Buffalo's First Niagara Center will host second- and third-round NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament matchups later this week, and as of 7:00pm ET yesterday, a "smattering of tickets in the 300 Level were still available for all three sessions" of the games, according to Jay Tokasz of the BUFFALO NEWS. Syracuse is one of the teams assigned to the arena, and its selection "could drive up ticket prices on the secondary market." None of the other teams "will be more than an eight-hour drive away." StubHub as of 5:30pm ET yesterday "was selling" 793 all-session tickets, and by 6:20pm, 747 of them "remained, with a starting price of $283." By 7:15pm, there "were 687 tickets left, at a starting price of $315" (BUFFALO NEWS, 3/17). Meanwhile, in Milwaukee, Meg Jones writes Wisconsin and Michigan fans "will flood" BMO Harris Bradley Center after being selected to play their second- and third-round NCAA tournament games there. Milwaukee-based Ticket King President & Owner John Lamoreaux said that demand for tickets "will triple now that fans know" Wisconsin is "staying close to home." He added, "This looks to be one of the best draws" (MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL, 3/17).
MORE DALLAS DANCING? In Ft. Worth, Christian Corona noted this year's Final Four at AT&T Stadium "will mark the first time the Final Four has been held in Dallas-Fort Worth in 28 years." Big 12 Commissioner Bob Bowlsby predicted that the area "will not have to wait almost three decades for its next Final Four." AT&T Stadium "is one of eight finalists in the mix to land the event again" between '17-20. Bowlsby: "We like hosting. We like being at the center of the college athletics world. We’re going to get a lot of chances" (FT. WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM, 3/16).
