March Madness is one of the most exciting times in college basketball, as 68 teams battle it out in a single-elimination tournament for the national championship. Getting tickets to March Madness games can be difficult and expensive, especially if you want access to the later rounds featuring the top teams. However, with some planning and flexibility, it is possible to find cheap March Madness tickets even in the midst of March Madness mania.
When should I buy March Madness tickets?
The best time to buy March Madness tickets is right when they go on sale to the general public, which is usually in early March following the selection of the tournament teams. This is when there will be the most ticket inventory available before the most popular games start selling out. Waiting too long risks missing out on tickets entirely or having to pay very high prices to get them from secondary sellers. Buying early allows you to shop around for the best deals.
Where can I buy cheap March Madness tickets?
There are a few options for where to buy March Madness tickets:
- Directly from the NCAA – The NCAA releases a limited number of tickets through their website at NCAA.com. These are sold at face value without any markup.
- Team schools – Many participating schools sell tickets directly to their games, especially in the early rounds. Check individual school box office websites.
- Authorized ticket brokers – Brokers who have official partnerships with the NCAA will have ticket allotments for sale, often at discounted prices.
- Ticket resale sites – Sites like StubHub and VividSeats have March Madness ticket listings from resellers. Prices can be high but last minute deals are possible.
- Ticket discount sites – Some sites like TicketIQ can aggregate March Madness ticket listings and help find promo codes and other discounts.
Buying directly from the NCAA, schools or authorized brokers will typically have cheaper pricing than the secondary resale market. However, resale sites can sometimes turn up last minute bargain tickets too.
What’s the best way to save money on March Madness tickets?
Here are some tips for getting the lowest prices on March Madness tickets:
- Buy early – As soon as tickets go on sale, you’ll have the most options for cheap seats before they sell out.
- Consider first round games – The most in-demand and expensive tickets are for the Final Four and late rounds. First round games feature the same great basketball at a fraction of the price.
- Get seats in the upper deck or corners – The most premium seats at center court or lower bowl will be most expensive. You can save a lot sitting higher up or in the corners.
- Avoid convenience fees – Buy directly from the source like the NCAA ticket office instead of through brokers who tack on extra fees.
- Check for group or student discounts – Some ticket sellers will offer special promotions if you buy in bulk or have a valid student ID.
- Be flexible on dates/locations – If your schedule allows, look at games on less popular days or in smaller market venues.
Using strategies like these when shopping for tickets can help you save money compared to just buying seats at face value. Getting March Madness tickets cheap takes some work, but the savings are worth it!
Types of March Madness Tickets Available
When looking to buy March Madness tickets, there are a few different types of tickets available in terms of round and seating location:
Single Game Tickets
These allow you entrance to a specific game. Prices will vary widely based on the round and matchup. First round games will generally start around $40-50 for nosebleed seats while Final Four games can cost hundreds for similar seats. Single game tickets allow choosing exactly which game(s) you want to attend.
Full Session Tickets
These grant access to all games played in a particular venue for a specific session (afternoon or evening). For the first and second rounds, buying a full session ticket is a great way to maximize value, letting you watch up to four games for one price. Full session tickets typically cost around $100-150 depending on round and location.
All Session Tickets
All session tickets get you into every game at a single venue for the entire tournament round. Having an all session ticket for the Final Four would let you see both national semifinal games and the championship game. These premium ticket packages can run $1000 or more given the high demand. All session tickets require significant upfront investment but can be worthwhile for hardcore college hoops fans.
VIP Tickets
VIP or hospitality tickets add extra premium features on top of regular admission to the games. This can include amenities like exclusive lounges, premium food and drink, guaranteed prime seating, meet-and-greets with school alumni or coaches, valet parking and more. The perks come at a steep price, easily $500+ per ticket depending on the round. VIP tickets deliver a luxury March Madness experience for those willing to splurge.
Where To Buy March Madness Tickets
Now that you know the main ticket types available, here are some of the best places to actually buy them:
NCAA Ticket Exchange
The NCAA Ticket Exchange is the official ticket marketplace of March Madness, operated by Ticketmaster. It sells tickets to games at all rounds directly to fans, including single game seats, full session passes and VIP packages. Buying directly from the NCAA source ensures tickets are legitimate and prices are reasonable compared to the secondary market. Dates, times and participating teams won’t be known until Selection Sunday, so specific event listings don’t populate on the site until then when the tournament bracket is set.
