In the last two installments, I shared some insights about how StubHub ticket demand and driving distance to the tournament games could be used to find a unique Final Four grouping, but today I’m going to analyze the brackets in much more straightforward manner. These lists are the most popular teams of the 2011-2012 college basketball year both at home and on the road, based on total tickets purchased on StubHub. I think you’ll find some more familiar faces on here.
Not surprisingly, three of the four No. 1 seeds all lead the way in home ticket purchases throughout the season, and Michigan State is also in the Top 10 hometown teams. It’ll be interesting to see if this demand correlates to how many fans are at their tournament games, even those located some distance from the school. We’ll be able to tell which school has the most die-hard travelling fan base after this tournament is over.
Top-Drawing Home Teams throughout the season (based on tickets purchased)
1. North Carolina
2. Syracuse Orange
3. Kentucky Wildcats
4. St. John’s
5. Kansas
6. Ohio State
7. Michigan
8. Michigan State
9. Indiana
10. Georgetown
Top-Drawing Road Teams throughout the season (based on tickets purchased)
1. Syracuse
2. Duke
3. Ohio State
4. Kentucky
5. Connecticut
6. Marquette
7. Illinois
8. Notre Dame
9. Louisville
10. North Carolina
With the Final Four in New Orleans, it’ll be interesting to see whether or not the Top-Drawing Road Teams will also draw well at the Final Four. Obviously, this list doesn’t have much relevance when it comes to the Final Four as all the teams “draw” well. But by having fun with it, let’s predict which teams would make the Final Four based off the top drawing road teams. Following this format I’d have to pick a Final Four of North Carolina, Duke, Marquette,and Syracuse Ohio State. There’s no way you think I’d pick Syracuse after Fab Melo’s suspension, did you?
Data is also rolling in from Final Four ticket sales and so far it looks like Kentucky and Syracuse fans are hedging their bets. Out of all states to have purchased tickets to the Final Four, the majority is obviously people from nearby Louisiana and Texas, but buyers from New York and Kentucky represent the next two states with 8% and 7% of ticket sales purchased respectfully. This data is based off a combination of both strip and individual package sales.
I’m curious to see if that New York percentage decreases based on the Fab Melo news this week. I bet Syracuse fans start to proactively sell their tickets now that it’s looking like Syracuse’s Final Four chances have significantly decreased. It’s also worth noting that North Carolina only represents 3% of purchased tickets so far despite having both North Carolina and Duke in the field as favorites. I will tell you that I’m heading out to Charlotte for a meeting on the Monday after the Final Four and I could not find any flights to Charlotte that day from New Orleans. I have a feeling that despite our numbers, the Big Easy will be plenty represented from the Tar Heel State.
Good luck to everyone filling out their brackets today. There were some wild play-in games last night and it should only serve as an indicator for things to come. I’ll be checking in throughout the tournament to see how everyone’s picks are doing and to give an update on ticketing trends at the different games sites. Have a great Tournament everyone!
