Taking the family to the IU game - a foolish idea?
So, I'm thinking about taking my wife and three kids to the game. I've only been to one game at Crisler in the past decade (OSU two years back), and that was with some friends who bought a package.
This would be 5 tickets (maybe one block of two, one of three). Not being in the 1%, I have no intention of shelling out anything like the kind of money I'm seeing right now on StubHub. I also checked the MGoSpreadsheet, but saw nothing there. The nine-year old would love to be there, but would not appreciate a $60 ticket any more than she would a trip to a sports bar.
Watching the Purdue game on TV, there appeared to be a lot of empty seats... but I know this week was Spring Break and it was Purdue. This is the final game, it's IU, a top 5 opponent, and the students will be back in town. My questions for the Knowledgeable then are:
1. Am I likely to find people selling tickets in blocks of 2,3, or hey, even 5?
2. Is the best place and time to find them in front of Crisler at 3:30 on Sunday? Or is there another option besides $150 single tickets on Stubhub?
3. Would it be unlikely to suppose that I could get those tickets for less than $200 total?
Thanks for your thoughts! It's an hour drive to get there, and I'd rather not find myself outside Crisler Arena at 4:15 in the rain with four angry females staring at me in outraged disbelief....
[UPDATE]
Wow, I clearly know nothing about demand for tickets! Thanks to everyone who posted for the education - I don't think I've ever seen .the board so unanimous on a thread. Call me an educated fool, now; we'll go somewhere with a couple big screen tvs and fried appetizers and have a good time for under a hundred bucks.
...and it was in West Lafayette.
still not much of one, though!
Yeah, man, I don't think you're going to find a set of 5 tickets for less than $300. Or even a set of two and a set of three for that price.
You're best bet is probably Stubhub, late the night before the game.
They'll be very expensive scalped.
I would expect tickets to go for much more than $60. Remember Chrisler only seats 13,000 or so... about 10% of the Big House's capacity. If you're a season ticket holder this is the game to go to.
Crisler*
Bugs me, sorry. Don't mean to be an ass.
at least he didn't put "Chrysler"...
Unless you plan on spending $600+, you are likely to get shutout. Don't bother.
Don't think you'll be able to find 2 tickets together for $250, let alone 5 tickets for $300. My friend and I tried getting two seats together, but ended up having to settle for 2 tickets in the same section for $95 a piece. Good luck with your search though.
I'm sorry, but you are either extremely naive or insane if you think you can find 5 tickets for less than $200 to the biggest game of the year.
The issue with Crisler is that there is an extremely limited number of seats (around 13k) relative to the demand to attend this game. That means scalped tickets, whether StubHub or outside Crisler will stay inflated.
Besides, the empty seats you saw during the UM v. Purdue game (the home one that took place several weeks ago) were likely in the student overflow sections. Meaning those tickets were sold and the ticket holders did not show up. It's not like there are blocks of unsold tickets out there, especially this year.
If you really want to go, pony up the cash on StubHub. If you want to be cheap, no shame in staying home and watching on CBS. Besides, it probably wouldn't be wise to bring small children to a game that will have such a rowdy and intense atmosphere. Break them in with a Northwestern or non-conference game.
Dad swear through clenched teeth (maybe that is just me). Go with a friend and take the family to an earlier season game next year when your blood pressure will be lower along with the ticket prices.
Good luck, but this is going to be a tough one to find good seats at affordable prices. This is one of THE games of the season, certainly for Michigan, and the ramifications are obviously huge. It will probably also be the last chance to see Burke play at Crisler.
I'm sorry, but you are either extremely naive or insane if you think you can find 5 tickets for less than $200 to the biggest game of the year.
The issue with Crisler is that there is an extremely limited number of seats (around 13k) relative to the demand to attend this game. That means scalped tickets, whether StubHub or outside Crisler will stay inflated.
Besides, the empty seats you saw during the UM v. Purdue game (the home one that took place several weeks ago) were likely in the student overflow sections. Meaning those tickets were sold and the ticket holders did not show up. It's not like there are blocks of unsold tickets out there, especially this year.
If you really want to go, pony up the cash on StubHub. If you want to be cheap, no shame in staying home and watching on CBS. Besides, it probably wouldn't be wise to bring small children to a game that will have such a rowdy and intense atmosphere. Break them in with a Northwestern or non-conference game.
I'm sorry, but you are either extremely naive or insane if you think you can find 5 tickets for less than $200 to the biggest game of the year.
The issue with Crisler is that there is an extremely limited number of seats (around 13k) relative to the demand to attend this game. That means scalped tickets, whether StubHub or outside Crisler will stay inflated.
Besides, the empty seats you saw during the UM v. Purdue game (the home one that took place several weeks ago) were likely in the student overflow sections. Meaning those tickets were sold and the ticket holders did not show up. It's not like there are blocks of unsold tickets out there, especially this year.
