UConn final four ticket sales this year.

[Palatine]

One thing that was really nice about the final four this year was the lack of articles about UConn having disappointing sales or giving seats away or being unable to fill the student section. Those stories were legion leading up to the 2011 NC.

Does anyone know what we did different this year (besides showing up)? Were the prices better? How did Warde do what Hathaway couldn't?

Curious for any inside info on this one.

 

[upstater]

One thing that was really nice about the final four this year was the lack of articles about UConn having disappointing sales or giving seats away or being unable to fill the student section. Those stories were legion leading up to the 2011 NC.

Does anyone know what we did different this year (besides showing up)? Were the prices better? How did Warde do what Hathaway couldn't?

Curious for any inside info on this one.

Warde deliberately engineered bad football results so that the fanbase wouldn't have to shell out tens of thousands for a BCS bowl in Arizona, Men's F4 and Women's F4 within the same 90 day period.

 

[Husky68]

Talking heads/pundents got writers cramp predicting loses for the UConn kids and Ollie 6 times, were too tired to write about lack of attendance at final four.

 

[Adios]

Talking heads/pundents got writers cramp predicting loses for the UConn kids and Ollie 6 times, were too tired to write about lack of attendance at final four.

Or embarrassed.

 

[BoatShow]

It was amazing to see how well represented we were in both Nashville and North Texas. Obviously outnumbered by UK fans but they just spend money on Bud Heavy, Jack Daniels, and hoops. If I recall, the school sold out of allotment for both. Of course no media talk of the good just the bad.

 

[SubbaBub]

It was amazing to see how well represented we were in both Nashville and North Texas. Obviously outnumbered by UK fans but they just spend money on Bud Heavy, Jack Daniels, and hoops. If I recall, the school sold out of allotment for both. Of course no media talk of the good just the bad.

Like the APR, someone at UCONN finally figured out how to do the paperwork to at least make it look like all the tickets were sold. Just like every other school.

 

[Uconn77Duke74]

There were at least two sections in the "UConn" area of the final four that Uconn could have purchased but must have elected not to. The entire lower and first upper level of the arena were divided up fairly equal between all schools except for two glaring "KY" sections in the area where Uconn fans should have been.

 

[elduderino]

It was amazing to see how well represented we were in both Nashville and North Texas. Obviously outnumbered by UK fans but they just spend money on Bud Heavy, Jack Daniels, and hoops. If I recall, the school sold out of allotment for both. Of course no media talk of the good just the bad.

Not to nitpick because generally I like your posts, but Jack is Tennessee whiskey friend. Kentucky is bourbon territory, and as far as I know, the only thing I like about the state besides Jennifer Lawrence (L'ville fan).

 

[CAHUSKY]

There were at least two sections in the "UConn" area of the final four that Uconn could have purchased but must have elected not to. The entire lower and first upper level of the arena were divided up fairly equal between all schools except for two glaring "KY" sections in the area where Uconn fans should have been.

What section was that? I was there and don't remember seeing it.

 

[David 76]

Lots of stuff was hanging over our heads in 2011

 

[UConnNick]

I am told by a fellow alum who has purchased tickets through the donor sale/WorldTek Travel deal every time, that this was the first time in the history of the five men's Final Fours that the Athletic Dept. offered tickets (with no strings attached, i.e. airfare, hotel, ground trans., etc.) for sale through the Alumni Association. He contends that every single time UCONN has made the Final Four they have sent tickets back from the donor/season ticket holder sale.

The Alumni Association has absolutely no control over tickets, but this time they went to bat for the alumni and they deserve a big shout out for all their efforts to open sales to alumni after the donor sale was completed. The tickets were still there and they allowed a maximum of 4 per alum, so they had plenty left over. You didn't have to buy the WorldTek travel package, airfare or anything, just the tickets. I know for a fact they didn't do it in 2011. I was quite surprised they still had tickets left for donors back in 1999 right through the last group, and that has apparently been the case at all of our Final Fours.

UCONN has a significant alumni presence in Texas. There are alumni chapters in Houston, Austin and Dallas.

 

[elduderino]

I am told by a fellow alum who has purchased tickets through the donor sale/WorldTek Travel deal every time, that this was the first time in the history of the five men's Final Fours that the Athletic Dept. offered tickets (with no strings attached, i.e. airfare, hotel, ground trans., etc.) for sale through the Alumni Association. He contends that every single time UCONN has made the Final Four they have sent tickets back from the donor/season ticket holder sale.

The Alumni Association has absolutely no control over tickets, but this time they went to bat for the alumni and they deserve a big shout out for all their efforts to open sales to alumni after the donor sale was completed. The tickets were still there and they allowed a maximum of 4 per alum, so they had plenty left over. You didn't have to buy the WorldTek travel package, airfare or anything, just the tickets. I know for a fact they didn't do it in 2011. I was quite surprised they still had tickets left for donors back in 1999 right through the last group, and that has apparently been the case at all of our Final Fours.

UCONN has a significant alumni presence in Texas. There are alumni chapters in Houston, Austin and Dallas.

Great post, but I truly hate reminders of how poorly public business/entities are run. A private business would have figured out that past patrons make the best future customers a very long time ago or they'd be ghosts of bankruptcy's past by now.

 

[brasssbonanzaa]

There were at least two sections in the "UConn" area of the final four that Uconn could have purchased but must have elected not to. The entire lower and first upper level of the arena were divided up fairly equal between all schools except for two glaring "KY" sections in the area where Uconn fans should have been.

No there weren't.

 

[gampelcrazies]

I am told by a fellow alum who has purchased tickets through the donor sale/WorldTek Travel deal every time, that this was the first time in the history of the five men's Final Fours that the Athletic Dept. offered tickets (with no strings attached, i.e. airfare, hotel, ground trans., etc.) for sale through the Alumni Association. He contends that every single time UCONN has made the Final Four they have sent tickets back from the donor/season ticket holder sale.

Not true. After they sell a certain amount they sell them without the airfare and hotel. I have never had to buy the package for the past 4 final fours.

 

[UConnNick]

Not true. After they sell a certain amount they sell them without the airfare and hotel. I have never had to buy the package for the past 4 final fours.

You're correct about them selling the tickets without the travel package...to donors, but that's only because they eventually run out of hotel rooms, so they can't bundle together everything for the travel packages.

My friend, who is a donor, contends they never have opened the sale to alumni after the donor sale was completed. This time they opened it up to alumni. He contends that they sent back whatever tickets remained after the donor sale was completed in all of the Final Fours prior to this past season.

Also, when they still have the full packages available, try getting them to un-bundle the deal. Good luck. I was on the phone with them for a half hour in 1999 trying to get them to drop the airfare and ground trans. I was willing to pay the inflated hotel prices. The SALT talks with the Russians were easier than trying to get WorldTek to drop ANY part of the package. Others have had the same experience. They finally relented in my case, but probably because they thought they'd never get me off the phone.

 

[Uconn77Duke74]

I was able to buy tickets in 2009 and 2011 as just an alumni but non donor. 2014 had to get them through a friend who was a dallas alumni.

 

[Palatine]

Good stuff. I do recall stories about the 2011 FF where the UConn packages were prohibitive. Doesn't sound like they are all the way to figuring it out but this was much better. A couple of more final fours and we should work out the kinks.