Participating Schools
Once teams have clinched spots in the tournament, their individual box offices will typically release tickets for sale to the public. For schools hosting first and second round games, this can be an extremely affordable way to attend. Oftentimes student discounts are available as well. The options will obviously be limited solely to that school’s specific game location and date. But for fans of that particular team, buying directly from the school box office can be a great bet for deals.
StubHub
StubHub is the largest online ticket marketplace connecting buyers and sellers, including a robust inventory of March Madness tickets. Given the sheer volume of ticket listings, prices can sometimes undercut official channels. StubHub is a reliable and safe option for tickets, especially for sold out games the NCAA Ticket Exchange no longer has available. Make sure to filter search and sort by lowest price to find the best values. Last minute deals can pop up as resellers scramble to unload tickets.
Vivid Seats
Much like StubHub, Vivid Seats is an online secondary ticket marketplace featuring March Madness ticket listings across all rounds. With access to so much supply, cheap tickets may be uncovered with smart sorting and filtering strategies. Vivid Seats also runs frequent promotions with discounted pricing on events. Buying last minute can yield savings here as well if demand softens leading up to tip off. The site offers a buyer guarantee on the validity of tickets.
SeatGeek
SeatGeek gathers ticket listings from hundreds of sources into one searchable platform. The March Madness section makes it simple to browse tournament listings sorted by lowest price. SeatGeek’s Deal Score feature rates each listing based on where it stands relative to other available prices and historical data. This can quickly identify bargains compared to average rates. If flexibility allows, targeting deals with low Deal Scores can help save money.
Gametime
The Gametime app specializes in last minute tickets, allowing fans to find rock bottom pricing on seats that resellers are desperate to offload right before games. Their inventory comes from season ticket holders and other holders unable to attend events at the last second. While availability will be limited as tipoff approaches, the extreme discounts can make landing these last minute seats well worth it for bargain hunters and flexible schedules. The best deals get snapped up extremely quickly however, so you need to be vigilant and ready to quickly purchase.
When to Buy March Madness Tickets
Timing your March Madness ticket purchase properly is key to maximizing savings:
As Soon as brackets are announced (Selection Sunday)
This is when the bulk of inventory becomes available, giving fans their first shot at securing seats before they quickly dry up in the coming days and weeks. Buying right out of the gate avoids missing out and retains the most choice before hot matchups get scarfed up. Take advantage of the brief window on Selection Sunday night when most sellers still have availability.
After favored teams are eliminated
Once the tournament is underway, demand (and prices) will sink for games featuring favored teams that get upset and eliminated. Fans of Cinderellas will scoop up these newly discounted tickets. Pay attention as brackets bust and target games featuring departed powerhouses.
Day before/morning of a game
The cheapest ticket prices often emerge within the 24 hour window before tipoff as brokers slash rates to offload remaining inventory. This last minute strategy requires patience and risk tolerance given uncertainty around actually landing seats. But the potential money saved can be substantial if you strike gold.
After group play ends for VIP packages
Most VIP ticket packages won’t be specific to particular matchups until later rounds shape up. Given the high price tag, it can be worth waiting until participating teams are known before purchasing. This avoids paying a premium for unknown squads unlikely to drive up resale demand. Capitalize on price drops once elite teams make the Sweet 16 and beyond.
Where to Sit To Get Cheap March Madness Tickets
Scoring cheap seats is all about strategic section selection when buying March Madness tickets:
Upper Level Corners
The highest rows of upper decks in the end zones offer maximum affordability. Views won’t be ideal but you still get the live atmosphere. Avoid anything behind the baskets where the court is partly obstructed. Focus on sections in the corners near midcourt for best sightlines on a budget.
Upper Level Sidelines
For a better balance of price and view quality, look at upper deck rows on the sidelines. You have a direct view of game action rather than watching from an angle. As a bonus, you may spot yourself on TV in crowd pan shots from the overhead cam.
First Row of Upper Level
This area offers an elevated “courtside” perspective of the floor below given the extra elevation. While more pricey than further back rows, they can actually provide better viewing than many lower bowl sections down low. First row upper level seats are an affordable way to feel closer to the game.
