Baba Booey

July 23rd, 2013 at 9:22 AM ^

I'm going to buy at least two tickets. I was just reading about the "Team Tix" feature that allows you to reserve tickets for a fee of at least $10 then if your team makes it to the B1G title game, you get the tickets you reserved for face value.  If your team doesn't make it you lose your reservation fee, which may only be $20. It might be easier than buying tickets then trying to sell them if UM doesn't make it.

goblueram

July 23rd, 2013 at 9:40 AM ^

https://bigten.teamtix.com/content/home

"fans can go to bigten.teamtix.com to purchase, for as little as $10, the right to buy “TeamTix.” If the team they specify qualifies, that fan is guaranteed a ticket to the game priced at face value. If the team they specify does not qualify, their “TeamTix” expires and the fan forfeits only the reservation fee. Adding to the excitement, fans can also trade their “TeamTix” in real time in the Big Ten Forward Market, where prices can rise and fall with each team’s on-field performance as the season progresses."

Sounds pretty interesting.  Could be a good option for those who are hesitant to buy tickets this far in advance with so many unknowns.  

ILMichFan70

July 23rd, 2013 at 11:09 AM ^

They had this option last year which I had done. It's a great way of assuring yourself tickets at face value and if Michigan doesn't make it you're not out that much money. I like this better than say purchasing the tickets and then having to unload them if Michigan didn't make it. Sometimes depending on where you sit at the Big Ten Championship the tickets can go well below face value so you could really lose money that way if you tried unloading them. That was the case the last two years. Plenty of cheap tickets and open sections available that were sold on Stubhub.

Lionsfan

July 23rd, 2013 at 10:35 AM ^

I wonder how many scalpers will be reserving tickets for UM/OSU. I mean, if I'm a Purdue/Illinois/IU fan, I'm reserving my tickets under OSU then UM. That way if the two heavyweights make the title game, you can buy face value tix and then flip them, and if "my" team makes the Title game, I can buy scalped seats

boliver46

July 23rd, 2013 at 9:51 AM ^

like a good deal...you get to reserve for minimal price of $10 each.  Seems better than taking the risk of getting r&ped on the secondary markets if UM gets in...

IndyBlue

July 23rd, 2013 at 9:56 AM ^

Definitely buying tickets since I live in Indy.  Worst case, Michigan doesn't make it and I either scalp them or go to the game anyway.

Bengalfang

July 23rd, 2013 at 10:03 AM ^

Last year I just went ahead and bought tickets because I had a friend that lived there that I could go with and stay with. They cost me $80 per ticket.



My friend's friend bought Tix on stubhub the day of the game for around $30 for 2 tickets after fees. Her seats were 3 rows behind us. 1/3rd the stadium was empty.



Lesson: Buy on secondary market for the Big Ten Championship.



Only way I see face value possibly increase is Ohio State vs Michigan. Which is possible but I'll still take my chances on the secondary market. Every other matchup and I bet you can get for under face value.

thisisme08

July 23rd, 2013 at 10:09 AM ^

Concurred, I bought tickets the 1st year hence I am a "season" ticket holder and the game simply has not generated enough interest even on the deal.  The 1st year I sold my tickets to some Sparty friends for face value when tickets on game day could be had for $10.  Last year I sold to some Nebraska folks on Stubhub and made about 70% of cost back. 

WolvinLA2

July 23rd, 2013 at 10:52 AM ^

Last year wasn't exactly the best matchup for ticket sales though. No M or OSU, a Nebraska team that has farther to drive than anyone and a Wisconsin team that sucked and was just there the year before. According to a Nebraska blog, many NU fans didn't go because they figured they'd beat a bad Wisconsin team and they'd be in the Rose Bowl.

Most years will not be like that.

thisisme08

July 23rd, 2013 at 11:33 AM ^

I think the B1G over estimated the demand for this game in general regardless of matchups as it wasnt any better the inaugural year either which featured a re-match of one of the best games of the 2011 season; Wisconsin/MSU.  As I said before tickets were going for below face in the days leading up to the game or $10 hours before the game.  I simply lucked out when my Sparty friends were basking in the glow of their season and were thinking with their hearts rather than their wallets. 

Additionally, they've discussed making "season" holders reserve hotel rooms along with their tickets to force them to put more skin in the game (aka no empty seats).  Also, they allowed holders to upgrade this year to fill in those bottom sections, as well as lower the price on a block of previously $120 seats to $90 IIRC. 

For me, I understand that anything short of M or Ohio being in the game means I will never get a return on the "investment" but as this is a game I could make on short notice, its worth it to me.    

WolvinLA2

July 23rd, 2013 at 11:50 AM ^

Well, I think the Big Ten banked on M or OSU (or both) being in the game almost every year, and if not them, some top team making a run.

A rematch of a great regular season game just isn't that exciting when it's Wisconsin and MSU. And although Wisconsin-Nebraska was a better match up program-wise, Wisconsin was there by default and even Nebraska wasn't that great last year.

Derek

July 23rd, 2013 at 10:53 AM ^

Speaking as a web developer (so my opinion comes certified), the Big Ten's site is horrible. I hope they don't actually pay CBS for it.

On the tickets, I might give it a go, but StubHub seems a better bet. Indy isn't a long trip from anywhere in the Midwest, but I doubt that that many people will have the appetite to make the trip one week after the end of the regular season and less than a month before the bowl game.

Eat Your Wheatlies

July 23rd, 2013 at 10:56 AM ^

They were nowhere even close to filling that place last year. Heck, they were practically giving them away to try and somewhat fill the stadium if I remember correctly (offering them for like $15 the week leading up to the event). Granted it wasn't UM/ohio, but there should be tons of tickets available for below face value on secondary markets.

WolvinLA2

July 23rd, 2013 at 11:02 AM ^

For all of you who think getting tickets on stubhub will be a breeze - keep in mind that OSU is almost guaranteed to be in the game this year, and if it's M-OSU they will want to pack the house to make up for playing in AA the week before. If Michigan goes, the only way stubhub is a good idea is if we play not-OSU, and I don't see that happening.

MLaw06

July 23rd, 2013 at 1:53 PM ^

this is kind of stupid.  $10 bucks is the option price... and it's static regardless of the team's chance of making it to the B1G championship game....

you don't have to be a derivatives expert to know that you should just choose the team with the highest chance of making it in order to guarantee yourself face value tix (i.e., just choose Ohio).