No. 1 Villanova wasn’t exactly challenged in the opening rounds of the NCAA Tournament, beating its first two opponents by an average of 24.5 points. But that could change when the East Regional opens on Friday. And the excitement surrounding the Wildcats potential run to a second national championship in three years could push up ticket prices.
As of Wednesday, according to data from TicketIQ.com, a secondary marketplace with data from hundreds of secondary sites, including the official NCAA ticket exchange, powered by Primesport, the average asking price for a ticket to the East Regional was $338, the third highest among the four regionals. The most expensive asking price on the secondary market is currently $631 for the Midwest Regional, which features Kansas. Across all four regionals the average asking price on the secondary market is $432, making it the second most expensive of the decade. In 2017, fans paid an average of $465 on the secondary market to go to a regional.
Villanova, East Regional at Boston
Average Price: $338; Cheapest Ticket: $177
Less than 1,000 tickets remain on the secondary market for the East Regional – only the Midwest has few tickets still left (552) – according to TicketIQ.com. With Villanova an easy train ride or less than six-hour drive to the TD Garden, prices could rise before Friday.
The Wildcats, who beat North Carolina in a barnburner to win it all in 2016, will play No. 5 West Virginia in the regional semifinal. Should they get past that game, it’s likely they’ll face No. 2 Purdue, which plays No. 6 Florida in the other semifinal. That matchup would represent only one of two possible (Kansas-Duke is the other) 1-2 games in the Elite Eight. West Virginia has a tough defense, but Villanova is solid is just about everywhere on the floor, so this is more Villanova’s game to lose than West Virginia’s to win.
Final Four, San Antonio: Average Price $804; Cheapest Ticket $194
Championship Game, San Antonio: Average Price $627; Cheapest Ticket $182
For Villanova fans hoping for that second title in three years, a trip to San Antonio is still within reach. Ticket prices for the Final Four and National Championship are up more than 10% over the first week of March Madness. While the first week was filled with upsets like never before, there are several big-time schools that travel well, including Kansas, Michigan, Duke and Syracuse. While they don’t have the basketball pedigree of those big four, Texas A&M – less than three hours from San Antonio – is the Cinderella that could drive prices at the Alamodome to the next level. According to data from TicketIQ.com, there are fewer than 2,400 tickets available on the secondary market for the final rounds of the NCAA’s big dance.
For Villanova fans looking for a premium experience, PrimeSport offers a range VIP Experiences, that allow fans the opportunity to see all three games, along with free food and drinks at the Official Pregame NCAA VIP Experience at the San Antonio Convention Center, a 10-minute trip to AT&T Center. PrimeSport’s VIP Experiences are almost sold out.
The Official Pregame NCAA VIP Experience will have live music, celebrity appearances by Seth Davis and former Spur Sean Elliott. The VIP Experience will be open on Saturday, March 31 from 12:30 p.m.-3:30 p.m. and Monday, April 2 from 3:30 p.m.-6:30 p.m.
For the games, these VIP packages also comes with open bar, food stations and seats in sections 201-204 and 242-244, or sections 111-113. These VIP Experience tickets start from $656 on PrimeSport.com.
If that’s not VIP enough, the Courtside Club package, available to certain ticket types provides an open bar and endless food, the package also comes with a “Chalk Talk” with yet-to-be named NCAA coaches, and time for some selfies with the Final Four trophy. Perhaps most impressive, some PrimeSport packages are actually less expensive than the same ticket on StubHub, without any of the food or access.
For companies that are looking to go to the next level, PrimeSport also has private suites available. These suites include a behind-the-scenes tour, an on-court photo, front-row seating at practice and even a locker room tour. Regardless of who has their “One Shining Moment” on the court, that would be a Final Four for the ages.
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