Frozen Four Tickets 2018

[abmarks]

To my surprise, I just got an email from the NCAA that I can now buy Frozen Four tickets 2018.

EXCLUSIVE FROZEN FOUR PRESALE!
SECURE YOUR SEATS PRIOR TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC
OFFER ENDS: FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 24

This is labeled "priority holder tickets" on the NCAA website.   I'm not sure why I landed in the priority line since I've never bought FF Tickets before, but maybe it extends to anyone on the email list.  I can get in there with the link in the email, but when trying to go from the NCAA website it says it is a restricted offer. (Imagine that the NCAA has it working correctly...)

Thought I'd let others now - check your email box in case you are interested.

[RichH]

For the past 3-4 years, tickets have been available to purchase into the spring. I think we're past the point of selling out these arenas early. I think St. Paul will still sell out eventually, as will future Boston Frozen Fours. But gone are the days of mad-scrambles, lotteries and scalpers. I feel this is another victim of lowered interest in actually going to sporting events.  Examples: Lynah season ticket sales, NCAA Lacrosse Championship weekend venues, even MLB stadium capacities are all falling.

The NCAA will still try to manufacture some sort of high-demand illusion with these "exclusive offer!" marketing tricks. Heck, I even received personal phone calls from an NCAA rep with an "omg last chance for priority tickets!! I can help you RIGHT NOW" message.

[Josh 03]

I think it's also due to the emergency of StubHub and other such sites. Buying on the secondary market is so secure and easy now that there's less and less reason to loyally buy tickets year after year to improve your standing. Or to even buy tickets in advance at all.

For the 2003 Buffalo Frozen Four, I had to scour the Internet to buy tickets from someone I think the Gopher Hockey Forum. Don't remember if I mailed them a check, or made plans to meet them in person outside the arena, our what. Don't need to do that anymore. You can always get a secondhand ticket.

And you can usually save money doing it, especially with the NCAAs, because you can usually buy single session tickets at under face value (leaving the "advance priority ticket holders" to take the loss on tickets they can't or don't want to use).

[upprdeck]

I wonder what some of these events would sell for it secondary price gouging  wasnt going on. Lynah selling out is gone and so is the need to buy a season ticket to get into he building other that the harvard game.

[KenP]

Just curious.. how hard is it to score FF tickets after the Regionals are complete?  Is there a USCHO exchange thread or something similar?

All bets are off if the Goophers are one of the four teams.  Their fans will pack the place.

[Beeeej]

Just curious.. how hard is it to score FF tickets after the Regionals are complete?  Is there a USCHO exchange thread or something similar?

All bets are off if the Goophers are one of the four teams.  Their fans will pack the place.

You pretty much hit the nail on the head - when the FF is in St. Paul and any Minnesota team is in it, it's a tougher ticket. But yes, USCHO has an exchange thread, or you can always go the StubHub or Craigslist route. It's certainly not impossible to get FF tickets after the Regionals even when it's "sold out," but it's a little tougher when there's a de facto home team.

FWIW, you can almost always walk up and buy from scalpers. But if you don't live in the area you're taking a risk by traveling there without tickets in hand.

[upprdeck]

Well from board reports it will be Holy Cross in the final 4 so that will free up some tickets.. Every team gets some and thats a tough place to get to so if Cornell made it I doubt they would use their allotment

[marty]

Just curious.. how hard is it to score FF tickets after the Regionals are complete?  Is there a USCHO exchange thread or something similar?

All bets are off if the Goophers are one of the four teams.  Their fans will pack the place.

You pretty much hit the nail on the head - when the FF is in St. Paul and any Minnesota team is in it, it's a tougher ticket. But yes, USCHO has an exchange thread, or you can always go the StubHub or Craigslist route. It's certainly not impossible to get FF tickets after the Regionals even when it's "sold out," but it's a little tougher when there's a de facto home team.

FWIW, you can almost always walk up and buy from scalpers. But if you don't live in the area you're taking a risk by traveling there without tickets in hand.