If you really want to go, pony up the cash on StubHub. If you want to be cheap, no shame in staying home and watching on CBS. Besides, it probably wouldn't be wise to bring small children to a game that will have such a rowdy and intense atmosphere. Break them in with a Northwestern or non-conference game.
I recently tried to buy tickets outside of the stadium for the home Penn State game in February (game was sold out). There were people selling, but asking $80 per ticket for nosebleeds and $150 per for lower sections. And that was for Penn State. Granted it was the rededication of the Crisler Center so that definitely made it tougher.
Good problem to have for the team though. When I was there in the early 2000's they rarely, if ever, sold out. Good luck and Go Blue!
Save the money for when the team plays at the Palace in two weeks
March 10th, 2013 at 10:44 AM ^
Speaking of which, as soon as Michigan wins today, I would buy your tickets. You can still get full session tickets for $150 for the upper level on ticketmaster. However, on Stubhub they're already going for more. Once it is obvious that Michigan or MSU is in the palace, those tickets will sell out and the full session tickets on Stubhub will shoot up, I'm sure.
Ask again after the game.
This will be the biggest game played at Crisler in a very long time. This game will also be a big game for Hoosier fans as it will be not horribly far away and a chance to clinch the Big Ten title outright. Both fanbases really want these tickets. You'll be lucky to get 2 tickets together for less than $200 a piece. Me and my wife are going (upper corner, not great seats) and have fielded a few offers from friends and acquantiences of upwards of $300 each. These offers were swiftly rejected. So, to put it bluntly, this an awful game to think about taking your kids to. For the cheapest 5 together that you could possibly fine, you'd be far over on the wrong side of $500, if not worse.
If I were you I'd pass on this game, just go to a sports bar or the like, and try and grab tickets when Michigan plays at the Palace to start the NCAAs
I don't know if I'd have a family outing at the sports bar. I'd just watch it at home.
Unfortunately, this was a game you needed to act upon a lot sooner than this if you have a limited budget. This is a game people had circled on the calendar all year. You're going to have to pay through the nose to go.
I think we sold out every Big Ten game this year. Sellouts are probably going to be the norm for the forseeable future. That's great for the program but not so good for those looking for cheap tickets.
If I were you, I'd save the money. Besides, it looks like there's a great chance Michigan ends up playing at the Palace for the 2nd and 3rd round. Tickets will be considerably easier to come by, and probably cheaper too. That would virtually be a home game for Michigan as well, so you'd still get a great atmosphere. If I were you, I'd take your kids to that over the IU game this weekend.
Low-angle camera views of tose first round NCAA games show tons of empty seats.
Don't assume that will be true for Auburn Hills, though. With U-M and MSU both in line to go there, a lot of tickets will be sold. It might already be sold out.
March 10th, 2013 at 10:51 AM ^
http://www.ticketmaster.com/event/080048AA7D48255C?artistid=1239566&maj…
Looks like 3-4 thousand full session tickets left. All in the upper level, mostly in the corners. Though, I'm sure that if Michigan wins today, all but assuring they'll be at the Palace, they'll sell out quickly.
Upvoted for any father who is considering if and how he can bring his kids to UM games. Good for you.
But also, no way will you be able to do it. Save for college or even better, more video games and candy.
When GRIII's daddy came to Crisler for the last game of the season, with the Big Ten Championship on the line, my friends and I got scalped tickets prior to the game. Paid about $200 a piece, though they were good seats. And this was some 20 years ago. We lost and all, but still, one of the best game experiences I've been too.
This Sunday? Biggest game in that stadium since that date, and possible even longer.
Unanimous. True.
I think your sports bar update is the best idea.
Related question, what is the youngest age you should consider bringing your son to a game? I have a four year old and I'm confident that he would only challenge my ability to watch the game. I took him to a Tiger's game last year and I might as well have chased him around the parking lot for free.
Should I wait until he is at least 6 years old? Once I get enough points, I would love to start a thread. One day...
I took my then 4 year old to a hockey game, and we stayed for two periods. At a game a week later my then 6 year old stayed and enjoyed the whole thing. Hockey has big advantages: it was easy to get to the bathroom and for food, you get to sit pretty close to the action, and the game moves right along. Plus the kid doesn't have to understand much at all - they'll probably love the violence of guys hitting the glass (I did explain to my girls that the players had lots of pads to keep them safe), and they get the basic idea right away. Then there's the band... they had a great time.
Football on the other hand is pretty tough for little kids. Usually you're sitting pretty far away from the action, and they can't understand it well anyway. Even if they kind of get it on tv, they will be mystified in person - no slow mo, no closeups. Then there's the problem with how slow the game actually goes, and challenges getting from to and from your seats. Plus the weather issues - kids get cold a lot faster than us big people. I took my then 10 year old to a football game, and frankly it wasn't that great even then. Football is a lot more fun for you with friends, anyway.