Menu
Events and Attractions

High-Profile Teams, Close Proximity, Intriguing Storylines In NCAA Tournament's Final Four

Next weekend's Final Four is set, with Duke, Kentucky, Michigan State and Wisconsin heading to Indianapolis, and already one ticket re-seller is calling it the "priciest Final Four market we've seen over the last five years," according to Mark Alesia of the INDIANAPOLIS STAR. SeatGeek Communications Analyst Connor Gregoire said that his company's average sale price for a "strip" -- Saturday's semifinals and the championship two days later -- "was $1,378 as of early Sunday night." Indiana-based FanFare Tickets Principal Renny Harrison said that the lowest ticket prices at Lucas Oil Stadium, which will seat about 70,000, was "about $390 for the semifinals and $290 for the championship." Alesia notes there is a "compelling story line --- Kentucky going for the first undefeated season since Indiana" in '76. UK under any circumstance is the "gold standard for [the] local secondary ticket market," but this "takes it to another level." Wisconsin, MSU and UK all are "within easy driving distance" of Indianapolis, and Duke "is college basketball royalty." The only thing that could have "made demand higher is if Louisville had beaten Michigan State instead of losing in overtime Sunday," which would have "created the potential of the arch rivals meeting in the national championship game" (INDIANAPOLIS STAR, 3/30).

MAYBE WE'VE GOT A PROBLEM: In Seattle, Bud Withers noted there was "very little buzz" in Houston for the NCAA South Regional, and Friday's attendance for Gonzaga-UCLA and Duke-Utah "was about 10,000 shy of the 31,450 capacity for the basketball configuration" at NRG Stadium. The subject of using the football stadium as a basketball facility and the "shooting background ... continued to be a topic of conversation Saturday." Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski said, "I'm not sure it's the arena, or the level of game. I know Gonzaga can shoot and we can shoot" (SEATTLE TIMES, 3/29). Utah coach Larry Krystkowiak said, "It’s an interesting environment. It’s not a basketball arena. It’s the only regional that’s played in a venue like this. Everybody else is a normal-sized arena." In N.Y., Tom Spousta notes crowds on Friday were "muted while watching scoring droughts, shots caroming off backboards without touching the rims, and even air balls." In 16 men's basketball games at NRG Stadium since '11, "no team has shot at least" 50% from the field (N.Y. TIMES, 3/30). In Houston, Jerome Solomon wrote maybe the poor shooting performances by Gonzaga and UCLA in their South Regional semifinal game Friday “was the stadium’s fault.” UCLA coach Steve Alford said of NRG Stadium, “Very few of the student-athletes have played in a building like this. So all of a sudden you’ve got jump shots hitting the backboard first.” Only once in the three games of the ’11 Final Four at the facility “did a team manage to make” more than 40% of its shots, “lowlighted" by Butler’s 18.8% shooting percentage in the championship game against UConn (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 3/28).

HOLLYWOOD SIGN: In L.A., David Wharton noted Staples Center for last week’s NCAA West Regional “became a blank slate for a new set of corporations to move in.” Buick “replaced Toyota,” and AT&T “took over for Verizon.” Companies “pay the NCAA big money to attach their names to the 21-day championship, and they don't want to share the spotlight with sponsors that normally inhabit the venues.” NCAA officials “would not disclose how much they receive from the tournament's 18 corporate partners.” TV commercials “are only part of the package,” as signage inside the venue “often appears on screen, adding up to hours of added exposure over three weeks.” The NCAA and its business partners “are especially concerned about the the court and its immediate surroundings.” A hardwood floor “was shipped to Staples Center that has the arena's name shifted from midcourt to a less conspicuous spot along one baseline,” and a custom scorer's table “shows only approved advertising.” The usual signage “has been stripped from the overhead scoreboard and the ‘Staples Center’ logo above the numbers will not be lighted.” Concessions stands “are not serving alcohol.” In addition, Staples Center President Lee Zeidman said that all mentions of San Manuel Indian Bingo & Casino “have been removed from the building's public areas ‘because of the gambling aspect’” (L.A. TIMES, 3/27).

LESS THAN OK: In Oklahoma City, Jenni Carlson writes the city’s chance of getting a Women’s Final Four “isn’t the only thing that might have taken a hit this weekend,” as its “chances of getting more basketball regionals” might have, as well. The crowds for this past weekend’s Women’s NCAA Tournament regional at Chesapeake Energy Arena “were so thin ... that you have to wonder if the NCAA will think long and hard about awarding Oklahoma City more basketball regionals any time soon.” The attendance for both the semifinals and finals “fell below 4,000.” By comparison, every other session of every other women’s regional this year “has been above 6,000.” Oklahoma City All-Sports Association Exec Dir Tim Brassfield said, “From a championship perspective, it went really smooth.” Carlson: “But the attendance was a downer.” Brassfield said, “We can control what we can control. We market. It’s not that people didn’t know.” Carlson notes only 3,329 fans were were at the arena to see Notre Dame beat Baylor 77-68 last night, and the sparse crowd “created a stale environment” (OKLAHOMAN, 3/30).

SBJ Morning Buzzcast: March 18, 2024

Sports Business Awards nominees unveiled; NWSL's historic opening weekend and takeaways from CFP deal

ESPN’s Jay Bilas, BTN’s Meghan McKeown, and a deep dive into AppleTV+’s The Dynasty

On this week’s Sports Media Podcast from the New York Post and Sports Business Journal, ESPN’s Jay Bilas talks all things NCAA. Big Ten Network’s Meghan McKeown shares her insight into the Caitlin Clark craze. The Boston Globe’s Chad Finn chats all things Bean Town. And SBJ’s Xavier Hunter drops in to share his findings on how the NWSL is making a social media push.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

SBJ I Factor: Nana-Yaw Asamoah

SBJ I Factor features an interview with AMB Sports and Entertainment Chief Commercial Office Nana-Yaw Asamoah. Asamoah, who moved over to AMBSE last year after 14 years at the NFL, talks with SBJ’s Ben Fischer about how his role model parents and older sisters pushed him to shrive, how the power of lifelong learning fuels successful people, and why AMBSE was an opportunity he could not pass up. Asamoah is 2021 SBJ Forty Under 40 honoree. SBJ I Factor is a monthly podcast offering interviews with sports executives who have been recipients of one of the magazine’s awards.

Shareable URL copied to clipboard!

https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Daily/Issues/2015/03/30/Events-and-Attractions/NCAA-Tourney.aspx

Sorry, something went wrong with the copy but here is the link for you.

https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Daily/Issues/2015/03/30/Events-and-Attractions/NCAA-Tourney.aspx

CLOSE