Frozen Four Tickets - Priority Purchase Process

[wolverineTrumpet]

Re: Frozen Four Tickets - Priority Purchase Process

I think I'm priority 6 or so (I don't know what letter group it was this year). Didn't order tickets. Had a voicemail last week from the NCAA about getting tickets.

Like others, I'm not all that inspired to go back to Buffalo. I found the downtown area boring. Niagara Falls and eating at the Anchor Bar were the only interesting things my group came up with to do while there.

In 2020 when it returns to Detroit, I'll be sure to go. No travel/hotel costs for that one. Plus, sight lines are much better in the new arena then they were at Ford Field (it's as if hockey arenas are designed for hockey while football stadiums are not).

[Crimson Faced]

Re: Frozen Four Tickets - Priority Purchase Process

FlagDude, I haven't been back since they cleaned up the harbor, sounds interesting.

ecac, if you've never been to a Frozen Four, you should go. It is exciting hockey, interesting to see teams, bands and fans that you would not ordinarily see during the year.

I don't have anything against Buffalo. When we went the last time it was there the weather was really nice that weekend. My wife and I like horse racing, so we drove up to Woodbine, near Toronto, a nice track, on the Friday between games. Saturday we went to the art museum in the morning, found a restaurant that had beef on weck for lunch. Had a very good meal at an Italian restaurant Wednesday night. Downtown Buffalo seemed deserted back then, most likely it has improved. If you've never seen Niagara Falls, you have to see it. There was a very good barbecue, Kentucky Greg's, that closed.

I'm old, time goes by faster, and it seems like we were just there, like with Pittsburgh, Boston, Detroit, nice city but the game was a disaster in ford's Field, had terrible seats, there were few good ones there. But if this is your first time going, I would recommend going. The price is a drag, though.

[FlagDUDE08]

Re: Frozen Four Tickets - Priority Purchase Process

Got a phone message and email followup as I did not buy seats this year, I had 2nd priority. $300 is a lot of money for the lower level, and we've been to Buffalo, were not interested in returning. If Harvard made it, 99% unlikely based on their games this year, would probably get them through the school as there are few season ticket holders.

I love college hockey and like attending the event as there is some excitement, as opposed to the dismal atmosphere at Bright, but Buffalo, Pittsburgh and Detroit, while good places to visit at least once, and the people I met there couldn't be nicer, are not places I was excited to return to.

Did you last go before or after they cleaned up the harbor area? That's a really nice place to kick back and relax, even in early April.

[ecachawkeyfan]

Re: Frozen Four Tickets - Priority Purchase Process

Got a phone message and email followup as I did not buy seats this year, I had 2nd priority. $300 is a lot of money for the lower level, and we've been to Buffalo, were not interested in returning. If Harvard made it, 99% unlikely based on their games this year, would probably get them through the school as there are few season ticket holders.

I love college hockey and like attending the event as there is some excitement, as opposed to the dismal atmosphere at Bright, but Buffalo, Pittsburgh and Detroit, while good places to visit at least once, and the people I met there couldn't be nicer, are not places I was excited to return to.

What left you uninspired to go back to Buffalo? I've never been but the Frozen Four isn't four hours away every year, so it's tempting to experience it at least once. But the overall price tag is more than expected, especially $300 for the lower bowl.

Meanwhile, all-session tix to the women's Frozen Four are $35 bucks... and it's an hour and a half closer than Buffalo.

[Crimson Faced]

Re: Frozen Four Tickets - Priority Purchase Process

Got a phone message and email followup as I did not buy seats this year, I had 2nd priority. $300 is a lot of money for the lower level, and we've been to Buffalo, were not interested in returning. If Harvard made it, 99% unlikely based on their games this year, would probably get them through the school as there are few season ticket holders.

I love college hockey and like attending the event as there is some excitement, as opposed to the dismal atmosphere at Bright, but Buffalo, Pittsburgh and Detroit, while good places to visit at least once, and the people I met there couldn't be nicer, are not places I was excited to return to.

[ecachawkeyfan]

Re: Frozen Four Tickets - Priority Purchase Process

I was surprised - and not in a good way - to see that all-session seats for the FF are $300 each in the lower level.

I don't know what I was expecting, having never gone to a Frozen Four before, but I wasn't expecting $300.

That's a lot of money for three games.

Is the experience really worth it? By the time you tack on three nights in a decent hotel (Thurs-Sat), you're looking at $1000 or better.

[Jaws]

Re: Frozen Four Tickets - Priority Purchase Process

Got a second phone call and email from the Frozen Four encouraging me to buy my tickets before the public sale. That ship has sailed.

[koho4]

Re: Frozen Four Tickets - Priority Purchase Process

I think there are many who are saying enough with the prices. For the future we are thinking about skipping the games, flying somewhere nice and warm and desirable (not Buffalo or Detroit) and watching on TV a sports bar.

