Frozen Four Tickets - Priority Purchase Process

[Nick Papagiorgio]

Re: Frozen Four Tickets - Priority Purchase Process

I don't disagree with anything you've said Koho. It used to be a nice niche sport that was priced accordingly. Now it's a niche sport that is way, way overpriced. The NCAA is obviously incompetent in just about every possible way. That being said, they took no responsibility when I pressed them about their aggressive price hikes and have said host institution(s)/host arenas set the prices. Whether or not that is true I don't know but they told me that directly.

Some destinations are definitely worth the downside of pricey tickets, maybe even this year with Toronto/HHOF/Niagara Falls/Casinos in the mix. Chicago = primo city. Tampa = weather, weather, weather, Disney, weather, weather, weather. Boston = home site so no hotel needed for me. I miss the days of smaller cities embracing this event ... Providence, Albany, etc. I have a hard time seeing the justification of such price inflation.

[Russell Jaslow]

Re: Frozen Four Tickets - Priority Purchase Process

I don't disagree with anything you've said Koho. It used to be a nice niche sport that was priced accordingly. Now it's a niche sport that is way, way overpriced. The NCAA is obviously incompetent in just about every possible way. That being said, they took no responsibility when I pressed them about their aggressive price hikes and have said host institution(s)/host arenas set the prices. Whether or not that is true I don't know but they told me that directly.

If that were true, you would think Buffalo would have learned their lesson when they hosted the World Juniors last year to mostly empty arenas with way overpriced tickets that even the Canadians wouldn't buy for their second favorite hockey event.

[Scott Biggar]

Re: Frozen Four Tickets - Priority Purchase Process

Are there any reports from those eligible to purchase starting today on how many tickets each person can purchase?

[TigerFan86-87]

Re: Frozen Four Tickets - Priority Purchase Process

Are there any reports from those eligible to purchase starting today on how many tickets each person can purchase?

Highest priority is allowed up to 8. I assume that will remain throughout all of the priority levels.

The nice thing this year is that you can just scroll through the entire arena at once to see seat availabliities rather than having to go back through the "I am not a robot" crap every time you want to look at a new section.

Needless to say, there appeared to be plenty of seats left throughout, except in the obvious locations (center ice 100 level). I was able to get 6 seats in a club section directly in the center, so they hadn't blocked off too many of those yet.

[BU2K]

Re: Frozen Four Tickets - Priority Purchase Process

I'm supposed to buy today but still haven't gotten the link.

[BU2K]

Re: Frozen Four Tickets - Priority Purchase Process

Of course, 3 minutes after saying this it comes in. 😁

[Greg Ambrose]

Re: Frozen Four Tickets - Priority Purchase Process

Highest priority is allowed up to 8. I assume that will remain throughout all of the priority levels.

The nice thing this year is that you can just scroll through the entire arena at once to see seat availabliities rather than having to go back through the "I am not a robot" crap every time you want to look at a new section.

Needless to say, there appeared to be plenty of seats left throughout, except in the obvious locations (center ice 100 level). I was able to get 6 seats in a club section directly in the center, so they hadn't blocked off too many of those yet.

Bought my eight tickets this morning. A very painless exercise which took no more than 10 minutes. This is compared to a couple of years ago when I wound up calling to order the tickets. As a UNH fan I have good memories of Buffalo as it is the last time the Wildcats made the FF and the Final. We won't get a sniff this year, of course, but I am looking forward to the trip and to see all the improvements in downtown Buffalo since we were there 15 years ago.

[joecct]

Bought my eight tickets this morning. A very painless exercise which took no more than 10 minutes. This is compared to a couple of years ago when I wound up calling to order the tickets. As a UNH fan I have good memories of Buffalo as it is the last time the Wildcats made the FF and the Final. We won't get a sniff this year, of course, but I am looking forward to the trip and to see all the improvements in downtown Buffalo since we were there 15 years ago.

Greg - what's the cost / ticket?

[Pucknut]

Re: Frozen Four Tickets - Priority Purchase Process

Greg - what's the cost / ticket?

I'm not Greg but my tix were $300.00 each plus processing and shipping. Average $308 each. I couldn't get through on the site but used the toll free telephone number to talk with a very nice lady. She was very patient and put me back on the right track after resetting my password again!!!!!!

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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