The Final Four takes place Saturday in Phoenix, and the "current get-in price" on the secondary market is $226, a 29% decrease since the first 24 hours following the Elite Eight, according to TicketIQ data cited by Whitney Ogden of the Spokane SPOKESMAN-REVIEW. That price is also "significantly higher than the cheapest ticket at this time last year which was going for $161." There are currently about "1,500 tickets available to Saturday’s matchups and almost 6,000 tickets left for Monday’s championship game" (SPOKESMAN.com, 3/30). According to StubHub, Gonzaga and South Carolina fans have "generated the greatest demand for Final Four tickets." In Portland, Molly Blue notes South Carolina demand "rocketed up" 3000% after the team upset Florida in the Elite Eight, while Oregon's demand jumped 280% after it upset Kansas. Most Final Four tickets (34%) have been purchased in Arizona, followed by California (12%), Washington (7%), South Carolina (6%) and Oregon (4%) (Portland OREGONIAN, 3/31).
COMING TOGETHER: Final Four Phoenix Local Organizing Committee Exec Dir & CEO Dawn Rogers "estimated" that the committee's total marketing budget ranged between $750,000 and $1M. In Phoenix, Cassidy Trowbridge notes part of the committee’s funding came "via sponsorships from the cities of Scottsdale ($150,000), Tempe ($87,600), Paradise Valley ($50,000) and Glendale ($30,480)." Rogers said that while there "will be television spots on the major Arizona local stations and radio advertisements in March Madness markets, digital and social media campaigns also have seen major traction" (PHOENIX BUSINESS JOURNAL, 3/31 issue). Also in Phoenix, Hayley Ringle notes more than 40 local companies are "helping out with the various events" through products and services at the Final Four. Phoenix-based ProEm Party & Event Rentals will "handle security for the free, three-day March Madness music festival March 31 to April 2." ProEm also will be "renting out its equipment, tents and structures for the music fest and for the free Final Four Friday on March 31 and the basketball games April 1 and 3" (PHOENIX BUSINESS JOURNAL, 3/31 issue).
BIG VENUE, BIGGER GAME: In Michigan, Josh Slagter addressed the issue of the Final Four being played in a stadium rather than an arena, noting there is "something about the enormity of what's at stake and current Final Four venues that line up." Slagter: "It feels big." The anger from fans about playing in stadiums seems to "stem from two parts: the NCAA basically printing money with this setup and not sharing it with anyone, and the thought that there's something sacred about putting a Final Four in a basketball-only arena." The reality is the Final Four "hasn't been in a traditional setting" since '96, so that "horse isn't going back in the barn" (MLIVE.com, 3/30).
