Ticket Economics
I am a recent grad from UofM and have enjoyed inexpensive, easily accessible tickets the last couple of years. I will be traveling 1000 miles to Ann Arbor this November for the big game. However at the moment I do not have a ticket. Does anyone have any advice on scoring a ticket to the game for a reasonable price? I'd like to spend less than $200. Where is a good place to get a ticket, when is a good time to buy? If OSU beats USC next week how will that affect the prices?
September 7th, 2009 at 4:29 AM ^
its a major sellers market for the big one. i do wish you good luck on finding something under 200, because you'll need it.
regardless, here are your best bets:
1) old contacts and friends, i.e. students, at UM, who can ask around for you. there will invariably be someone who realizes they cannot make it, and wants to sell off their tickets. the cheapest seats (even after scalper markups) will be the in student section. and the student section is the best place to be. win-win.
2) go here: http://www.thediag.com/events/309. I've bought tickets off of there several times. never been disappointed.
3) check in the with the alumni association? they might be able to direct you to someone. you can buy tix through the alumni association in the spring if you are a member.
4) ebay/stubhub/craigslist - crapshoot here. stubhub and ebay are some what more reliable, craigslist might have more opportunities.
5) head over to the stadium before kickoff and look for someone willing to sell - yeah...
good luck though!
September 7th, 2009 at 3:16 AM ^
A month ago, the ticket office was offering packages to season ticket holders that included EMU, Delaware State and either OSU or ND. You had to buy all three games, but the total price of the package was $165. Probably not the best seats and do not know if they ever opened it up to the general public, but you might call them and see if they still have anything.
September 7th, 2009 at 11:07 AM ^
The same was true with the ND game. I waited (not necessarily the best advice) but then i was able to buy a ticket for the ND game alone for 65 (plus tax).
I had to buy two tickets but they only allowed me to "reserve" a ticket one at a time. I 'backpacked' about 6 until i found two in the same section, same seat, one row apart (I'm in row 1, my girlfriend is in row 2.) I consider that a steal!
September 7th, 2009 at 7:09 AM ^
I have never been shut out of a UM/OSU game, and usually found a ticket on the street for right around face or maybe a little over. If you are willing to take the big risk and travel 1000 miles with no ticket, you can almost always get a ticket at CUB'S AC and not even have to participate in the street economy.
During my time in Ann Arbor, I probably went to about twenty games at the spur of the moment with no ticket, and was only shut out of one: Notre Dame. The ND people pay big bucks to the scalpers and drive the prices up to a point where it's more fun to watch it on TV. OSU people, as much as I dislike them, seem to drive the prices down, and don't show up without a ticket as much as ND people do.
Either way, good luck.
September 7th, 2009 at 8:18 AM ^
...but is Coach and Four on State, next to Mr. Spot's, still the scalping hub? I think when I was a student the barber in that place was nothing but a front for all the tickets that moved through that guy.
Interesting stories about scalping--I have never tried it, except for the occassional single ticket as I was walking into M Stadium (usually for like $20), just to get something for a ticket that someone never showed up for. I will never have the guts to show up for a Michigan game without a ticket in hand--with the fear of both not getting in and missing kickoff on TV.
September 7th, 2009 at 9:17 AM ^
I just checked, and singles are apparently still available through the UM ticket office online.
September 7th, 2009 at 11:31 AM ^
I'll check out all those options. Thanks a bunch.