It’s an exciting time here at StubHub, as we’re continuing our mobile innovation to improve your overall fan experience. In fact, on Monday we became the first entertainment ticketing company to offer interactive venue seat maps on mobile devices.

This means that you can now browse for tickets by section, see the range of ticket prices in that section, and view photos of sight lines – all from your mobile device while you’re on the go. I know I’m always on the go, traveling from one event to the next, so being able to get a complete ticketing experience from my phone is huge for me, especially when tickets go on sale while I’m in line for a flight or at a sports conference.

We’re also happy to announce that seat maps are immediately available for all 32 NFL teams. Here are some screenshots of the seat maps:

Aside from seat maps, most of you know that StubHub is fully integrated with Apple’s Passbook, which gives iPhone and iPod users another option to access mobile tickets.

Over the weekend, Purdue University became the first school to introduce this new technology for their game against the Wisconsin Badgers, and additional schools are expected in the coming months, so stay tuned to see if your favorite team will be one of them!

(Source: tumblr.com)

I know that the conventional wisdom is that the early bird gets the worm, but data from latest survey shows that this might not always be true when it comes to buying tickets to sporting events. According to data from a survey conducted by Penn Schoen Berland, fans who waited until the day of an event to purchase tickets saved 30 percent on average than those who bought tickets one month prior. So far in 2012, the average ticket price for a concert or marquee sporting event one month from the event date was $95 on StubHub. However, just three days away from the event the average ticket price dropped to $66, and within 24 hours of the event the average ticket price was $62.

This backs up all the recommendations I’ve been trying to tell everyone. As Ray Elias, our chief marketing officer points out in this USA Today article, when it comes to the ticket industry, the longer you wait, the lower the price will usually get. Look at it this way, a ticket is an expiring item. Once the event date passes, the value of a ticket drops to $0. So as that moment approaches, sellers will try anything to unload their seats because in a short while they will soon be worth nothing!

This year’s Super Bowl is a great example. Once the Conference Championships were over, prices for the Big Game were close to $2,500. By Super Bowl Sunday, the get-in price was down to $900. This means that fans who want to purchase tickets to high-profile games, such as the NHL or NBA playoffs, can likely score the best deal by waiting until game day to purchase.

The survey also highlighted some of the other trends that are taking place in society, as more and more fans are waiting until the last minute to make plans and purchase tickets. I found this pretty fascinating, and obviously the rise of mobile devices is making it easier for friends to connect, make plans, and buy tickets all at a moment’s notice.

If you want to read all the findings of the report, which are pretty interesting, check out our full release here.

March Madness is here at last! The brackets were unveiled yesterday and as soon as the match-ups were announced, fans across America began scrambling to fill out their brackets. Fortunately for those of you who aren’t quite sure how to make your 2012 picks, I’m here to provide tips to help you gain an edge in your office pool.

Let’s face it, picking the Final Four is pretty random. Last year, out of the 5.9 million brackets filled out last year on ESPN.com, only TWO brackets had the correct Final Four. So, it’s safe to assume that picking all No. 1 or No. 2 isn’t going to get you that perfect bracket you desire. Maybe StubHub can help make sense of March Madness. This morning, I dove deep into StubHub’s wealth of ticketing data to pull some interesting facts about this year’s crop of schools to see if we can figure out who could be left standing at the Final Four in New Orleans. This is the first of three installments as I provide a guide to alternative theories of bracketology.

Quick shameless plug: If you haven’t checked out the March Madness Challenge, I strongly urge you to sign up. StubHub partnered with numberFire and Thrillist. You have the chance to win $100,000 as well as other great prizes!

TICKETING DATA

Since we’ve established that it’s fairly hard to accurately predict the Final Four, I wanted to see if we could use StubHub ticketing statistics to make a more accurate prediction. One of the ways I approached this is by looking at ticket statistics from 2011’s Final Four teams and finding comparisons to teams in this year’s field. We took the number of tickets sold on StubHub throughout the entire season and tried to find four teams that roughly featured the same profile as the teams from 2011. We crunched the numbers of tickets sold per school and found our list of 2012 Final Four teams.

