How to Get Tickets to the Men's NCAA Final Four

Tickets to the Men's NCAA Final Four basketball championships are becoming some of the most coveted tickets in all of sports. The NCAA sells very few to the general public through a nationwide lottery, and a limited number of tickets go to the participating schools. If you follow these steps you'll increase your chances of getting tickets.

Instructions

    • 1

      Contact the NCAA's website a year ahead of time to apply for the ticket lottery. The application process runs from mid-March through May for the next year's tournament. You can apply for tickets any time during this window.

    • 2

      Submit your application 10 times, the maximum the NCAA allows. To increase your chances, have your friends also submit 10 applications. Be aware that each application requires full payment for the tickets, plus a small application fee. If you don't get tickets, you will receive a refund of the ticket price, but the application fee is nonrefundable.

    • 3

      Wait for the NCAA to conduct its random drawing in July. The NCAA will notify you if one of your applications is successful. You will be refunded any extra money you put toward multiple applications.

    • 4

      Take an alternate course if you don't get tickets in the NCAA's drawing. Wait until the Final Four teams are known and contact the schools. Each school will have an allotment of tickets. You will have to camp out at the ticket offices of these schools several nights before tickets go on sale to have any chance of beating the local fans to the tickets.

    • 5

      Call a ticket broker as a last resort if you don't get tickets. Most ticket brokers overload the application process and almost guarantee themselves tickets. You will pay more for these tickets than you would for ones you get from the NCAA.

    • 6

      Find a scalper at the Final Four venue. Again, you will pay a lot of money for the tickets, but it's worth it if March Madness has you desperate. Make sure you check the tickets before you hand over the money, and don't draw attention to yourself. Scalping is illegal.