"I won the FF Lottery" 2012 Edition

[COHockey]

Re: "I won the FF Lottery" 2012 Edition

The host institution/local organizing committee and the host facility also receive an allocation of seats. Please keep in mind, that as is the case every year, the majority of the tickets described above are located in the lower level.

At first I could not believe the NCAA wrote this (as everyone I know at UAH and NCAA indicated to me that no tickets were available through the school), but then it just dawned on me that Portera may have just taken his share of the allocation to sell on the open market to fund his beloved football program in Tuscaloosa.

No matter, I know that the NCAA gives the best seats to the parties names, especially the "NCAA corporate champions and corporate partners". Just makes me wonder how many it has been each year, especially comparing these last few years with ScottTrade, Pepsi Center, Verizon Center, Xcel Center, and now StPeteTimes Forum. Which cities were you happy with your seating selection versus your priority?

I was happy in St Louis even though that was my first time I got a ticket in the lottery, and again last year at the Xcel Center. I was not awarded tickets in Denver. My tickets in Detroit and now Tampa stink.

 

[Sean Pickett]

Seat Location

Seat Location

I created a new <a href=http://board.uscho.com/showthread.php?98209-NCAA-Championship-Survey>thread</a> in response to a survey on NCAA Championships I was sent on Wednesday. Those that posted in the thread did not take it seriously, but it appeared to me that the NCAA is concerned about the loss of core fans at their championships. About 3/4 the way through the survey gets interesting as the following questions are asked:

<B>Which reasons are most likely to keep you from attending the championship year after year? Please check all the reasons relevant to you.</B>
Group: Friend(s) / family member(s) stop coming
Group: Friend(s) / family member(s) stop participating in the sport
Tickets: Price of ticket increases by 10%
Tickets: Price of ticket increases by 25%
Championship experience: I become less interested in the teams who play
Championship experience: Gets boring / things are same every year
Championship experience: You perceive the quality of competition declines
Extra events: Extra events surrounding the championship no longer held
Extra events: Extra events are same every year
Seats: Unable to get same seats year after year
Seats: Unable to access best seats
Travel distance: Is over a five hour drive (over 250 miles)
Travel distance: Is over a ten hour drive (over 500 miles)
Travel distance: Requires a plane flight
Travel timing: Timing necessitates last minute airfare purchase
Convention: Coaching convention is no longer held at the same time
Host city: Host city does not interest me
Other

<B>Thinking about ways to encourage people to attend the Men’s Ice Hockey Championship year after year, how likely would these ideas have been to encourage you to become a regular attendee (think back to when you FIRST started attending the championship)?</B>
<I>(this question has the following choices for each)</I>
<B>NOT influential; would have no impact on my decision to attend year after year - SOMEWHAT influential; I would have liked this aspect - VERY influential; would have brought me back year after year</B>

Having a specific person available for
“groups” like yours to help make attendance
arrangements for you (e.g., hotel, travel,
and food).

Having the option of buying 10 or more
seats together at a discounted price.

Receiving a “loyal attendee” discount on
tickets which increases with years attended
e.g. after 5 years you get a 10% discount,
after 10 years you get a 20% discount etc.

Access to different levels of exclusive
hospitality available to attendees based on
the number of consecutive years they have
attended.

Ticket Holder Loyalty Program: long-term
attendees move up the priority list for
better seats based on the number of
consecutive years attended.

Long-term attendees were acknowledged on
the video board or by the PA announcer.
Ability to buy preferential venue parking
spots based on the number of years
attended.

A loyalty program (including concession and
merchandise discounts) for those who
attend the championship year after year.

<B>Thinking back to when you were just beginning to attend regularly, what other factors, promotions or ideas would have encouraged you to keep attending year after year?</B>
<I>(This is an open question that you can answer however you like)</I>

It would be interesting to see the results of the survey (which is unlikely to happen) and what, if anything, the NCAA does in response to them.

Sean

 

[Sean Pickett]

Re: "I won the FF Lottery" 2012 Edition

Which cities were you happy with your seating selection versus your priority?