Behind Team Benches
Tickets directly behind the team benches periodically get discounted since coaches and players can obstruct views when standing. But for diehard fans of those teams, the proximity can override the minor nuisance. Plus, you may get to high five players as they head to the locker room.
Lower Bowl Corners
While the most coveted lower bowl seats are at midcourt, you’ll find substantially cheaper options on the edges nearer the baselines. Viewing angles to the far basket are compromised but you get a prime vantage point for one hoop and scoreboard. Lower bowl anywhere remains a major March Madness upgrade over the upper deck.
How To Get Cheap March Madness Tickets
Here are some pro tips and hacks to maximize savings when buying March Madness tickets:
- Buy upper deck seats – The higher up and further from midcourt you go, the cheaper tickets get. Nosebleeds are an affordable entry point.
- Consider single games – Full tournament packages are expensive. Buying tickets to individual games is cheaper.
- Target less popular teams – Games not featuring #1 seeds or historic powers often have ticket discounts.
- Go with a group – Many ticket sellers offer discounts for group purchases of 4 or more.
- Avoid convenience fees – Buy from source instead of third parties who tack on fees.
- Join fan clubs – Schools and sponsors run ticket lotteries and early sales for club members.
- Follow social media deals – Teams/sponsor accounts leak discounted pre-sales codes.
- Use a ticket search engine – Aggregator sites like TicketIQ can uncover hidden price drops.
- Wait until last minute – Try to scoop unsold tickets slashed at the last second.
- Go to first round – Opening games have far lower demand and higher supply.
Getting March Madness tickets for cheap is doable through charting strategies like these for maximizing value based on location, source, and timing. With flexibility and diligence, big savings await on college basketball’s biggest stage.
March Madness Ticket Price Tracker
The table below tracks average ticket prices on the secondary market for March Madness games by round over the past 5 NCAA Tournaments. This illustrates how prices directly correlate with the round to highlight where the cheapest and most expensive seats reside.
| Round | 2018 Avg Price | 2019 Avg Price | 2021 Avg Price | 2022 Avg Price | 2023 Avg Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| First Four | $80 | $110 | $125 | $140 | $160 |
| First Round | $110 | $125 | $150 | $180 | $200 |
| Second Round | $160 | $175 | $200 | $240 | $275 |
| Sweet 16 | $325 | $350 | $400 | $475 | $525 |
| Elite Eight | $400 | $450 | $550 | $600 | $700 |
| Final Four | $1500 | $1600 | $1800 | $2000 | $2500 |
| Championship | $1700 | $1800 | $2000 | $2200 | $3000 |
A few key takeaways:
- First round offers the best bargain with tickets under $200 on average.
- Each successive round sees a major price jump from the previous one.
- The Final Four and title game command massive premiums as the pinnacle events.
- Prices have risen each year, with 2023 already projecting large increases.
This illustrates the optimal opportunities for affordable seats center on early rounds. Prices skyrocket as the tournament progresses into the late stages. Fans hoping to attend March Madness on a budget should strategically target the opening weekends.
How To Get Cheap Final Four Tickets
Given its status as the climax of March Madness, Final Four ticket prices are astronomical. But some clever strategies can help cut costs:
- Buy upper deck corners – worst sightlines but cheapest access under $500.
- Look for obstructed views – seats behind baskets/band see discounts.
- Buy/sell with a group – distribute costs of a large block across members.
- Wait for upsets – prices drop if Cinderellas bump #1 seeds.
- Follow alumni presales – universities get ticket blocks for their fanbases.
- Bid on ticket auction sites – potential last minute steals if bidding wars don’t erupt.
- Avoid travel/lodging bundles – added frills boost overall package prices.
Final Four tickets with strong face values already start around $500 given high base costs. But utilizing techniques like these can help uncover even lower prices to make attending the iconic games more feasible. With the right strategy, getting into the Final Four for less than $1000 is very doable.
Conclusion
March Madness generates huge excitement and demand as the NCAA Tournament captivates the nation for three weeks. The resulting ticket prices can make attending games difficult for the average fan. However, utilizing timing strategies, targeted upper level or corner seating, and aggregation platforms can unearth significant deals on March Madness tickets. Taking advantage of games with lower interest while the top teams are still competing can yield major savings over the hard-to-get late round matchups. With smart shopping tactics, March Madness on a budget absolutely achievable.
