When we launched the public beta of FanSnap this past Fall, we started with about twenty dynamic FanSnap Maps (patent pending). The plan was that fans could take them for a test drive, and we could learn a bit more, before we rolled them out.

Fans told us how much they appreciate being able to using the colored “heat map” markers to see ticket price ranges at a glance. Fans still can’t believe that when you ZOOM into our maps, you can actually see specific ticket offers from multiple providers with specific row labeling. Quickly spotting those light-colored low price tickets among the pricier tickets on the map appears to be among many fans’ “top three” delights, along with scoring a backstage pass, and catching a fly ball.

We learned a lot from how you used the maps, and from your thoughtful suggestions. We made some improvements (stay tuned for more surprises very soon). Then we unleashed our map team, who have been absolutely on fire! I am pleased to say that, with today’s release, we now have more than 160 FanSnap Maps live on FanSnap. … and many more coming!

If you haven’t already, give FanSnap Maps a spin.  We made them just for you.

Mike

p.s. Can’t wait?  Here’s a few hot upcoming events:

SUPERBOWL tickets

NBA

3/15/09 Mavericks @ Lakers tickets

4/10/09 Heat @ Celtics tickets

4/12/09 Celtics @ Cavaliers tickets

NHL

4/4/09 Ducks @ Sharks tickets

4/4/09 Rangers @ Bruins tickets

4/9/09 Flyers @ Rangers tickets

MLB (Opening Day)

4/3/09 Red Sox @ Mets tickets

4/3/09 Cubs @ Yankees tickets

4/6/09 Royals @ White Sox tickets

4/6/09 A’s @ Angels tickets

4/6/09  Rays @ Red Sox tickets

4/13/09 Rockies @ Cubs tickets

CONCERTS

3/19/09 Fleetwood Mac tickets (New York)

4/1/09 Springsteen tickets (San Jose)

4/24/09 Britney Spears tickets (Glendale)

If you have never seen Bruce Springsteen live, you have missed out on one of life’s greatest fan pleasures.  After seeing the Boss perform three times starting with the “Born in the USA” tour, I can’t wait to go again!

I consider being part of the crowd singing Bruce’s “Thunder Road” with 20,000 people one of the most memorable experiences in my life as a fan, along with singing “Sweet Caroline” at a Red Sox (tickets) playoff game in Fenway, and chanting “Roll Tide Roll” during the chorus of Skynyrd’s “Sweet Home Alabama” at a Crimson Tide-Vols game in Tuscaloosa.

Don’t believe me?  Watch Bruce perform at the Super Bowl.  You  will believe.  Bruce and the famous E Street Band also just released their new album “Working on a Dream,” which I can not wait to hear live.  Unlike other artists, when Bruce says “here’s a little something from the new album,” fans do not stream for the restrooms!

Haven’t seen Bruce?  I call a fan foul.  Regret you never got to see Hendrix?  Freddy Mercury?  Don’t make the same mistake again.  Bruce is a living legend.  Fortunately, you now have the opportunity.  Here’s the just announced tour dates.  Check back often as ticket providers will be rapidly adding tickets in the next few days, and of course additional dates may be added.

Have fun, ‘cuz baby you were born to run!

Mike

BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN TICKETS FOR THE 2009 TOUR

Only one week to go until the Super Bowl! Football fans everywhere are making plans to go to Super Bowl parties at the house of whichever friend has the new plasma TV. Fans are getting ready to chow down on the spread and enjoy the beverages, to guess the score (at $5 a square), and to hush when the $3 million commercials come on.

Then there are the lucky fans who actually get to go. Their team is poised to become world champions and they do not intend to miss it. Plus, there are much worse places to be than Florida in February. Do they realize how lucky they are?

It doesn’t seem like that many years ago that the Super Bowl was a corporate event, seemingly attended only by sponsors and other big companies entertaining their clients.  Thanks to the rise of the ticket resale market, those days are gone forever. While it is not cheap, real fans can actually get their hands on Super Bowl tickets!

Steelers and Cardinals fans have lots of choices.  In fact, right now FanSnap ticket search results are showing 1,800 offers for 7,400 Super Bowl tickets from 24 ticketing providers. You still have a week to make plans. What is the lowest price ticket right now? (UPDATE) You can sit in the Upper Corner section 304 for $1,574 a ticket, courtesy of TicketNetwork 303 for $1,450 a ticket, courtesy of ASC Ticket Company. High roller? StubHub has a 36 person suite for $280,000. FanSnap Maps make finding the best values fast and easy.

The best part is now that everyone is switching to HDTV, your friends back home at the party will actually be able to see you in the crowd. Have fun!

Mike

I just read Darren Rovell’s (the sports business reporter at CNBC - and most recently with ESPN) article, “The Year of the Sports Fan,” in the New Republic.  His key theme is that a silver lining in the current economic situation is that sports fans should expect to see more lots more TLC from their teams.

OK, what most real NFL fans consider to be the “pre-season” has ended and now things count. It’s the playoffs.  Not only the usual “one and done” excitement but also lots of great story lines. Can the Giants repeat?  The amazing turnaround of the Dolphins from 1-15 last year to division winners this year.  The Cardinals in their first playoffs since their move to Arizona. The Chargers’ late surge. The post-Michael Vick Falcons.

Here at FanSnap, we have integrated systems with dozens of ticket sites, so we can check constantly for available NFL playoff tickets. In some cases as many as ten or more sites have tickets for a given game.  Nothing is better for fans than choice!  We check 50+ ticket sites so you don’t have to.  A daily snapshot of our ticket search results from the last several days shows how dynamic the available tickets can be and, how the price of the “cheap tickets” can vary from game to game.

You can see that available tickets for this weekend’s wild card games are generally declining, but many are still available.  Ticket choices for next week’s divisional playoffs are actually still increasing!  With all those tickets to choose from, surely we can help you find yours.  Of course, with all this buying and selling going on, if you have not yet found your perfect tickets, check back often!  Happy New Year!

Mike