Sweet Sixteen Lacking Buzz In Boston; Memphis Preps For Spotlight

Boston Lacking Hype For NCAA Tournament, Despite Duke's Presence

BOOSTING CITY'S PROFILE: FedExForum will host the South Regional, and in Memphis, Marlon Morgan reports the "only other event held in Memphis that rivals this in stature" is likely the '02 Lennox Lewis-Mike Tyson heavyweight fight. Grizzlies President of Business Operations Greg Campbell: "We think it's one of the bigger events that will ever happen here. It's a chance for us to showcase the arena, to showcase big events in the city, for us to be able to handle the influx of people coming into town." The arena has been modified to hold 17,965 fans for the three games, which will feature North Carolina, Oklahoma, Syracuse and Gonzaga, and Campbell estimated that up to 16,000 tickets "that were sold will be fans coming from other states" (Memphis COMMERCIAL APPEAL, 3/26). But in Memphis, Don Wade reported upper-bowl tickets for the two Sweet Sixteen games were selling on StubHub Tuesday afternoon "as low as $42," while an all-session ticket strip through Ticketmaster earlier this week "could be had for $89 -- or about half of the $166 sticker price." StubHub PR Dir Sean Pate: "The economy is certainly a big factor in ticket prices going down" (Memphis COMMERCIAL APPEAL, 3/25).

SUITE DEAL: In Detroit, Susan Tompor reports official NCAA ticket provider PrimeSport for the first time "will sell individual seats in suites for the Final Four" at Ford Field. One seat for both national semifinals and the national championship begins at $1,495. Pate said that the average regular Final Four ticket prices on StubHub "are about $170 less than the cheapest Final Four ever." That distinction currently belongs to the $578 average for the '07 Final Four at the Georgia Dome (DETROIT FREE PRESS, 3/26).

ACC Tournament Claims 26,352 Fans For Each Day Of Conference Tournament

WOMEN'S TOURNEY: In San Jose, John Ryan wrote attendance for the first two rounds of the NCAA women's basketball tournament is an "embarrassment." Ryan: "This crisis has been brewing since the organizing committee fixated on predetermined sites." USC's Galen Center drew 1,292 fans for first-round games, while Chattanooga drew 2,424 fans and Lubbock 2,748. Ryan: "Every time ESPN shows someone shooting a free throw, the dominant image is the totally empty area behind the opposite backboard. ... Go back to letting the top seeds host" (SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS, 3/24). Dallas Morning News columnist Tim Cowlishaw noted the average attendance for four sessions of second-round games Monday was 2,600. Meanwhile, nine-seed Michigan State defeated top-seed Duke Tuesday during a game played at MSU's Breslin Center. Cowlishaw said of playing on-campus games, "If you’re going to do it, at least give the higher seed the home court" ("Around The Horn," ESPN, 3/25).

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