Watching ticket activity around the two hot national events this month – the Final Four and the Masters – reminds me of something I sometimes take for granted. 

My kids have no idea what a tea kettle is.  Or an LP record.  They also have no clue what the words “sold out” mean.

Since the ticket resale market has gone mainstream in the past decade, there is no such thing as “sold out.”  It is possible to get into almost any game or show, no matter how hot.  With tickets, just like any other commodity, demand creates supply.

That’s really the primary difference between the original distribution of tickets (the “primary market”) and the resale market.  There is no such thing as sold out. The other major difference between the two ticket markets is that fans have many choices where to buy from in the resale market, where the original box office ticket distribution is always contracted with a single company.

You choose to go to events.  You can choose your location and how much to spend.  You can choose who to buy from.  Enjoy those choices - and your ability, and right, to choose.

If it’s on your “bucket list,” this year may be a great year to catch the Masters or the Final Four.  Don’t forget that a few years ago this would not have been possible.

Mike

Just two more games until “One Shining Moment.”  What an incredible weekend of play!

The Wildcats and the Spartans obviously didn’t care about selection committee seedings, as two #1’s bit the dust.  This is how championships are supposed to be settled.  Hopefully college football is paying attention.

The Final Four is set, with the semifinals next Saturday Apr 4:

Connecticut vs. Michigan State

North Carolina vs, Villanova

The winners play for the National Championship Monday night, Apr 6.  There are 2600 tickets available, starting at $130*

* Ticket search results as of 4:14PT, price equals ticket price + commission.

The “Elite Eight” has been set, with all four #1 seeds still on a collision course. Louisville and North Carolina have been devastating, perhaps bringing thoughts of adding a “mercy rule” to the tournament next year, as they dispatched their opponents with ease.

Who’s going to Detroit? The winners of these games:

East (Saturday in Boston)

1 Pittsburgh vs. 3 Villanova

Prices starting at $100/ticket*

West (Saturday in Glendale)

1 Connecticut vs. 3 Missouri

Prices starting at $60/ticket*

South (Sunday in Memphis)

1 North Carolina vs. 2 Oklahoma

Prices starting at $20/ticket*

Midwest (Sunday in Indianapolis)

1 Louisville vs. 2 Michigan State

Prices starting at $55/ticket*

These prices are the most affordable in years.  Can’t make it?  Then fire up those flat panels!

Mike

* Ticket search results as of 9:30PT, price equals ticket price + commission.

Many thanks to the brothers (literally) over at AllMyFaves for naming FanSnap to their latest “weekly faves” list.  AllMyFaves is a pretty cool site that highlights the latest and greatest on the web in a really quick and easy format.  Over the years, we have discovered several great entertainment, kids, shopping, and travel sites on their recommendation.  If you get a minute, check it out.

Mike

As usual, the NFL released the dates for a handful of games early, all to be held on either Kickoff Weekend or Thanksgiving Day.

Sep 10 Tennessee Titans at Pittsburgh Steelers

Sep 13 Chicago Bears at Green Bay Packers

Sep 14 Buffalo Bills at New England Patriots

Sep 14 San Diego Chargers at Oakland Raiders

Nov 26 Green Bay Packers at Detroit Lions

Nov 26 Oakland Raiders at Dallas Cowboys

Nov 26 NY Giants at Denver Broncos

Since long-time season ticket holders already know their seat locations, some are already listing their tickets for sale, even before they physically receive them. Over the next few weeks you will see many more listings flood in.  A little known secret, if you want to lock that purchase in early.

While the 2009 NFL team match-ups have already been announced, the actual dates for the remainder of the schedule are typically released sometime in April.

Mike

March Madness continues…  After the opening round, 65 becomes 16.

What a great weekend with lots of overtimes and last second finishes!  All the top seeds are still alive, and the action moves to Boston, Memphis, Indianapolis, and Glendale.  The Big East is playing huge.  This year’s Cinderella is Arizona, who is making the critics who said they didn’t deserve an invitation feel foolish. Let the regionals begin!

