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Duke, Zion Williamson Driving Up Secondary Ticket Prices In Columbia

Fans' desire to see Williamson in person has ballooned some lower-level tickets for Duke's first game to $350GETTY IMAGES

Fans trying to attend NCAA Tournament first round games at Columbia's Colonial Life Arena -- where No. 1 seeds Duke and Virginia are playing tomorrow -- "have a lot of options" when purchasing tickets, but if they "want to see Zion Willliamson ... it’ll cost" them, according to Jeff Wilkinson of the Columbia STATE. While tickets for Session 1, which features Virginia-Gardner-Webb and Oklahoma-Ole Miss, have been "selling on the secondary market for as little as $10," the cheapest ticket for Session 2 tomorrow night, which includes Duke-North Dakota State, have been "about $100, with lower bowl tickets selling from $160 to $350" (THESTATE.com, 3/18). In Des Moines, Norvell & Hardy noted as of Monday morning, games at Wells Fargo Arena had the "third most in-demand tickets on SeatGeek out of of the eight first- and second-round host cities," trailing behind ticket sales in Columbia and Jacksonville. The teams playing in Des Moines are Louisville, Minnesota, Michigan State, Bradley, Nevada, Florida, Michigan and Montana. The proximity of Minnesota "may be boosting sales" (DES MOINES REGISTER, 3/19). Meanwhile, fans attending games at Wells Fargo Arena "will be able to purchase beer for the first time during the NCAA Tournament." The inaugural year of alcohol sales comes after the D-I Council approved the change last April. All host sites "will be able to sell beer and wine, but not hard liquor" (DES MOINES REGISTER, 3/16).

OUT OF THE LOOP: In Tucson, Greg Hansen noted from '74-'11, McKale Center "was No. 3 in the nation" in NCAA Tournament games played. But this year marks Tucson's "eighth year out of the NCAA Tournament rotation, a streak that will stretch" through at least '22. This "unanticipated development began" when former Arizona AD Greg Byrne and basketball coach Sean Miller "decided that playing host to the NCAA Tournament could possibly diminish the UA’s chances to be bracketed at a more favorable, fan-friendly Western venue" since home games are "no longer allowed." Among the "legitimate reasons" for the NCAA's absence was that McKale Center "needed renovations to its concourses, restrooms, locker rooms and concessions facilities." The school "recently completed those projects" (ARIZONA DAILY STAR, 3/19).

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