The board had a bunch of questions spread out among various threads so I spent a day trying to get answers and this took on kind of a mailbag format.

Prices: $100 to $250

Yeah, they’re high for a basketball game, but it’s not one basketball game you’re purchasing but two (if you bought by session) or three (if you buy all sessions). I pinged my friend Ralph Garcia from TicketIQ because I haven’t played this market much. Ralph:

"Ticket trends for the regional round in LA are virtually unchanged since the beginning of the tournament. The current average asking price is $434, about a 6% drop from the $460 average price cited on the 12th. The cheapest available ticket is $130. Tickets are available as Session 1 (2 games on Thursday), Session 2 (Just the Elite 8 game on Saturday), or All Session (all 3 games).

Omaha ($631 AVG) is now the second most expensive regional we've ever tracked behind Sprint Center last year ($652 AVG), which was also driven up for Kansas, as is the case this year in Omaha.

I also asked him if that’s likely to change because Michigan fans travel well. Ralph thinks the prices were baked in as if there was at least one well-traveling program coming so it really matters if there’s a second. Is there? Ralph again:

Here's the percentage of visits by location that we've tracked to the West Regionals since the 12th. Texas is much higher than the other states BUT I will say that I wouldn't read that deeply into this yet as I'd say the traffic numbers are a bit too low to say Texas fans would travel better.

• California - 59%
• Texas - 12%
• Florida - 3%
• Michigan - 3%
• Washington - 3%
• Oregon - 3%

We’re having to squint and guess that A&M fans are average Texas school fans but it does seem that’s a high travel rate. On the plus side, UNC fans are still dumping their tickets, and have been since about 75% of the way through their game. The market is the market now: buy until it starts to dry up, if it ever does.

All Sessions or Some?

I think the three sessions are a better deal. There’s about a 50% markup in the secondary market if you’re buying separately right now, but that’s not the play: the play is to either buy all sessions now or buy a single session if we win. That’ll come down of course once half of the fans in town watched their teams lose, and this could very well be you. How much does it come down? Probably 50%. So either you’ll be in the position of having to sell a ticket if you lose, or having to buy one if you win, or you’re good. It evens out, so it’s more about if you think Michigan will win I guess to save yourself the hassle.

Paper Tickets Only

Lots of questions about the the e-ticket situation. Mich fan in AZ:

I looked all over for the Internet to buy an e-ticket but everything apparently only delivers via snail mail (UPS, FedEx, etc.) I live six hours from LA though so that kind of delivery won't be easy. Any tips on buying a ticket on Thursday should they win? Not sure I want to drive that far for an attempt at buying from a scalper, but I really want to go if they make it to Saturday!

There are no e-tickets. Your last-minute online purchases won’t work well for this one because the Staples Center is only offering printed tickets for this game/session. That can be a bummer for people traveling since getting a ticket overnighted isn’t easy. There are pickup centers for some ticket dealers near the stadium and that’s often your best bet.

Sell Upgrades?

A lot of fans are wondering if you can shed the non-Michigan session:

Does anyone know if the later game has its own ticket stubs (which would allow me to sell them separately), or is the same ticket used for admission to both games? I ordered my tickets via StubHub and they're paper tickets that won't arrive until tomorrow.

No, tickets for the Thursday games are sold as a “session,” with Michigan-A&M the first session and FSU/Gonzaga the second.

The tickets say “NO READMITTANCE” on them so technically you can’t sell yours to a Zags fan outside when you walk out, but I’ve heard stories of this working anyway, especially if it’s not a typical gate (some friends used the smokers area for this exchange in Detroit last weekend). If you have the late-game session you can get away with buying crap tickets and getting there as the first game is leaving, offer $10 for their seats, and now you’re up front for cheap. For the earlier game if you want to sit low you have to pay full price for both sessions, but if you’re leaving you can recoup some of that if your seat is worth selling. Keep that in mind if you’re deciding whether to spring for better seats I guess.

Don’t Trust Scalpers

From multiple people they have a rampant bad-copy problem around the Staples Center. I generally recommend not using scalpers but this time really don’t. However you can watch the scalpers and intercept their clients—not a nice thing to do but hey, you’re from out of town, and they’d rather do business with you.

Alumni Association Event

The LA Alumni Club is hosting a pre-game tailgate at Tom's Urban at LA Live (the bar across the street from the stadium).

Laker Fan Tips & Tricks

These are all contributions from the board or my one buddy who lived in Los Angeles, since my LA trips have never included basketball games (though I’ve been to the convention center next door a few times).

1. Take the train! You don’t want to deal with parking, or LA traffic if you can avoid it. You can take the Metrolink from LAX to Pico Station. If you’re already in a car, several people suggested parking at the Westside Pavilion and taking the Expo line. Apparently there’s beer on the train (via readers only the Amtrack)
2. Don’t be tall. If you think Fielding H. Yost was stingy with the seat size, you haven’t met the City that Never Eats. Your seat will be tiny and your legs cramped so stand up and walk around during commercial breaks, and try to get an aisle seat if possible.
3. Red coats are security but you can ask them questions—they’re trained to be helpful.
4. If you have an American Express they have an “AMEX Lounge” on the suite level that your card gets you into. No charge for entry, beers, drinks and food available.
5. Don’t go in the LA Live entrance with the rest of the cattle—walk up to Figueroa to the back entrance.

Final Four and Beyond?

No idea, but I’ll be back next week if it matters.

UPDATE: Ralph saw this and emailed me with a quick note:

According to the official NCAA Ticket Exchange, Final Four ticket prices have seen, on average, a 10% increase since the beginning of the tournament.