NCAA Men's Final Four Ticket Demand Not As High Now That Field Is Set

The NCAA men's Final Four at Reliant Stadium is the "hottest ticket in town this weekend," but with the field now set, that ticket "isn't quite as hot as it was last week," according to Jenny Dial of the HOUSTON CHRONICLE. According to one ticket-exchange site, the average price for a ticket to both days of the Final Four is "down by $117 over last week," and the field of Kentucky, Connecticut, Butler and VCU is "seen as the likely cause of the price drop." But while the average price of $631 is "down from last week, it actually is up from last year, when the Final Four in Indianapolis hosted Butler, Michigan State, Duke and West Virginia." The average cost of a ticket for both days last year was $550. Prime Sport President Sam Soni, whose company is the NCAA's official ticket partner, said that the "movement on the site is exactly what he expected this week." Soni and StubHub Corporate Communications Manager Joellen Ferrer said that the "biggest interest in tickets Monday came from Kentucky." But overall, StubHub indicated that Texas residents have "purchased the most tickets," as 50% of the tickets sold on the site are from the host state. Kentucky is next with 6% (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 3/29).

BULLDOG FEVER: In Indianapolis, Dan McFeely reports Dallas-based Anthony Travel is "handling all the official ticket packages" for Butler fans "who want to stay at the official Butler fan hotel: the InterContinental Houston." Ticket packages that included a "charter flight, hotel and tickets were selling for as much as $2,835." Anthony Travel Marketing Manager Joe Wunderlick: "We've sold over 475 travel packages, and we are getting close to our milestone of 500." McFeely notes Butler students also are "doing their part." Students yesterday at 1:00pm ET "were able to log on to a secure campus website and order a ticket for just $25 a pop." There "were 800 tickets available, but 2,600 students tried to log on at once -- effectively crashing the system, which had to be rebooted at 1:30" (INDIANAPOLIS STAR, 3/29).

WOMEN'S FINAL FOUR ON PACE FOR SELLOUT: In Indianapolis, Phillip Wilson reports the NCAA women's Final Four is "expected to sell out 18,459-seat Conseco Fieldhouse by this weekend." NCAA Associate Dir of D-I Women's Basketball Rick Nixon said that "about 2,500 seats remained late last week, and some were sold after teams reached the regional finals." StubHub's Ferrer said that the "average price paid for all-session tickets to the women's Final Four is $315, or roughly half of the $631 average price for the men's event in Houston." Ferrer: "There's a limited market, more on the high end" (INDIANAPOLIS STAR, 3/29).