Kathy

Does anyone know how to go about getting tickets for the NCAA basketball tournament for either the 1st and 2nd round games in Pittsburgh this coming weekend or for the Regionals in Syracuse on March 22 or 24? Thanks.

Ang

If traveling to see a specific school, each school is given a block of tickets and you should contact that school's athletic office. Otherwise, you will have to call a ticketbroker or doa search on the internet (sky high prices) I believe tickets for the Chicago rounds are already sold out and they jsut went on sale today. My dad was able to get some bu tit was hard and he started calling early this morning.

Owen O' Neill

Don't know how to score tix but if you get them and need info/advice on all things related to Syracuse... feel free to e-mail me direct. It's my hometown and I still keep a small apt there as my job has me there twice every month for several days at a time.

Tango

On more than 1 occasion back in the early 90's, I would walk up and buy tickets at the Dome in Syracuse for NCAA Tourney games.

Rarely will they sell 35,000 tickets for these games.

Just give the box office a call and they should be able to take care of you...

Please let me know how you do.

Annie

I live in Syracuse and hope you are able to come and visit us for the NCAAs. For ticket information call the Carrier Dome Box Office at: 1-888-366-3849 or 1-315-443-2121. Please post back if you need any hotel or restaurant information. Good Luck!

Harriett

According to today's Post-Gazette, the Pittsburgh event is (and apparently has been) completely sold out. Ticket sales were/are being handled by Duquesne University (www.duq.edu), but their website also says that there are no tickets available. I'll check the paper again tomorrow and post here if there's more info; the Duquesne website does have a phone number, I think.

PS -- Because University of Mississippi is playing here in first round, I just called their athletic office which is, of course, closed at 11 p.m. They had 300 tickets for sale; I'll let you know if I find out anything.

Harriett

Kathy

Thank you all for your advice. We called the Carrier Dome today and the only seats left are "distant view" seats way up at the top. Can you see anything from there? Tango, since you've been there before, are there scalpers outside selling tickets at a reasonable price? I don't mind spending a little over face value. We have 2 teenage sons who love this tournament and would love to see it in person. We live a short drive away in Buffalo so we're thinking it might almost be worth it to take the trip and see if we can get tickets there from someone selling them outside. Annie, what are your hotel and restaurant suggestions? We'd like something close to the Carrier Dome (assuming that's the center of things) preferrably with an indoor pool. Would like restaurants where older kids could find something to eat but that would also appeal to adults. Thanks!

Kathy

to the top, still looking for advice from Tango and Annie.

brian

as a vet of these tournament games the sooner you act the better. contact the schools that are participating. The first round games are easier to get tickets and as each round comes up tickets are harder to come by and more expensive from scalpers. Wait until the game starts and ticket prices come down fast. good luck

local

Kathy- The only hotel within walking distance of the Dome is the University Sheraton, but I'm sure it's sold out already. The chain hotels around Carrier Circle (an EZ exit off the thruway for you) are probably your best bet for availablitlity. I think a couple of them have indoor pools... you'll have to do an Internet search. The Holiday Inn at Farrell Rd would be a good location, too (right off the thruway)
A favorite restaurant is the Dinosaur BBQ downtown. Armory Square (also downtown) has a number of neat restaurants: Pastabilities & the Phantom Club are 2 of my favorites.
I hope you can get tickets and enjoy the game!

kit

Hi Kathy,

I'm a Madness junkie, as my team is always invited! I always just book flights/hotels and go to the city where the game is. You will definitely find scalpers outside for the first game -- and usually at not too high a premium. Tix for the second game are even easier. Just follow the disgruntled fans from the losing teams out of the arena. (Or wait for them outside if you didn't score tix for the first games.) There will be hundreds of people trying to cut their losses at this point. (Everyone thinks their team will play both games...)

Also, check the schools' websites for the location of the pre-game pep rallies; every school will have an official function. Show up there and you may find tix.

