Market Impact of Duke’s Tournament Exit

Attending the NCAA men’s Final Four in Indianapolis this coming Saturday has become more affordable following Duke's dramatic defeat. The Blue Devils’ loss to UConn, sealed by a last-second shot from Braylon Mullins during Sunday night’s Elite Eight clash, significantly altered ticket demand.

According to data from Gametime, entry-level ticket prices reached a high of $594 on Sunday as it appeared Duke was poised to advance. Following their late-game collapse, the cheapest available tickets for the semifinal matchups—UConn vs. Illinois and Michigan vs. Arizona—fell to approximately $500. Currently, the average price for Final Four tickets sits at $1,397, with premium seats reaching as high as $7,869.


Championship Game and Women’s Tournament Pricing

For the men’s national championship game scheduled for Monday, the barrier to entry is lower than the semifinals. The current get-in price is $192, with an average ticket price of $857 and top-tier seats listed at $17,599.

In contrast, the women’s tournament structure shows a different pricing trend. Attending the championship game is generally more expensive than the Final Four rounds. Based on Gametime data:

  • Women’s Championship: Average price of $776 with a get-in price of $236.
  • Women’s Semifinals: Average price of $644 with a get-in price of $212.

Fans looking for the most value may find the semifinal matchups in Phoenix—featuring South Carolina vs. UConn and Texas vs. UCLA—to be the most appealing option.


Tournament Schedule and Viewing Information

Men’s Final Four (Saturday, April 4):

  • Illinois vs. UConn: 6:09 p.m. ET (TBS, TNT, TruTV). Line: Illinois -1.
  • Michigan vs. Arizona: 8:49 p.m. ET. Line: Michigan -1.

Men’s National Championship (Monday, April 6):

  • Start time: 8:30 p.m. ET.

Women’s Final Four (Friday, April 3):

  • South Carolina vs. UConn: 7 p.m. ET (ESPN). Line: UConn -6.
  • Texas vs. UCLA: 9:30 p.m. ET (ESPN). Line: Texas -2.

Women’s National Championship (Sunday, April 5):

  • Start time: 3:30 p.m. ET (ABC).