Ticket watch: buy now or wait?

Submitted by Malarkey on January 3rd, 2024 at 12:17 PM

Prices are nuts, but they don’t seem to be dropping anymore 

olm_go_blue

January 3rd, 2024 at 2:09 PM ^

Yea, I'm so boned. Ok with tickets and hotel prices, but the plane tix are now officially insane. Like 10x cost at 2.5k. I just can't fathom paying that. 😫 

If they don't drop, I don't know what to do. Even flying to Austin and driving doesn't drop that much. And the options aren't great. Sigh.

Michigan_Math_Alum

January 3rd, 2024 at 8:01 PM ^

I did this several months ago with Southwest, which is nice because even the lowest fares give you a voucher with no time limits if you cancel.  When I checked several weeks ago to consider changing who might fly down with me, prices had doubled. I am glad that I scheduled some time for sightseeing ahead of the game so that I will hopefully beat out an upcoming storm on the east coast.

Doing the CFP RSVP the morning before the Big 10 championship game worked out well for me, though it was certainly a risk.  The seats aren’t great and prices may get cheaper as we get closer to the game, but it is nice not to have to try to decide on getting tickets now.  I am also very glad we won so that I won’t get blamed for throwing away money on the RSVP option and getting nothing in return.

MaizeBlueA2

January 3rd, 2024 at 5:52 PM ^

I bought my flight and hotel right after we beat OSU and just paid $25 extra for the refundable rates on both.

Flying roundtrip for less than $200 and my hotel is $134/night.

I'm Flying in Monday at 9am and leaving Tuesday at 3pm.

 

...now I just have to find a damn ticket! I'm waiting, but I'm getting antsy!

olm_go_blue

January 3rd, 2024 at 7:17 PM ^

That was wise, great foresight. I was a few months removed from an awesome boys trip, coming up on the holiday with 2 little ones, and not really even thinking of attending. Then my wife just said go for it. I don't mind overpaying the $400 for 2 nights at hotel, and the ticket gouging is annoying, but its ok. Its really the flights I didn't think would get this bad, and I don't fly often, so even a credit may have gone unused. 

Hindsight! Wish it were in Indianapolis again so I could drive. Le sigh.

BlueInEnemyTerritory

January 3rd, 2024 at 12:30 PM ^

We're heading to Houston, so I've been tracking since Monday before the game.  Prices have dropped significantly, and more volume continues to come online.  There should be added volume when the school seats hit the secondary market (Thurs?).  It's nerve-wracking, but I suggest waiting til Friday/Sat before pulling the trigger.  Watch for when the volume of tickets start to slide as your key.

WoodleyIsBeast

January 3rd, 2024 at 1:03 PM ^

Literally what I'm doing. Also driving....Before you call me nuts, I'm going to split it up between Saturday and Sunday. Main reason is because I'm worried flights will get cancelled with this weekend weather. I've been having that happen a lot with work flights even with fine weather and I don't want to risk it.

HarmonHowardWoodson

January 3rd, 2024 at 2:09 PM ^

At some point there has to be a collusion/monopolistic case against the secondary ticket market right? It sure seems that they have colluded together to create an atmosphere where there is no way for the consumer to get out of the exorbitant fees.

It's been quite a few years since I've LISTED tickets on the secondary market, but I read recently that at least one of the sites makes you sign away the right to price the ticket yourself, meaning they can artificially keep the market high and pocket the difference in addition to the fees (might have read that here). That, to me, should be exhibit A on why things need to change.

mGrowOld

January 3rd, 2024 at 12:31 PM ^

No movement today either way (up or down) and I think it's because everybody is waiting for tomorrow's release of the respective university's ticket allotment.  Once that's done I think we'll see significant pricing movement although I have no idea in which direction because while some folks will have secured tickets (and will therefore out of the market) others will not so they'll get forced in.

I'm still in wait and see mode given the sheer volume of tickets still available for purchase.  As long as there's a glut of availability then all the pricing pressure will be downward as we approach kickoff next Monday night.

FYI today is my cut-off on go/no go as my hotel reservation locks in tonight at midnight.  Airfair & rental car can be cancelled without financial loss up until Saturday when my flight departs but the room is non-refundable after today.

MaizeBlueA2

January 3rd, 2024 at 5:54 PM ^

Agreed... I'm with you. I'm buying them, but I'm not going to waste a few hundred dollars if I don't have to.

I'm just going to see what happens when the ticket dump takes place and I'll get in quickly.

I've got my apps and I'm checking every other hour...so I feel good.

brettsoz

January 3rd, 2024 at 12:51 PM ^

We pulled the trigger last night. Were watching them slowly creep down all day but eventually seemed to plateau late in the day. We wanted to sit 6 together so felt like the sooner the better and finally agreed on a section and price point

Were watching all the sites. VividSeats seems to have the lowest prices because their fees seem to be lower. But they don't show fees unless you go thru the entire purchase process.

TeslaRedVictorBlue

January 3rd, 2024 at 1:05 PM ^

Is it fair to assume that behind the Michigan bench, that half, will be Michigan fans? If I do take the plunge, I don't want to be surrounded by Washington fans... It seemed pretty clearly figured for the rose bowl.

Thoughts? Help?

FB Dive

January 3rd, 2024 at 1:43 PM ^

FWIW I sat on the Bama side for the Rose Bowl because they were cheaper and it was fine. There were still plenty of Michigan fans, and the Bama fans (with one exception) were very friendly and civil.

To answer your question directly, yes, the seats behind the Michigan sideline will be predominantly Michigan fans, and vice versa.

lhglrkwg

January 3rd, 2024 at 1:19 PM ^

I don't think they're going to drop. It's the week of the game. If you're gonna fork out the cash, just be thankful Texas isn't our opponent because they'd be considerably higher if they were

Soulfire21

January 3rd, 2024 at 1:44 PM ^

I think a lot of supply should hit tomorrow, which will drop some prices as tickets continue to be released. We plan on likely purchasing tomorrow, but we budgeted a hefty number for this one.

the Glove

January 3rd, 2024 at 1:55 PM ^

What I think is going to happen is that you have some Alabama and Texas fans that have posted tickets on the secondary market hoping to make a profit. As the week goes on and thier tickets have not sold they'll start getting nervous and start dropping prices. They're holding now because there's a mad rush of Michigan and Washington fans purchasing tickets. Don't expect massive drops, but a few hundred bucks. If you're really hoping to save money then purchase tickets after kickoff. They'll be people just trying to make their money back.

MaizeBlueA2

January 3rd, 2024 at 5:57 PM ^

This is exactly where I'm at... I'm not willing to bite just to give those folks their money back.

We'll wait until the dump and they start competing with each other to sell off their tickets before it gets too low.

I'm sure I won't get it when it bottoms out and before it starts to go back up...but I'll be close.