The Final Four of the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Tournament is one of the most exciting weekends in all of sports. The semifinal and championship games feature the top four teams who have survived March Madness to make it to the final stages. These games routinely draw huge crowds, as fans from all over flock to see the best teams battle it out for the national championship.
Given the massive demand and limited supply, Final Four tickets are always in high demand and short supply. While it is possible to buy single game tickets to just one of the Final Four games, it is very difficult and expensive to do so.
How Final Four Tickets Are Sold
The majority of tickets to the Final Four games are distributed to the schools playing in the games, the NCAA itself, corporate partners, and other VIPs. There is a very small allotment available for the general public to purchase.
The NCAA holds a ticket lottery each year for fans to enter for a chance to buy tickets. The odds of winning the ticket lottery are extremely low, usually well under 1%. Even if you win the lottery, you have to buy tickets to both semifinal games as well as the championship game. Single game tickets are not made available through the lottery.
The other main way to get Final Four tickets directly through the NCAA is to purchase official hospitality or travel packages. These expensive all-inclusive packages combine tickets with hotels, meals, parties, and more. Again, you have to purchase packages for all three games – single game hospitality tickets are not an option.
Secondary Market Prices
Because of the incredibly limited supply through official channels, most Final Four tickets are bought and sold on secondary ticket marketplaces like StubHub and Vivid Seats.
On the secondary market, some sellers who have tickets split up their packages and sell the games individually. So it is possible to buy a single game ticket, but expect to pay a huge premium over face value.
Here are some examples of prices for 2023 Final Four single game tickets as of October 2022:
- Semifinal #1: $1,000+ for Upper Level corner seats
- Semifinal #2: $1,200+ for Upper Level corner seats
- Championship Game: $3,000+ for Upper Level corner seats
Keep in mind prices often increase as the event draws nearer and supply shrinks. Buying well in advance can sometimes yield slightly better deals.
Why Single Game Tickets Are So Expensive
There are a few key reasons why single game Final Four tickets command such a premium:
- High demand – The Final Four features dedicated fans from four major programs all competing for a very limited number of seats. Estimates suggest there are over 100 ticket requests for every 1 ticket available.
- No guarantee of team – Buying a ticket to just Semifinal #1 or the Championship Game does not guarantee your team will be playing. You have to pay the high price without knowing the matchup.
- Short supply – Again, the official supply is tiny and comes mostly via expensive multi-game packages. Very few sellers split up their packages to sell single games.
- Opportunistic sellers – Sellers know how badly fans want to attend these games, so they price tickets aggressively at enormous markups.
The NCAA does everything it can to encourage people to buy all three games together. Single game buyers disrupt that bundling strategy, so sellers make them pay dearly.
Tips for Getting the Cheapest Single Game Tickets
While cheap single game Final Four tickets basically don’t exist, here are some tips that may help you save a little money on singles:
- Buy way in advance – Prices tend to rise over time, so buying 6-12 months in advance can yield savings vs. buying at the last minute.
- Go upper level – The worst seats in the house naturally cost less than lower level or floor seats.
- Shop multiple sites – Check StubHub, Vivid Seats, SeatGeek, TicketIQ and others to compare.
- Consider general admission – If offered, general admission standing room only tickets are cheapest.
- Bid on auctions – Try bidding on sites like eBay to score a deal, but expect intense competition.
When to Buy Final Four Tickets
Ideally you want to buy your single game tickets as early as possible once they become available on the secondary market. Here are some guidelines on the best times to purchase:
| Time Frame | Ticket Price | Available Inventory |
|---|---|---|
| 12+ months before event | Around face value | Very limited |
| 6-12 months before | 150-200% of face value | Limited |
| 2-6 months before | 200-300% of face value | Moderate |
| 1-2 months before | 300%+ of face value | High |
| Less than 1 month before | 400%+ of face value | Low |
As you can see, buying 12+ months in advance can get you tickets close to face value before they rise too much. But inventory will be extremely limited at that point.
The 6-12 month window represents a nice balance of tickets in the 150-200% premium range before they jump up again. This is realistically the best option for many buyers.
Once you get inside 1-2 months before the event, expect to pay 300% or more no matter what. Buy early and save your wallet some pain.
How to Get Face Value Final Four Tickets
Technically there are a few ways to get face value Final Four tickets by going through official channels, but they are extremely difficult and require lots of luck:
- Win NCAA ticket lottery – Enter at ncaa.com/finalfour but expect less than 1% odds.
- Qualify as team’s fan – Each school playing gets some tickets to distribute to loyal season ticket holders and donors.
- Buy hospitality package – The NCAA sells official hospitality packages that bundle tickets with hotels and more.
If you want to guarantee tickets at face value with no luck involved, your only option is to purchase one of the official hospitality packages. These usually start around $4,500 per person for all three games combined.
Other Ways to Attend the Final Four
If you simply can’t afford the hyper-inflated prices for Final Four tickets, there are a couple other ways you can experience the atmosphere:
Watch at the Host City’s Fan Fest
The NCAA hosts an official Final Four Fan Fest in the host city with interactive games, sponsor booths, merchandise sales and other activities. There are large TV screens to watch the games with fellow fans.
Fan Fest is free and open to the public. You won’t need any tickets to enjoy the excitement and energy as thousands gather to watch the games.
Buy Standing Room Only Tickets
Some venues sell discounted standing room only tickets without an actual seat. These tickets allow you to stand and watch the game from designated standing areas.
Inventory is extremely limited, but SRO tickets are usually the cheapest way into the building if you don’t mind standing the whole game.
Conclusion
Buying a single game ticket to the Final Four is possible but extremely challenging and expensive. The best odds come from buying well in advance on secondary market sites and being flexible on seat location.
If paying thousands for an upper deck seat doesn’t fit your budget, attending Fan Fest or scoring scarce SRO tickets are more affordable ways to soak in the Final Four atmosphere.