Final Four tickets are historically expensive and it’s all your fault

It seems a bit counterintuitive, but going to Minneapolis in early April is really expensive.

The Michigan State Spartans earned the last spot in next weekend’s Final Four in Minneapolis. With the games now set, tickets have been selling at historically high prices.

According to TicketIQ, the average ticket to one of Saturday’s semifinals on the secondary market is $1,065. That’s the third most-expensive average since the blog started tracking prices in 2011, only behind 2017 (Phoenix) and 2015 (Indianapolis). At one point on Monday, the average price was north of $1100 and in the second place on the list.

Coincidentally or not, that 2015 season was also the last time MSU reached the Final Four. Which is to say, if the Spartans are playing for a championship anywhere in the midwest, things are going to get pricey.

Making matters worse, it’s not just the top-of-the-line-feet-on-the-floor-next-to-Spike-Lee tickets that are driving up prices. The cheapest ticket available on the secondary market is going for $422, the most during that same timespan.

TicketIQ

In case you’re wondering where the Michigan State fans will be most prevalent, look to the rafters. TicketIQ kept a running timeline of ticket prices after each team punched their ticket. Average prices jumped only $58 from where they were after Auburn clinched – the Tigers drove up the average price by $171. But the price of the cheapest available ticket exploded by $112 after the MSU win.

TicketIQ

TicketIQ reported that the price is due to a few obvious reasons. Auburn and Texas Tech are appearing in their first ever Final Four and Virginia hasn’t reached the seminal game since 1984. That’s a lot of built-up spending power for a fanbase. While Michigan State fans are a bit more used to reaching the final weekend, the games being played within Big Ten country makes it much more obtainable for the average fan.

For those feeling especially confident about the Spartans chances against Texas Tech, prices are still “reasonable” for the championship game. The cheapest ticket available is only $149, while the average is $494. While still historically high, they only remain as low as they are currently until the matchup is set.

For those unable to make that work, the prices for a six-pack, chips, dip and a seat on your couch at home have remained relatively steady since the start of the tournament.