As if the 2027 NCAA Tournament wasn't already destined to make people angry with its expansion from 68 to 76 teams, Ticketmaster isn't exactly helping things with their "ingenious" idea for offering tickets.
Users on social media noticed yesterday that Ticketmaster is opening applications to purchase $400 upper level seats in the Final Four. But applications are listed as only being accepted on a random draw. While that may be an acceptable way to fend off potential scalpers, the $25 non-refundable application fee is a bridge too far.
Effectively, you're paying $25 just to apply to then pay $400 (plus taxes and potentially other fees) for some of the worst seats in the house at Ford Field. And you might not even get chosen to begin with.
Outrage
As you might expect, fans are not at all happy with the situation and are raking them over the coals for even trying a scheme like this.
"Everything is a grift in this piece of (expletive) country," one user angrily remarked.
"That’s how monopolies operate. Ain’t it grand?" another mocked.
"We need to collectively stop paying for sports things. Maybe even just pick one month a year and truly organize things. They need to stop screwing fans at every chance," a third wrote.
"Anybody who pays that is a sucker. They didn't sell out in Philly this year and the resale tickets were well below face value. March Madness is not the All Star Game. You'll have no difficulty buying tickets last minute if you want to go."
ORLANDO, FLORIDA – MARCH 16: A detailed view of the NCAA March Madness logo on a Wilson Evo NXT Match Ball during the second half in the first round of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Amway Center on March 16, 2023 in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images
Unfortunately for fans, Ticketmaster does – in fact – have a de facto monopoly that basically gives them carte blanche to sell their tickets how they want to. Short of the government forcing them to change the way they operate (unlikely), there's no incentive for Ticketmaster not to try and gouge every price they can.
The only way to respond to practices like this is to just not buy the tickets. If enough people muster the nerve to not overpay for something, prices have to go down.
This story was originally published by The Spun on May 8, 2026, where it first appeared in the College Basketball section. Add The Spun as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