Great idea. I'm lucky enough to live in San Diego so plan is to have friends that would have gone to the FF come here instead. Built in vacation, still watch the games and have friends in town. Win-win-win. You're welcome to join us

[Jaws]

Re: Frozen Four Tickets - Priority Purchase Process

high prices and the fact that it's in Buffalo could certainly be a factor. I am not interested in Returning to Buffalo and the others in our group feel the same way.

[satyking]

Re: Frozen Four Tickets - Priority Purchase Process

Well I could have bought seats on the red line about 8 rows off the ice. I could have bought very fine club seats. I bought cheap ($225) seats, upper level behind the net. I have never seen so many lower bowl tickets available when I buy as I did this year. I think there are many who are saying enough with the prices. For the future we are thinking about skipping the games, flying somewhere nice and warm and desirable (not Buffalo or Detroit) and watching on TV a sports bar.

I did that 5 years ago and my seat is perfect, the concessions priced right with no line at the bathroom and we save a grand for a vacation......they priced themselves out

[The Freds]

Re: Frozen Four Tickets - Priority Purchase Process

We can ***** all we want. The only solution is to not buy.

Well I could have bought seats on the red line about 8 rows off the ice. I could have bought very fine club seats. I bought cheap ($225) seats, upper level behind the net. I have never seen so many lower bowl tickets available when I buy as I did this year. I think there are many who are saying enough with the prices. For the future we are thinking about skipping the games, flying somewhere nice and warm and desirable (not Buffalo or Detroit) and watching on TV a sports bar.

[BC/HE]

Re: Frozen Four Tickets - Priority Purchase Process

Prices have certainly made a dent in the demand. Got Club Section 220 but very few Club seats are still left on the sides now. There are blue line lower level seats still available which was unheard of in years past when my time came around.

[dxmnkd316]

Re: Frozen Four Tickets - Priority Purchase Process

I'm done with NCAA. Warning, this is a bit of a rant so thanks for letting me vent. Long time lurker, but after 18 consecutive years, I'm done with the NCAA pricing the Frozen Four as if it were Game 7 of the Stanley Cup. It's actually amazing it has taken me this long to realize most every change has been solely to put more money in their pocket.

I won't wax long about "the good old days" blah, blah, blah. I get it. No one does anything for free. Prices rise. But after sitting at the Chicago final with empty upper level corners, I thought "Surely, the NCAA sees this." St. Paul prices went down and I figured we had hit sanity. Wrong.

The change in ticket priority AND higher prices are a combined last straw. I've had the 4th highest priority, so every year I could choose lower bowl corner or club level. And I was just fine with that. As prices went up, I figured, "Hey, at least I'm getting the same seats every year." And year after year would have the same people sitting near me. It was great and still felt like Providence or Albany back in the day.

The changes this year make it much worse. First, I'm not looking for seats with just my year priority, there are now 3x as many people (potentially) looking for seats with me. Plus, my lower bowl/club seats went up in price again (a lot). Assuming that deters others from getting those seats, more people are looking at cheaper seats than ever before.

The single ticket for 2 games continues to be a giant kick in the teeth. I have yet to hear anyone say "Gee, I'm glad it's only 1 ticket...what a great benefit!" and yet the NCAA refuses to budge.

I get it. They NCAA wanted to make it more family friendly and they've done that. Congrats. If you want to listen to so-so live music, drinking $15 Bud Lights, collecting bottles of Buffalo Wild Wings BBQ sauce while standing in a parking lot then this is the event for you.

I went back through my receipts. For the same seats, this is what it used to cost for all 3 games:
2013 - $200
2014 - $230
2015 - $250
2016 - $260
2017 - $280
2018 - $250 <-- (sweet!)
2019 - $300

So, I'm done. I know, no one likes to hear someone whine. I'll still watch the games, follow my teams, and who knows if sanity returns I can always get tickets again. It's good news for those in priority behind me...you're moving up.

Enjoy that, because by the time Boston rolls around again, it'll be $350 for lower bowl and $300 to sit in the upper deck. Yikes. I shudder to think what Tampa will cost next time it comes up.

We can ***** all we want. The only solution is to not buy.

[TigerFan86-87]

Re: Frozen Four Tickets - Priority Purchase Process

One note about Buffalo that I found interesting is that appears that site lines in each row allow you to see between the seats in front of you. So if you have the misfortune of sitting behind some 6’5” guy, you won’t feel like you have an obstructed view seat.

Depending on the size of the guy's big fat head, that is.

[Greg Ambrose]

Greg - what's the cost / ticket?

$275 per package, add on the fees and, with eight purchasing, it was about $285. Btw, I am of the opinion that being able to see the semis and final of the NCAA hockey championships in an NHL arena for less than $100 per game is a bargain. For perspective, I share a season ticket for the Red Sox. Our run of the mill seats down the right field line cost $50 during the regular season. For the series just ended (yes, we vanquished the hated Yankees!) the price was $116. For the ALCS it’s around $250 and the World Series will be well over $300.

One note about Buffalo that I found interesting is that appears that site lines in each row allow you to see between the seats in front of you. So if you have the misfortune of sitting behind some 6’5” guy, you won’t feel like you have an obstructed view seat.