How to Buy NCAA March Madness Tickets

Long before Division 1 college basketball teams are seeded in early March, tickets to any of the NCAA championship games are sold out. If you get an early start, you can buy tickets at face value, but more likely you will be forced to head to a ticket agency or scalper.

Things You'll Need

  • NCAA schedule
  • Ticket application
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Instructions

  1. Obtain Tickets Directly From the Hosts

    • 1

      Stop fretting about your favorite NCAA team's loss and look towards next year. Ticket information for March Madness is usually announced sometime in April of the year prior to the game.

    • 2

      Purchase authentic tickets directly from the NCAA or the host arena. You need to submit an application for tickets, and the deadlines vary by host.

    • 3

      Get your application in early as series tickets are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis. Unsuccessful applicants receive a refund of the ticket price.

    • 4

      Plan ahead by visiting the official NCAA website (see Resources below). The schedule and future game sites are posted about three to four years in advance.

    Purchase Reseller Tickets

    • 5

      Look for licensed resellers, who often connected with the host city's organizational committee, to avoid purchasing fake tickets.

    • 6

      Buy your NCAA tickets from a ticket agency with a 100 percent guarantee. You should not only receive a refund if the game is canceled for any reason, but also if there is a problem with the tickets. Read the fine print!

    • 7

      Expect to pay three to four times face value, and sometimes much more, for March Madness tickets from an agency--even though reselling tickets for above face value is not actually permitted. Shop around, as prices will vary between ticket brokers, especially if you buy at the last minute.

    • 8

      Look for a ticket agency that lets you secure specific seats instead of merely guaranteeing a section. The more details you finalize before paying, the better your chances are of getting what you want.