in the last few years, the price seems to have jumped a bit.

Does a person need to be affiliated with a school to get those prices?  

[TampaRyley]

1 hour ago, flyingcement said:

Does a person need to be affiliated with a school to get those prices?  

In some degree to my understanding. Big donors, alumni, personal connections with the coaches etc.. My group got the same deal for upper/lower going through an old teammate/friend that’s coaching at one of the schools. Will likely end up in the upper as they (understandably) try to save the lower tickets for parents.

[flyingcement]

17 minutes ago, TampaRyley said:

In some degree to my understanding. Big donors, alumni, personal connections with the coaches etc.. My group got the same deal for upper/lower going through an old teammate/friend that’s coaching at one of the schools. Will likely end up in the upper as they (understandably) try to save the lower tickets for parents.

It makes sense to prioritize fair pricing for friends and family.  Unfortunately for me, I am neither.