I had been one less than the top priority every year until I passed on Detroit. My top two were St. Paul in 2002 and Buffalo in 2003, but back then it was a paper application and I noted on it where I would like tickets. St. Paul gave them to me straight out. Buffalo first sent me a letter stating it was not possible, but later I was upgraded to where I requested when some tickets allotted to Sabres season ticket holders were turned back to the general fan allotment. After that I Washington was the only one that I got seats I liked through the lottery.

Sean

 

[Howell]

Re: "I won the FF Lottery" 2012 Edition

I was not happy about my seat location when I received the email a few months ago and I also received the canned response to my complaint.
Received my tickets, to the 2012 Frozen Four, in the mail today.
In the envelope were the tickets and that was it. Not even a letter or booklet that noted that there would be other activities surrounding this event.

Why do I get the feeling that the minimum amount of effort has been put into planning this event and anything that is associated with this event will feel like a disaster or a dissapointing unorganized mess?

 

[RJF]

Re: "I won the FF Lottery" 2012 Edition

We are priority 6 and our seats are sect 301 row A (a corner up high).......my friends who are priority 1 section 308 row A (center ice up high)......WTH????

Last year we were lower level behind the goal.......so tired of this seats BS year after year!!!!

 

[Shirtless Guy]

Re: "I won the FF Lottery" 2012 Edition

Just got this email from the NCAA:

The ticket purchase process has changed for all NCAA priority ticket purchasers, effective for the 2013 NCAA Men's Frozen Four at the CONSOL Energy Center in Pittsburgh.

The ticket purchase process will now be conducted beginning October 1, 2012, and will no longer involve submitting an application for the opportunity to purchase tickets. Instead, priority ticket purchasers will be invited to purchase tickets and select their own seat locations, based on availability, at the time of the order submission.

Each priority level will be given a designated date to begin the ticket purchase process. Individuals with the highest priority level will be invited to purchase tickets starting October 1. Individuals with the next highest priority level will have the opportunity to purchase tickets shortly thereafter and so on. All orders must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. Eastern time, Friday, November 30.

You will receive an e-mail approximately one week prior to the designated purchase date for your priority level with your invitation and instructions for purchasing tickets.

Tickets will be mailed in late February/early March 2013.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What if my e-mail address or mailing address changes between now and October?
A: Please submit e-mail address changes to mensfrozenfour@ncaa.org to ensure that you will receive your invitation to purchase tickets. You will have the opportunity to update your mailing address during the actual purchase process.

Q: How many tickets am I allowed to purchase?
A: Each priority ticket purchaser is limited to a maximum of four tickets.

Q: With this new process, am I guaranteed tickets?
A: No. As with the previous application process, there are a limited number of tickets available and there is no guarantee that you will be able to purchase tickets. In order to ensure your best chance to purchase tickets in your desired location, it will be your responsibility to complete the ticket purchase process when you receive your invitation to do so.

Q: If I am unable to purchase tickets when my designated purchase period begins, have I missed my opportunity?
A: No. Your purchase period begins on a specified date, but does not end until 11:59 p.m. Eastern time, Friday, November 30. You may purchase tickets at any time within the purchase period, but preferred seat locations may no longer be available.

Q: Do I have to purchase my tickets at a specific time?
A: Each purchase period will begin at 10 a.m. Eastern time on the specific date for your respective priority level and will end at 11:59 p.m. Eastern time, Friday, November 30. You may purchase tickets at any time within the purchase period, but preferred seat locations may no longer be available.

Q: Will I be able to pick from any seat in the arena?
A: As is the case each year, specific blocks of seats will be held for the participating teams, the host entities, the NCAA membership (i.e., athletics directors, coaches, conference commissioners), etc. You will be able to pick from the seats not being held for these specific blocks.

Q: Is there anything that I need to do between now and fall 2012?
A: No. The traditional application process has been replaced by this new ticket purchase process and no further action is needed until you receive your invitation in the fall to purchase tickets.

If you have additional questions regarding the new ticket purchase process, please submit them via e-mail to mensfrozenfour@ncaa.org.

Very good news, listening to their customers for once.

 

[Howell]

Re: "I won the FF Lottery" 2012 Edition

Has there been any announcement as to a Fan Fest or an open skate on Friday night?
The Hobey Baker Award winner will be announced Friday, April 6, 2012 from MacDill Air Force Base.