B1G Championship Game tix/Shoowin redux
I know that this was a topic 2 weeks ago https://mgoblog.com/mgoboard/big-ten-championship-ticket-prices
but this angle was not explored. Shoowin is linked on the B1G site to get tickets along with Ticketmaster. Shoowin says, " ShooWin Reservations are not tickets. ShooWin Reservations are team and game specific reservations for the guaranteed right and obligation to purchase a ticket if the team you have chosen qualifies to play in the game. ShooWin Reservations are non-refundable. "
Each team has different prices to reserve. I just searched for the best seats which are club level lower. Here is what I found. Michigan $350 OSU $300 Northwestern $35 Iowa $19. Through the chat I confirmed that this is just the reservation fee. Then you pay the face value of the ticket ($190) if your team makes it. If you reserve for Michigan then the ticket will ultimately cost you $540 plus I imagine some "convenience fees". If Michigan does not make it you lose $190 per ticket.
Now why would anyone reserve under Michigan or OSU when they could reserve under the most likely West representative Northwestern or outside chance Iowa? You can reserve for more than one team. So a $54 (both Northwestern and Iowa) hedge gets you the guarantee of a ticket.
Has anyone "reserved" a ticket this way? Some previous posters have said this game does not sell out and others have said that it does and tickets are hard to get days before. I have not looked at hotel reservations to book something that is refundable yet. What am I missing in the Shoowin equation?
November 6th, 2018 at 3:16 PM ^
NW is basically a lock to get out of the west, I'd go that route.
November 6th, 2018 at 3:21 PM ^
By S&P+, Northwestern is only around 50% to win the division. ESPN FPI is a little higher on them and currently projecting them into the B1G Championship Game, but I would hardly call it a lock. The advanced stats have Northwestern as worse than their actual record and winning 2 of their last 3 games in not a layup for them. They won two games against Nebraska and Purdue that they probably had no business winning and beat Wisconsin without Hornibrook.
November 6th, 2018 at 3:25 PM ^
Northwestern has to beat Minnesota on the road and Illinois at home and they win the West.
You can examine that however you want. I don't trust NW as far as I can throw them, but that still sounds likely.
November 6th, 2018 at 4:21 PM ^
Well, with your bad knee, Ed, you shouldn't throw anybody.
November 6th, 2018 at 6:06 PM ^
Oooh Ed, you sounded just like Dirty Harry for a minute there.
November 6th, 2018 at 3:18 PM ^
If Michigan is in the championship game the game is going to sell out and be expensive.
November 6th, 2018 at 3:23 PM ^
I think it depends on the opponent as well. Northwestern winning the West would open up more potential tickets.
November 6th, 2018 at 3:27 PM ^
Michigan's first time there. Easy driving distance. Playoff berth probably on the line. Even with additional tickets available on the NW side this game will be pricey.
November 6th, 2018 at 3:32 PM ^
It's the B1G Championship Game so I wasn't expecting to pay a Rutger price. I was talking relative to average. And I think a championship game featuring Northwestern will be below average in price as compared to trying to buy a ticket to Wisconsin-OSU, PSU-Wisconsin, or MSU-Iowa in the last three years.
November 6th, 2018 at 4:03 PM ^
Counterpoint: I've gone to every G1G Championship Game except last year when I sold my seats to my Buckeye fan boss. The B1G Championship Game has never sold out, and that includes the several games OSU has played in, which also included games that were statement games to send the winner to the CFP (2014 OSU over Wisc, 2015 MSU over Iowa, 2016 PSU over Wisc & 2017 OSU over Wisc notwithstanding as both winners made as strong a case as any team could).
If you want to guarantee good seats and are willing to pay $200-$300 over face, just buy them off stubhub or some other 3rd party seller, or find a scalper in downtown Indy the day of the game. The seats will be there and available. If you just want to get in the door, you will be able to walk up to the stadium and buy them day of as well.
November 6th, 2018 at 4:37 PM ^
MSU-Iowa was literally a national playoff play-in. Nebraska and Wisconsin fans travel extremely well and if this has never sold out that includes a game between those two teams.
Doesn't sound like the game will be that hard to get into.
November 6th, 2018 at 4:59 PM ^
You're right. It may sell out this year, but there are a number of dynamics that work against it being an annual sell-out:
1) Very often, fans don't know if they're playing there until 7 days prior.
2) Teams playing will often be going to a very good Bowl Game, or the CFP. Folks without an unlimited budget may choose the Bowl vs. the B1G Championship.
3) People are also spending $ on Christmas during this time of year. Also works against folks without an unlimited budget.
4) Indianapolis isn't a hub airport - so not the easiest place in the world to get plane tickets to. Indianapolis also isn't Atlanta (host city for the SEC Championship).
5) Some fan bases (e.g., Wisconsin) may suffer from "Indianapolis fatigue." Oh, we're here again?
It's still a good game, and Indianapolis does a good job hosting the event. It's just not a guaranteed annual sell-out.
November 6th, 2018 at 4:35 PM ^
No it won't. It's a road trip game for both fanbases with potentially one week's notice in a large NFL stadium.
November 6th, 2018 at 3:26 PM ^
Why would you even need to reserve a ticket? Neutral site at a large stadium with a bad matchup. I guess we haven't gone before but yeah reserving a ticket is bad. Just buy them when/if they make it. Also hotels have been full for weeks. I reserved a place 10 miles out two weeks ago. May cancel if needed but hopefully not.
November 6th, 2018 at 3:34 PM ^
The only time I think it is worth it is if you care about where you sit. If all you want is to get into the stadium then I agree with you. If you want to sit on the 50 in the lower bowl then reserving is probably a good option since the secondary market for premium seats will likely be insane for Michigan's first trip to Indy.