Of course, if you can secure the tix in advance for peace of mind, that's best, but often difficult.

Owen O'Neill

The limited visibility seats will be VERY high up (the "nosebleed" section) and off to an angle away from the corner of the court. It's territory where binoculars are required to see well but there is the excitement of being there with the big crowd. There are always scalpers and chances are that prices will be lower than they are in other cities as the economy in Syracuse is not strong and hasn't been for many years. DSinosaur BBQ is fun but it's packed and cramped with a long wait even on weeknights when there are no major events going on in town. For good ales and the best roast beef sandwich you'll ever eat, try Clark's Ale House, just off Armory Square. Suggestion to get hotel near Carrier Circle is best bet ion terms of convenience and price. Whatever you do... do NOT stay at the University Tower hotel. It's an old Holiday Inn (address is either on Almond Street or East Genesee - it's at the corner of the two streets). It's a rundown pit that has seen far better days (I was sequestered overnight there and jury duty and speak from personal experience). The Extended Stay America near Carrier Circle is IMO one of the best comfort/prcie deals in the area, as is the Microtel which is a few doors away from it. Best steakhouses in town would be Sratoga Steaks or Scoth and Sirloin. Best Thai is Erawhan on Erie Blvd., but Thai Village (just down the road from them) is almost as good with muich nicer atmosphere and a shorter wait. Riley's is a unique old-fashioned neighboirhood tavern with an eclectic and moderately priced and L'Adour is a relatively new French restaurant downtown - excellent country French bistro menu downstairs and fancier price fixe upstairs. Reservations are a must at nearly any good restaurant in Syracuse on a weekend or a busy weeknight (but Dinosaur does not take reservations). Hope this helps.

local

Kathy-

Do you still plan on coming for the games?

I just read that free shuttles will be available from the Carrier Circle hotels to Armory Square during the NCAA's. Then from the Armory, you can take a train to the Dome for $3. The train will also be running from Carousel Mall (the same fare of $3) directly to the Dome. Lots of free parking at the mall, and this would be a train stop prior to the Armory (better chance of getting a seat!)

The trains will start 2-1/2 hours before game time and the last shuttle back to Carrier Circle is 2am.

Kathy

I appreciate all of your replies. We're still undecided about what to do. We have a few people who are trying to find tickets for us and are still considering just going to Syracuse to buy scalped tickets. The major problem is that there don't seem to be any hotels in the area. We have 3 basketball freaks in the family plus two who don't really care too much so we need a decent hotel to satisfy the 12 year old girl who is sick of always following around the older brothers sports desires (does any one else have this problem?)

Kathy

I appreciate all of your replies. We're still undecided about what to do. We have a few people who are trying to find tickets for us and are still considering just going to Syracuse to buy scalped tickets. The major problem is that there don't seem to be any hotels in the area. We have 3 basketball freaks in the family plus two who don't really care too much so we need a decent hotel to satisfy the 12 year old girl who is sick of always following around the older brothers sports desires (does any one else have this problem?) So if anyone can find us tickets that aren't " distant view" or a hotel within a reasonable distance please let us know. Thanks alot.

Owen O'Neill

Have you tried the Craftsman Inn in Fayetteville? It's vey nice and only 20 minute drive to downtown Syracuse.

Kathy

Sorry about the double post, I've been having a really hard time with this site. Thanks for your patience.

Tango

Hi Kathy,

In my visits to the Dome for NCAA b'ball, I never had to buy scalped tickets...

However, in my years as an SU season ticket holder I can tell you that scalpers were present. Back then, there was some efforts to stop this practice by local law enforcement...I am not sure what the policies are now.

As for the tickets that are available, I would buy any seats that are not behind "the curtain". The curtain divides the dome with the basketball court on one side and the football turf on the other. If you can get tickets on the basketball side of the curtain then you will be able to follow the game without much difficulty. Yes, the seats may be very high up...but it is the NCAA tournament, so beggars cant be choosers, right?

Good luck,
Tango