Ticket Advice

by tenken on Mar 7, 2010 9:42 PM EST

I will be traveling to Nashville on Friday morning to secure a ticket for the SEC game against whoever on Friday morning. This is the first time I have ever gone to a game without tickets in hand. Have any of you ever done this before? If you have what is the going rate for a single ticket you think? Someone told me not to wear UK stuff when I buy the ticket because they will jack up the price. Any advice will be appreciated. I just cannot let them be two hours away without getting to see them play.

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Try to figure out what section each school is in.

When a team looses, their fans will want to leave by the quickest route possible and there will be people trying to catch them in the halls as they leave. Many tickets will be sold in the halls before the people get to the street, so if you can be inside the building when a game ends, your chance of getting somebody’s tickets increase tremendously.

Also, be prepared to buy the tickets to the remaining games of the tournament. When their team looses, the fans don’t want to stay to watch us win, they want to go home and start thinking about spring football. Offer them face value and you will probably get some tickets.

by wklawdog on Mar 7, 2010 9:54 PM EST reply actions

I'm glad you posted this, tenken.

I have always wanted to go the SEC tournament, and since it’s so close in Nashville, where we used to live and still have friends and know the area, AND since this is a year where we have a really great team, it is so very tempting. I’ve been toying with the idea of driving down Sunday IF we make the final, but I’ve never done anything like that before, and I don’t know if it’s a crazy idea or not. I live about 2 hours away from Nashville, so I guess it’s not a huge time investment if it doesn’t work, but I’d hate to take the trip and not end up being able to get in the game. Is is easy to find people selling tickets? The other thing is, I really can’t (well, shouldn’t) afford to pay that much for a ticket. I’d be interested in the cheap seats. Does anyone have any clue how much they might possibly go for?? I just don’t have any clue. It is insane wishful thinking to hope I could get a ticket for the final for under, say, $120? Should I just keep my broke ass at home??

by blue kentucky girl on Mar 7, 2010 10:51 PM EST reply actions

i bought some tickets from a scalper

at the florida game, and at first he accidentally handed me some tickets to what, i think, was the sec tournament. he quickly realized his mistake and gave us the right tickets.

by UKalltheway2010 on Mar 7, 2010 11:55 PM EST reply actions

well, since you will be buying from either SC or Bama fans, you might want to get there on Thursday

and snag tickets from the loser then…..will be much easier and less expensive…..just dont show too much blue…..lol…..they may want to charge you double…..

I AM THE CAT......The Cat In The Hat!!!

by ALLBLUCAT on Mar 8, 2010 7:50 AM EST reply actions

Careful buying from scalpers

Especially at a tournament. Fake tickets are everywhere.

Some say a comet will fall from the sky. Followed by meteor showers and tidal waves.
Followed by faultlines that cannot sit still. Followed by millions of dumbfounded dips**ts.

by btcoop71 on Mar 8, 2010 9:32 AM EST reply actions

Look closely

Check out what the genuine tickets look like by asking a friendly fan before you buy from a scalper. Scalping is legal in Tennessee, even for above face value, so don’t feel like you have to go through somebody shady. Make sure your tickets are for the correct game and correct date. Don’t get caught buying genuine tickets for a game that’s already past. Buy early, right after a game sends somebody home – if you wait until Saturday, half of Lexington will be in town already looking for tickets too.

by sayeth on Mar 8, 2010 12:15 PM EST reply actions

Catsville? Does that work? Not as good as Catlanta

I’m probably on my 12th pilgramige to the SEC, and this is by far the hardest ticket I’ve ever seen. Don’t worry, things will be better when the tourney is in the Georgia Dome or Superdome. Couple of tips I would give:

If you can, go on Thursday. The easiest/best way to get tickets will be to find a losing teams booster/fan and buy their book. I would even be as bold as to do the following things: don’t wear anything Kentucky or even blue, offer them face for the enitre book . Usually the fan seats will be lower bowl. Good seats. If you present yourself as a kind soul and not a scalper the fans may take care of ya. Say it’s a UK/UT, Vandy/blah Saturday. I guarantee you tickets will be going for the same as the whole book. Buy the book, buy it Thursday night or friday at the worst and enjoy what will be a great weekend!

by Stan Mikita's Donuts on Mar 8, 2010 5:58 PM EST reply actions

what

is the cost of the book……last year they were five hundred right/

by tenken on Mar 8, 2010 6:14 PM EST up reply actions

Going by the price on the tickets,

the face value for one full tournament ticket in the upper level was just under $300. I think it was $49 for the first 5 sessions (2 games in each session) and $44 for session 6 (championship game).

by mess038 on Mar 8, 2010 6:21 PM EST up reply actions

I wanted to guarantee myself at least 1 game.

So, I bought 2 entire tournament books on ebay for just over $1000. I then turned around and sold all of them except for session 5 on Saturday. I made back (after riduculous Stubhub fees) just over $900. So my 2 tickets at the top of the arena behind the basket for Saturday session cost me just under $100.

But thanks for the post Tenken and thanks everyone for all the other tips. I’d sure like to go Friday and Sunday if the tickets aren’t way to much. The more UK fans, the better!

by mess038 on Mar 8, 2010 6:14 PM EST reply actions

The easiest ticket is usually the one to the final, because

as people have pointed out, once your team loses, the fans often sell the rest of their tickets and go home. So I’m sure you can get tickets to the final game. Probably even the semis.
The upper deck tickets will be dirt cheap (I say, from years past when we’ve gone to Atlanta for the finals).
But the suggestion to be there as a previous game ends and try to buy tickets as people come out, is a good one. Or find out which hotels are the most popular with tournament attendees and hit the bar after the games.

by TeresainSC on Mar 8, 2010 8:45 PM EST reply actions

I think

part of the problem that I see, is the arena there is so small compared to Atlanta or the Superdome. I have been to two events at that place and there are no bad seats. NONE. So I think that its going to be harder then other areas. I am just taking a hundred bucks with me…..if I don’t get in then I will walk across the street and watch the game at the local sports bar. :)

Thanks to everyone for the suggestions………I will for sure use them :) Yall are great.

by tenken on Mar 8, 2010 9:14 PM EST up reply actions

Good plan

After all the game only lasts about two hours in the arena. The Cat fans will be “festive” all over downtown for the remainder of the time. You even seem to be one that probably will only have to buy your first drink. Enjoy.

by hoboat33 on Mar 9, 2010 2:33 PM EST up reply actions

SEC Championship Game

Mostly lower level seats left for today’s game. As of 830 AM EST, prices still way above face value. Would expect to see prices drop around 2 hours before tip off.

by Fitzyboy on Mar 14, 2010 8:29 AM EDT reply actions