In prior years I think there was an option to deliver the tickets electronically. This year you have to get the tickets mailed to you or show up with the credit card you used to buy them.

This will make online sales less convenient. It seems that the powers that be are trying to decrease secondary sales.

[Beeeej]

Just curious.. how hard is it to score FF tickets after the Regionals are complete?  Is there a USCHO exchange thread or something similar?

All bets are off if the Goophers are one of the four teams.  Their fans will pack the place.

You pretty much hit the nail on the head - when the FF is in St. Paul and any Minnesota team is in it, it's a tougher ticket. But yes, USCHO has an exchange thread, or you can always go the StubHub or Craigslist route. It's certainly not impossible to get FF tickets after the Regionals even when it's "sold out," but it's a little tougher when there's a de facto home team.

FWIW, you can almost always walk up and buy from scalpers. But if you don't live in the area you're taking a risk by traveling there without tickets in hand.

In prior years I think there was an option to deliver the tickets electronically. This year you have to get the tickets mailed to you or show up with the credit card you used to buy them.

This will make online sales less convenient. It seems that the powers that be are trying to decrease secondary sales.

Not sure where you heard that, but my tickets are electronic. Perhaps it's different for seniority/lottery buyers than for retail?

[Beeeej]

Just curious.. how hard is it to score FF tickets after the Regionals are complete?  Is there a USCHO exchange thread or something similar?

All bets are off if the Goophers are one of the four teams.  Their fans will pack the place.

As if on cue, I got an email from the NCAA this morning with this link to their "official" ticket exchange:

https://www.primesport.com/d/ncaa-mens-frozen-four

[marty]

Just curious.. how hard is it to score FF tickets after the Regionals are complete?  Is there a USCHO exchange thread or something similar?

All bets are off if the Goophers are one of the four teams.  Their fans will pack the place.

You pretty much hit the nail on the head - when the FF is in St. Paul and any Minnesota team is in it, it's a tougher ticket. But yes, USCHO has an exchange thread, or you can always go the StubHub or Craigslist route. It's certainly not impossible to get FF tickets after the Regionals even when it's "sold out," but it's a little tougher when there's a de facto home team.

FWIW, you can almost always walk up and buy from scalpers. But if you don't live in the area you're taking a risk by traveling there without tickets in hand.

In prior years I think there was an option to deliver the tickets electronically. This year you have to get the tickets mailed to you or show up with the credit card you used to buy them.

This will make online sales less convenient. It seems that the powers that be are trying to decrease secondary sales.

Not sure where you heard that, but my tickets are electronic. Perhaps it's different for seniority/lottery buyers than for retail?

Ok, I'm sure my post was wrong.  But when I checked out there was no electronic option offered to me (that I could find).  I also received the email about ticket exchange this AM.

[cufan]

If Cornell is allocated tickets, how does one purchase a few of those?

[Beeeej]

If Cornell is allocated tickets, how does one purchase a few of those?

If Cornell reaches the Frozen Four, once the Cornell Athletics Ticket Office gets the info from the NCAA, an email blast will go out from them and they'll post on the Athletics website how to get some. Can't hurt to follow @CornellSports and @CUBigRedHockey on Twitter as well; I'm sure the info will be available there.

[RichH]

Or, you know, judging how they've handled visiting tickets this year, they'll get them and send them all back because our Athletics Dept doesn't want to do any actual work.

OK, now to insult myself, I've missed one FF since 1999 (2002, also in St. Paul) and I decided in the fall that this was a year to rest. Of course IF Cornell makes it, this means I'll have to never buy tickets in advance again.

But yeah, basically, there will always be a way to find tickets, be it through Cornell, another school, or the open market, even if it's a Gopher party in Gopherland. The event is held in large enough venues and enough sponsor tickets are given out to people who don't care that much.

[Jim Hyla]

Or, you know, judging how they've handled visiting tickets this year, they'll get them and send them all back because our Athletics Dept doesn't want to do any actual work.

What does this mean?