March Madness Ticket Prices
A pinch of March Madness is on the way for college basketball fans...in February. For the first time ever, the NCAA men's basketball selection committee will reveal its top 16 seeds based on results as of Feb. 11, the day of the announcement.
With the sneak peek coming roughly a month before Selection Sunday, it's highly likely that the final bracket will look quite different when all is said and done.
Such is the case for NCAA Tournament ticket prices as well, but for those inclined to begin planning early, here's a glimpse into what the Vivid Seats marketplace currently has to offer.
Salt Lake City Emerging as Most Popular Early-Round Site
NCAA Tournament action is returning to Salt Lake City's Vivint Smart Home Arena for the first time since 2013, and by the looks of ticket sales, fans are amped.
The site currently leads all first and second round hosts in terms of tickets sold, while also commanding the second-highest price with fans paying an average of $324 on purchases as of Feb. 3.
Entering the week, the undefeated Gonzaga Bulldogs maintained their place atop the AP Top 25, and should that status hold, they'll have a good shot at earning the top seed in the West Region.
As such, Gonzaga's path to the Final Four would begin in Salt Lake City, and the proximity to Spokane is likely one of the key factors driving the site's early demand.
The Cost to Follow Your Team
Looking at NCAA Tournament ticket prices as of Feb. 3, the most affordable path to the Final Four for consumers would be attending games in Salt Lake City and San Jose, which has a combined average price of $1,614.
On the other end of the spectrum, it may cost somewhere in the ballpark of $2,400 to attend all games in Buffalo and New York City, though prices are subject to change in the ensuing weeks.
For what it's worth, over the past 4 years, the average cost to attend every session featuring the championship-winning team was $1,405.
Read more: What it Costs to See a Champion: Final Four and National Championship Game
Glendale Set to Host First-Ever Final Four
For the first time ever, University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Ariz., will serve as the host site for the 2017 Final Four in April.
Of course, University of Phoenix Stadium is no stranger to putting on major marquee sporting events. Since opening in 2006, the multi-purpose venue has hosted the Super Bowl (2008, 2015), WrestleMania 26, BCS National Championship Game (2007, 2011), CONCACAF Gold Cup, and 2016 College Football National Championship Game.
Excitement around the first-ever Final Four in Glendale can already be seen via organic search traffic, as searches around Final Four ticket-related keywords are up 49% YOY from the last 3 weeks (1/16-2/4).
March Madness 2017 Schedule
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Date
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First Four
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NCAA Tournament Dayton - All Sessions
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University of Dayton Arena - Dayton, OH
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NCAA Tournament Dayton - Session 1
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University of Dayton Arena - Dayton, OH
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NCAA Tournament Dayton - Session 2
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University of Dayton Arena - Dayton, OH
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Date
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first and second rounds
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NCAA Tournament Buffalo
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KeyBank Center - Buffalo, NY
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NCAA Tournament Milwaukee
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BMO Harris Bradley Center - Milwaukee, WI
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NCAA Tournament Orlando
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Amway Center - Orlando, FL
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NCAA Tournament Salt Lake City
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Vivint Smart Home Arena - Salt Lake City, UT
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NCAA Tournament Greenville
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Bon Secours Wellness Arena - Greenville, SC
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NCAA Tournament Indianapolis
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Bankers Life Fieldhouse - Indianapolis, IN
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NCAA Tournament Sacramento
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Golden 1 Center - Sacramento, CA
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NCAA Tournament Tulsa
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BOK Center - Tulsa, OK
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Date
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regionals
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NCAA Midwest Regional
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Sprint Center - Kansas City, MO
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NCAA West Regional
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SAP Center - San Jose, CA
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NCAA East Regional
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Madison Square Garden - New York, NY
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NCAA South Regional
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FedEx Forum - Memphis, TN
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Date
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Final four & national championship
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| April 1, 3 |
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Final Four - All Sessions
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University of Phoenix Stadium - Glendale, AZ
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| April 1 |
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Final Four - Semifinals
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University of Phoenix Stadium - Glendale, AZ
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| April 3 |
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National Championship
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University of Phoenix Stadium - Glendale, AZ
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