November 6th, 2018 at 4:04 PM ^
I found a place on Airbnb after the MSU game a mile from the stadium...those are selling out fast too though...
November 6th, 2018 at 6:32 PM ^
The hotel thing is what I'm trying to figure out. Yeah, you check now on the travel sites and everything in a 10 mile radius of the stadium is booked. I have to believe a lot of those reservations are from various fanbases who may not get to the game. We'd definitely like to go if Michigan gets there. Indy is a great place to visit for sports events. Lots of great places to eat near the stadium area.
November 7th, 2018 at 3:26 PM ^
Yeah I'm with you on this one...tickets are still up on Ticketmaster plus lots on Stubhub. I reserved a hotel in Carmel the other day as well just in case...
November 6th, 2018 at 3:27 PM ^
I remember laughing at MSU a few years ago at reports that the B1G or somesuch was forced into paying people to attend and fill up empty seats. Is anyone aware of this really happening?
November 6th, 2018 at 3:46 PM ^
Yes, it happened. I was a volunteer at Indiana Sports Corporation and tickets were literally given away.
November 6th, 2018 at 3:52 PM ^
Had to have been MSU - Iowa, right? I can’t imagine when they played the Buckeyes their fans didn’t show.
November 6th, 2018 at 4:05 PM ^
Even the Buckeyes don't have enough fans travel the 3 hrs for the game when they make it...the game never sells out.
November 6th, 2018 at 4:32 PM ^
That's it. Iowa was 12-0, iirc.
November 6th, 2018 at 5:48 PM ^
Shame on MSU and their fans but credit to the Iowa fans who did make the trip as there were multiple reports Iowa fans apparently bought all the beer in Indy and they were able to attempt to strip the stadium in their black and yellow at a neutral site game.
https://thespun.com/national/iowa-fans-are-apparently-buying-all-of-the-beer-in-indianapolis
https://www.sbnation.com/college-football/2015/12/5/9854572/iowa-fans-indianapolis-beer
https://www.reddit.com/r/CFB/comments/3vkr5u/iowa_fans_drank_a_indy_bar_out_of_beer/
November 6th, 2018 at 3:47 PM ^
I've been looking at hotels and every room within walking distance to the stadium is booked already. I think the closest hotel with availability is almost 6 miles away. Not far by any stretch of the imagination, but was hoping to find something connected to the stadium.
November 6th, 2018 at 3:59 PM ^
A lot of those rooms MIGHT open up if say OSU or Wisky are eliminated from contention as those fans may have booked a hotel and can still cancel without a fee. Keep checking each Monday or so would be my advice.
November 6th, 2018 at 3:55 PM ^
Stub hub and seat geek have the east and west sidelines different. anyone know the actual east sideline?
November 6th, 2018 at 4:25 PM ^
Interesting. Ticketmaster has it the same as Stubhub.
November 7th, 2018 at 3:28 PM ^
I'd go w/Ticketmaster since they are the official retailer for the Big Ten. I believe that is correct, which would explain why there are so many more open seats on the West sideline (Michigan, MSU, PSU, OSU buying up tickets ahead of time).
November 6th, 2018 at 3:56 PM ^
You lose the cost of the option ($350). You never purchase the ticket because the option expires if Michigan is not in the game. Also, hotels within walking distance are booked a year in advance.
November 6th, 2018 at 4:22 PM ^
Tix have been on sale for weeks (months?) on Ticketmaster. I bought a pair for $75/ea plus fees a couple weeks ago. Not great seats, but not terrible either. If we don't go, I'll get what I can for them on StubHub. If we do, and I can get better seats through UM, I'll buy 'em and sell the ones I already bought.
I booked a cancellable hotel on the outskirts months ago. Downtown rooms were available back then, but I just won't pay what they're asking.
November 6th, 2018 at 4:39 PM ^
Curious which hotels had space? I never saw anything open up. I’ve had mine since last December. Tried to get something else since then but nothing was ever open.
November 6th, 2018 at 4:27 PM ^
I know people who spent $18 a ticket for M reservations the week prior to the MSU game. The cost for reservation has climbed steeply as the season has progressed.
November 6th, 2018 at 4:45 PM ^
When you paid to reserve, do you also get charged the face value of ticket once team makes the game? There is a chance you would be charged for a NW/OSU game then right? I'm guessing you wouldn't get your tickets with enough time to resell them either.
You would also be in a section with mostly NW fans if that matters to you.
November 6th, 2018 at 5:37 PM ^
You would get charged the ticket if the team you reserve it under makes it. But I am not sure time frame for resale to an OSU fan.
November 6th, 2018 at 4:47 PM ^
Me and 5 of my buddies all pulled the trigger during the 3rd qrt last week. $165 section 517 front row. Airbnb 3 bedroom house 1.1 miles away......Priceless. We will be attending the game regardless. Indy is a great town. We are getting there Friday night, leaving Sunday morning. Pumped. We will have #ClearyStrong on the back of our MICHIGAN T-Shirts for our close friend at 36, had a stoke and is still in a coma. If you see us in a brewery or tailgating stop by and have a beer with us. Go Blue.
November 6th, 2018 at 5:45 PM ^
Besides hotel rooms and tickets, the other thing to consider is making a reservation at one of the dining establishments around the stadium, as they fill up early and stay that way until about 40 minutes before kickoff (or as soon as people realize they’ll miss the kick if they sit down for dinner). St Elmo’s (world famous cocktail sauce), Harry & Izzies (sister location to St Elmo’s), and Ruth Chris were all booked when I went to set a reservation, but I will be at Fogo de chao at 6pm so it worked out.
November 6th, 2018 at 9:37 PM ^
Let’s win our next three games.