SEC Tournament Ticket Prices

Given the current undefeated streak of Kentucky, it’s no surprise that the SEC Tournament is the most expensive conference tournament in college basketball. A full strip of tickets to see the SEC Tournament at Bridgestone Arena is averaging $933 on the resale market, with tickets to the championship game going for $323. At this time last year, tickets for the finals were averaging $289, about 10% less than the championship game for this year. However, access to all sessions last year went for just $528 on the secondary market at this time, about 43% less than the 2015 tournament. Two years ago, when Kentucky missed the NCAA Tournament, tickets averaged just $93 on this date for the title game, less than a third of the price for this year’s finals. In 2012 when Anthony Davis led Kentucky to an NCAA championship, tickets went for $323 for the SEC finals, the same average as this year. However, a full strip in 2012 averaged $734, about $200 cheaper than all sessions for this year.

SEC Tournament Tickets

ACC Championship Ticket Prices

With strong conference additions such as Syracuse, Pittsburgh, Notre Dame, and Louisville, the ACC championship game is averaging $217 on the secondary market, the most expensive finals game since at least the 2011 tournament. On this date last year, the ACC championship game went for $166 on average, about 23% less than tickets for next weekend. Two years ago, the ACC finals resold for $174 at this time. In 2012 when the ACC Tournament was held at the Georgia Dome, the average was relatively more expensive at $215. The average of $706 for a full strip marks the most expensive ACC Tournament since 2011, when a strip went for $747.

ACC Championship Tickets

PAC-12 Tournament Ticket Prices

PAC-12 Tournament tickets are going for $154 on average, slightly down from this point last season when tickets went for $169. Last year’s tournament was particularly expensive given the success of Arizona. In fact, a full strip of tickets to the tournament averaged $1065 last season, compared to just $485 for this year.

PAC-12 Tournament Tickets

Big 12 Tournament Ticket Prices

Despite posting five teams ranked in the top 20, Big 12 Tournament tickets are down with former members such as Colorado, Nebraska, Missouri, and Texas A&M now in other conferences. In fact, the current average ticket price of $169 for the championship game represents the least expensive Big 12 Tournament finals since at least 2011 when SeatGeek began aggregating ticketing data on the secondary market. Last season, tickets for the championship game went for $203 on average, about 16% more than tickets this year. At this time two years ago, Big 12 championship tickets averaged $197. Three years ago, finals tickets averaged $217, and in 2011 the championship game resold for $218 on this date.

Big 12 Tournament Tickets

Big Ten Tournament Ticket Prices

It appears that ticket prices for the Big Ten Tournament are sensitive to the tournament’s location. This year, tickets for the championship game at the United Center are averaging $112, about 15% more than this time last year when finals tickets went for $97 at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Two years ago when the Big Ten Tournament was at the United Center, the championship game went for $249, over double the cost for next week’s title game.

In addition to playing at a Chicago venue, the conference was particularly strong in 2013, earning three top-three seeds in the NCAA Tournament. By comparison, championship tickets went for just $86 at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on this date in 2012. Meanwhile, tickets averaged $117 in 2011 when the Big Ten Tournament took place at the Conseco Fieldhouse. Although it seems clear that tickets are more expensive when the tournament is in Chicago as opposed to Indianapolis, it will be interesting to see how the market fluctuates when the conference is hosted at the Verizon Center and Madison Square Garden in 2017 and 2018, respectively.

Big Ten Tournament Tickets

Big East Tournament Ticket Prices

Since the departure of Big East mainstays such as Connecticut, Syracuse, Pittsburgh, and Notre Dame, ticket prices for the Big East Tournament have predictably plummeted. This year, tickets for Saturday’s championship game are averaging $186, actually more expensive than this time last season when finals tickets went for $137. However, a full strip of tickets to the Big East Tournament is going for $518 on the secondary market, the conference’s lowest mark at this time since at least 2011.

Back in 2013, the last year the conference had many of its traditional members, a full strip of tickets went for $884, about 70% more than tickets for this year’s tournament. In 2012, a full strip went for $1029, and back in 2011 tickets to all sessions went for $1188, more than double the current price for a full strip to the Big East Tournament.

Big East Tournament Tickets

Atlantic 10 Championship Ticket Prices

Since moving their conference tournament to the Barclays Center, ticket prices for the Atlantic 10 championship game have increased considerably. Tickets to see the A-10 finals are going for $106 on the resale market, slightly more than double the price of the 2012 finals, when tickets averaged just $50 at this time. The conference was also stronger back in 2012 with strong programs like Xavier, Butler, and Temple still in the conference, further highlighting this disparity. However, ticket prices for a full strip to the A-10 tournament are at its lowest point since 2011, with an average of $191. This stark difference between full strip price and championship game price shows that the A-10 is attracting the attention of the New York market, but the tournament is lacking the consistently strong attendance from recently-departed schools.

Atlantic 10 Championship Tickets