2014 Frozen Four Ticket Buying Process

[Laker Dude]

Re: 2014 Frozen Four Ticket Buying Process

I have not stayed in Philly before, but if you are looking for a good rate, the airport hotels seem to be keeping themselves fairly reasonable. I am staying at the Hampton Inn at the airport. I searched through Priceline but got a better deal on the hotel website which allows me to pay when I stay, as opposed to paying now and letting them hold my money for 8 months. I can also cancel pretty easily in the unlikely event I find a better deal. I do know that if you stay across the river be prepared for a $5 toll when you cross the bridge. Also, there is one hotel in downtown Philly which has "reasonable" prices, but absolutely horrible reviews. I would definitely check the reviews before you book anything.

I did the same thing with the Hampton Inn a couple months ago. As you said, it is easy cancellation booking through the hotel website if needed.

 

[waterlover]

Re: 2014 Frozen Four Ticket Buying Process

Priority 11, Section 110 Row 16. My wife picked them, seems OK so far, she said she debated upper level but judging by where everyone else ended up I'm thinking we're OK as we may have ended up too high in the upper level, we've done that plenty over the years. Last year we were 2nd row from the top in the lower level in the corner. I was OK with the seats but looking through the net all weekend wasn't my favorite. Some arenas nets don't bother me but the one in Pittsburgh seemed to stand out more than others.

I don't think the hotel rates are that much higher than normal, when I've gone to Philly for work prices are usually around $200 a night so what I'm seeing downtown is about what I expected. Haven't booked anything yet but wondering where everyone plans on staying, I'd prefer to be near others, meeting other fans is at least 50% of why I go to the Frozen Four.

 

[Patman]

Re: 2014 Frozen Four Ticket Buying Process

I plan on staying on the outskirts for the most part and try to party it up with everybody else. I intend to go one way or another and have at least one other person interested. As long as Lowell isn't in it, and I sure hope we are, the general idea is to stay overnight where its cheaper. That plan may still remain, if we're in it then I'd like to be able to have some place to touch base or relax during the day... but that's awhile off and i htink i can negotiate that one.

edit: we ended up, thanks to long time board people via UMLFan (Monty), right next to the arena in Pittsburgh. Had a blast aside from the result. It was nice running into folks, especially the westerners who I hadn't met.

 

[CLS]

Re: 2014 Frozen Four Ticket Buying Process

Pretty clear now that we no longer have a lottery. I've seen at least two "pre-sale" offers since the end of the "lottery", which means that the "lottery" didn't even come close to selling out the arena. Also we've now got tiered pricing, albeit with not many tiers. I wonder how long before the FF becomes just another event at whatever NHL arena it's held at. And since there a a finite number of NHL venues, I wonder if they will start pushing back at the NCAA restrictions on signage and alcohol sales.

It's been an interesting ride since the shortages in Providence, the scalping in the early days of the lottery, the scalping disasters when the wrong teams played at the wrong locations, the aberration in Detroit, and there's been a lot of interesting discussion. It seems to be getting closer to my idea of an ideal situation in which everyone who really wants to go can get a ticket at face price and everyone who buys a ticket plans on going.

The Regionals don't seem to have reached any equilibrium, so I guess they'll continue to generate discussion and controversy. Worcester seems more active in marketing the Regionals than in the past; I've gotten two special offers already.