Between 2002 and 2011, the inflation rate for consumer goods averaged 2.7%, whereas the inflation rate for NCAA ticket prices was 6%. The NCAA ticket price inflation rate would be higher for one of two reasons (1) the cost of inputs for producing the output (Frozen Four Tournament) has gone up faster than the cost of inputs for consumer goods or (2) the demand for attending the frozen four tournament has increased at a greater rate than the demand for standard consumer goods. I would doubt (1) exists but would throw my hat in with (2). Actually I might argue the inflation rate should have been higher for Frozen Four tickets because there are many (? How much more would matter) people who would like to attend the games but cannot. Is not the tournament always a sell out? If it was not a sell out, then you could say the tickets are overpriced, but given that it is selling out, and quickly, would suggest the tickets are underpriced. So I suppose those of us attending the tournament are very lucky to have underpriced tickets.
But can you imagine what the street value of any ticket would be if North Dakota and UM Duluth both make the final? These are fairly local teams and people would drive from their respective towns and try to attend the final - which would make the street price of any ticket higher than normal. But would anyone know the street price of a ticket in 2002 when the Gophers played in the final or 2006 when Wisconsin played in the Milwaukee final?
On the other hand, imagine if Notre Dame and North Dakota play in the final. That will be an NCAA nightmare - the Fighting Irish versus the Fighting Sioux. Let them explain that one with their sensitivity prissiness.
Nathan Hampton
On 3/29/11 10:48 AM, "William Corrigan" <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
With the 2011 FF tickets now in hand and the tournament set to begin in less than two weeks, I thought you might be interested to see the historical record of ticket price inflation for the Frozen Four that has taken place during my attendance run. Here's my annual report:
1976 $13.50 (D. U. Arena, Denver)
1980 $24.00 (Providence Civic Center)
[This was the 1st time there was a
price difference between the
semifinals ($6 each), conso ($5) and
the championship game ($7) tickets]
1982 $25.00 (Providence Civic Center)
[semis: $6 each; conso: $5; champ: $8]
1986 $36.00 (Providence Civic Center)
1988 $33.00 (Olympic Center, Lake Placid)
1991 $75.00 (St. Paul Civic Center)
1993 $60.00 (Bradley Center, Milwaukee)
1995 $75.00 (Providence Civic Center)
1996 $69.50 (Cincinnati Riverfront Coliseum)
[semis: $22 each; champ: $25.50]
1997 $75.00 (Bradley Center, Milwaukee)
1998 $90.00 (FleetCenter, Boston) [semis: $25 each; champ: $40]
1999 $90.00 (Arrowhead Pond, Anaheim) [semis: $27.50 each; champ: $35]
2000 $110.00 (Providence Civic Center) [semis: $35 each; champ: $40
2001 $85.00 (Pepsi Arena, Albany) [semis: $25 each; champ: $35]
2002 $124.50 (Xcel Energy Center, St. Paul)
2003 $120.00 (HSBC Arena, Buffalo)
2004 $135.00 (FleetCenter, Boston)
2005 $147.00 (Shottenstein Center, Columbus)
2006 $150.00 (Bradley Center, Milwaukee)
2007 $155.00 (Scottrade Center, St. Louis)
2008 $164.00 (Pepsi Center, Denver)
2009 $177.00 (Verizon Center, Washington, DC)
2010 $189.00/ (Ford Field, Detroit)
$170.00/$119.00/$79.00/$40.00
2011 $195.00 (Xcel Energy Center, St. Paul)
2012 ??? (St. Pete Times Forum, Tampa)
Still, everything considered, compared to NC$$ FF roundball (not to mention BC$ oblongball) tickets, it's difficult to claim that we don't enjoy bargain prices for our three-game national championship series
Bill
LET'S GO BRUNO!
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