The upcoming football game between the University of Pittsburgh Panthers and the West Virginia University Mountaineers is one of the most anticipated matchups of the season. With these two rivals facing off, demand for tickets is incredibly high. So is the game sold out? Let’s take a closer look at ticket availability and demand leading up to the game.
What is the history of the Backyard Brawl?
Pitt and WVU have been bitter rivals since the early 1900s when they first started competing against each other in football. The schools are located just 75 miles apart which has fueled the intensity of the rivalry over the past century. Their annual meeting became known as the “Backyard Brawl” due to the proximity between the two campuses.
The series became even more heated when both schools were members of the Big East Conference from 1991 to 2011. During that era, the matchup often determined the conference champion. Pitt leads the all-time series 61-40-3 dating back to their first meeting in 1895.
When West Virginia left the Big East to join the Big 12 Conference, the Backyard Brawl went on hiatus for a decade. However, the rivalry was renewed in 2022 with a game played in Pittsburgh. Pitt won that thriller 38-31.
Fans have been eagerly awaiting the 2023 matchup between the Panthers and Mountaineers set to take place at Milan Puskar Stadium in Morgantown, West Virginia on November 25th. Emotions will be running high as the rivalry returns to WVU’s home turf.
How has Pitt performed this season?
The Pittsburgh Panthers come into the matchup with a 7-4 record under fourth-year head coach Pat Narduzzi. It has been an up and down season for the defending ACC champions.
Pitt started the season ranked #17 in the AP poll after winning 11 games last year. However, they hit some early speed bumps. An overtime loss to Tennessee and blowout defeats against Miami and North Carolina took Pitt out of ACC contention.
The Panthers have won 4 of their last 5 games though to gain momentum headed into the Backyard Brawl. They took down Syracuse at home and pulled off a big upset at Virginia last week. Pitt relies heavily on its ground game, led by running back Israel Abanikanda who has rushed for 1,431 yards and 19 touchdowns this year.
How has West Virginia performed this season?
It’s been a struggle for the Mountaineers in head coach Neal Brown’s fourth season at the helm. WVU has sputtered to a 4-7 record, finishing near the bottom of the Big 12 standings.
West Virginia was blown out early in the season against Kansas and Texas Tech. Their only conference victories came against Baylor, TCU, and Iowa State. Costly turnovers and inconsistent quarterback play have plagued the Mountaineers all season long.
However, WVU would love nothing more than to salvage their disappointing season by defending home turf and beating their rivals. Pitt will get West Virginia’s best shot in what should be a raucous home atmosphere.
What is the point spread for the game?
According to Vegas oddsmakers, Pitt opens as a 7.5 point favorite over West Virginia. Here is a look at the opening lines from several sportsbooks:
Sportsbook | Pitt Spread |
---|---|
FanDuel | -7.5 |
DraftKings | -7.5 |
Caesars | -7.5 |
This implies that Pitt would need to win by 8 or more points to cover the spread. However, home underdogs often play inspired football and keep games much tighter. The Backyard Brawl brings out the best in both teams.
What is ticket demand looking like?
As soon as this game was announced, ticket demand went through the roof. Fans could not wait to get their hands on passes to the Backyard Brawl renewal. The excitement has only built with each passing week.
On the primary ticket resale market Ticketmaster, only sparse single seats are still available. They are priced anywhere from $150 to over $250 per seat. There are less than 500 seats left on Ticketmaster as of publishing time.
On secondary ticket sites like StubHub, seats are even more limited. Only around 150 tickets remain starting at $200 per seat. These prices indicate massive demand from fans willing to pay big money to be part of the atmosphere.
Is Pitt or WVU holding back tickets?
Both athletic departments likely held back several thousand tickets from public sale for student, player, and VIP fan allotments. At West Virginia, season ticket holders got first priority. Student tickets at WVU were claimed in just over an hour.
At Pitt, students had a dedicated presale and student season ticket holders were guaranteed seats. Pitt also had to fulfill large ticket allotments for visiting fans. Hence, the public supply was squeezed from both ends.
However, any last minute tickets released would get snatched up instantly by fans. So neither school is purposefully holding back tickets despite the high demand.
How much are season ticket holders reselling for?
On the secondary market, Pitt and WVU season ticket holders are reselling their tickets for massive profits. Upper deck seats that would normally cost $50-75 as a season ticket are now fetching over $200 per seat.
Here are some sample asking prices for Backyard Brawl tickets on StubHub:
Section | Row | Asking Price |
---|---|---|
Upper End Zone | Row ZZ | $215 |
Upper Sideline | Row NN | $230 |
Lower Level Sideline | Row MM | $370 |
Tickets on the 50 yard line are going for $500 or more. Season ticket holders stand to profit handsomely from reselling to hungry fans.
When will the game sell out?
At the current pace of sales, the Pitt vs West Virginia game will completely sell out at least 2-3 days before game day. By midweek, the only tickets left will be singles priced exorbitantly high.
Anyone still hoping to buy affordable tickets to attend the game in person should act fast. The secondary market prices will only increase as game day approaches and supply disappears.
Based on the incredible demand, this game will certainly be a complete sellout. Fans without tickets will need to watch this bitter rivalry renewed on television.
Could this become Pitt’s biggest game of the year?
The evidence certainly points to this being Pitt’s most anticipated and meaningful game this season. It will likely be the Panthers’ last home contest of 2022.
Backyard Brawl tickets are far outpacing demand for any previous Pitt home game this season. The ACC championship rematch against North Carolina sold out, but not nearly this quickly.
Pitt fans want to be there to see the Panthers reclaim bragging rights over their hated rivals. The atmosphere at Milan Puskar Stadium will be absolutely electric that Friday after Thanksgiving.
How to get tickets
Here are some options for fans still searching for tickets to the Pitt vs West Virginia Backyard Brawl:
Secondary market
Sites like StubHub, VividSeats, and SeatGeek are the best sources for tickets at this late stage. Be prepared to pay a premium price in the range of $200 or more per seat.
Gameday scalpers
Fans often sell extra tickets outside the stadium on gameday. Scalped tickets will also fetch very high prices for a major rivalry game.
Last minute releases
Keep monitoring the WVU and Pitt official box offices up until gameday. A few extra tickets may be released due to cancellations or unclaimed seats. But they will go fast.
No matter the cost, tickets on either side will provide an experience of a lifetime. The 2023 Backyard Brawl will go down as an all-time classic in this storied rivalry.
Conclusion
Based on massive demand and dwindling supply, the Pitt vs West Virginia game is guaranteed to be completely sold out. Fans are paying premium prices on the secondary market for the privilege of attending this long-awaited rivalry renewal.
The electricity surrounding the Backyard Brawl’s return will make Milan Puskar Stadium erupt when these bitter enemies take the field. Anyone lucky enough to score a ticket should prepare for an unforgettable atmosphere as the Panthers and Mountaineers write the next chapter in this heated feud.