East (Thu & Sat in Boston)

1 Pittsburgh vs. 4 Xavier

2 Duke vs. 3 Villanova

West (Thu & Sat in Glendale)

1 Connecticut vs. 5 Purdue

2 Memphis vs. 3 Missouri

South (Fri & Sun in Memphis)

1 North Carolina vs. 4 Gonzaga

2 Oklahoma vs. 3 Syracuse

Midwest (Fri & Sun in Indianapolis)

1 Louisville vs. 12 Arizona

2 Michigan State vs. 3 Kansas

I hope your bracket is in better shape than mine!

Mike

On September 23^rd last year we opened www.fansnap.com and told you our goal was to create “a “fast, easy (and free) way for you to find your perfect tickets.”   In announcing our beta site, we told you it was big job and asked for your help.  We asked you to tell us how to make it better.  You did.  We did.  We especially appreciate your feedback on the interactive maps.

We are pleased to announce that the FanSnap ticket search engine has officially launched, and today we unveiled a new version of the ticket search engine.  We are also happy to announce:

• FanSnap’s ticket results now include more than 13 million tickets to 40,000 events from 57 ticket companies, with the addition of newest partner eBay tickets;
• FanSnap’s dynamic FanSnap Maps have been created for 215 of the top venues in the U.S., with many more on the way;
• FanSnap’s new “best value” feature, which highlights at-a-glance those ticket offers that are priced significantly lower than surrounding offers;
• FanSnap’s new “view from seat” feature for many venues (e.g., try Dodger or Angel stadiums, Fenway or AT&T parks, or Wrigley or US Cellular Fields) that will be rolled out over the next month.

Our goal was to launch in time for you find great March Madness tickets, MLB tickets for opening day, and concert tickets to all the new tours being announced daily it seems.  Check it out; the choices and values are really fascinating.

Even though we are out of beta, please keep sending us your thoughtful suggestions using the feedback link on the site.   We have learned a lot through this process, and we know we still have lots of work to do.  In fact, we have a number of great new features already in development!

The FanSnap team is working hard, and the journey remains exhilarating.  The path to being as comprehensive, accurate, fast, and easy as possible never ends…   You have played a critical role on our launch team.  We could not have launched today without you.  Feel free to put this experience on your resume.  Put us down as your reference.

Thank you for telling so many of your friends and colleagues about FanSnap.  Please keep sending them our way.  Going to events has always been a great escape from the news of the day.  Especially in these economic times, we want to help you get the best value for your entertainment dollar.

We remain focused on fans.

Mike

With the last regular season games completed today, the real college basketball season starts.  It’s March, and you know what that means.

This week, the big conferences have their league tournaments.  A chance for the strongest teams to lock in those high NCAA seeds, and for those “on the bubble” to impress the selection committee and score a bid next Sunday to the Big Dance.

This week is where Cinderellas get their start.  Thinking of going?  Check out the wide choice of tickets still available:

ACC Tournament tickets (Atlanta)

Big Ten Tournament tickets (Indianapolis)

Big 12 Tournament tickets (Oklahoma City)

Big East Tournament tickets (NYC)

Pac 10 Tournament tickets (LA)

SEC Tournament tickets (Tampa)

Enjoy the games!

Mike

The map team has been working around the clock and we are pleased to announce that FanSnap now has more than 210 of our patent-pending interactive maps for your viewing pleasure.  We have built them out for MLB, NBA, NHL, concerts - we even have the NFL ready for when football tickets go on sale.

So many choices!  Cubs fans will want to use a FanSnap Map to check out the first Cubbies-Cards game of the year.  North-siders can check out the first White Sox-Twins game.  We have a little something for fans in pretty much every city.

Have fun checking out our comprehensive selection of ticket results from 57 ticketing companies (all at once!) in this easy-to-use way.  One day, sooner than you think, you will tell your kids about the old days when you used to have to look for tickets from a list!  Then you can tell them about walking to school in the snow, uphill, both ways.

Mike

By popular demand, FanSnap’s ticket results now include tickets from our newest partner, eBay.

Fans have been buying and selling tickets on eBay almost from the moment the pioneering web site launched.  Many ticket sellers only sell their tickets on eBay, so this announcement means lots of new ticket choices for you.

This brings us to 57 ticketing companies who have integrated with our FanSnap TicketData^sm system, giving “fans of FanSnap” by far the most comprehensive, accurate view of available tickets and prices from the best of the web.  Many, many thanks to the FanSnap and eBay teams that made this possible!

Mike