In 2011, we had two established powers in Kentucky and Connecticut, mixed with two mid-major schools in VCU and Butler. You can see the vast gap between schools. Butler was aided from the fact that 2010 was their first Final Four run. If not, their ticket sales in 2011 would’ve been considerably lower.

2011 Final Four – Reliant Stadium, Houston, Texas

East: Kentucky – 8200+ tickets sold in 2010-11

West: Connecticut – 7000+ tickets sold in 2010-11

Southwest: VCU – Less than 100 tickets sold in 2010-11

Southeast: Butler – 650+ tickets sold in 2010-11 

We then looked at the different regions in the 2012 bracket and found four comparisons that would create a Final Four with regular season team ticket sales similar to the 2011 teams. Here’s our Final Four predictions based on our ticketing data:

2012 Final Four Prediction – Mercedes Benz Superdome, New Orleans, Louisiana

East: #11 Texas — 8000+ tickets sold in 2011-12

West: #4 Louisville – 7000+ tickets sold in 2011-12

South:  #5 Wichita State – Less than 100 tickets sold in 2011-12

Midwest: #7 St. Mary’s – 650+ tickets sold in 2011-12

These predictions have nothing to do with match-ups or seeding, just ticket sales that match the respective region’s Final Four team from last year. I don’t think anyone would choose these four schools on their own, but then again, no one chose Kentucky, Connecticut, VCU and Butler in 2011.

I’m back with Part II of my Q&A with Michael Pingel. Today we’ve got some great suggestions for those of you who are heading out to camping festivals this year. We know you’re already brave enough to sleep in the elements for a few days, but why risk forgetting anything when these tips could make your weekend great!

Michael hanging out at his fully-stocked campsite during Wakarusa 2010 in Arkansas.

JF: You’ve already shared some great tips for daytime festivals – but what about the ones where fans will camp overnight?

MP: For the most part, these festivals are held in remote locations, and unless you want to become a scavenger by the last day you’d better be overly prepared. If you think you’ll go through a case of bottled water, pack two. If you think you’ll change your socks and drawers once a day, pack another pair just in case. There are also questions you must ask yourself before departing:

1. Where will I sleep? Tent camping is most common, but also the least comfortable, and chances of sleeping in are slim to none. Most festivals include tent camping in the admission fee, and some offer a VIP upgrade to a location that may offer more relief from the elements. Most also offer limited RV camping, but passes sell out quickly. RV is the way to go if you want to enjoy comfort while you’re there.
2. How will I feed myself? Vending options tend to resemble a local county fair. If bringing your own food, check the festival website to ensure small grills are allowed – most do not allow open fire pits. Also, make sure you have a plan to keep your perishable goods fresh. Ice is typically available in the campgrounds, but melts fast. A quick trip to a dry ice factory will save your bacon and eggs come Sunday morning.
3. Will I be camping near my car? If the festival doesn’t allow you to park near your campsite you’ll want to bring something with wheels (wagon, wheel barrel, dolly, etc.) to move your gear. If you can park and camp in the same location, be careful that your car doesn’t get blocked in. You never know when an emergency trip to the nearest Wal-Mart or 7-11 will be necessary.
4. Where’s the nearest convenience store? If I was a betting man, I’d bet more than 75% of festival attendees will make at least one run to the store for something they ran out of or forgot. Use your favorite online mapping application to locate these spots. 
5. How will I recharge my electronics? You’ll be in the middle of nowhere, so will you really need to stay in touch with anyone not at the festival? If you absolutely need to connect with the outside world, consider portable charging devices that use batteries, and buy a lot of batteries. Car chargers work, but the last thing you want is to drain your car battery charging a cell phone.

JF: Those are definitely helpfully things to keep in mind! Are there any other things you’d recommend for the overnighters?

MP: Absolutely! Other very important things to remember:

1. A campsite identifier – There is nothing that will turn a great day of music into a miserable night of wandering if you can’t locate your tent. Take some time to build a 10-12-foot pole and attach a unique flag to it. The most important part is to remember what flag you put on the pole.  Make sure yours is unique!
2. Potable and non-potable water – Most festivals offer showers or bathing options for campers.  There is usually a small fee for these facilities and lines can be very long. Bring a large jug of water to dump on your head so you can avoid the fees and lines. You’re just going to get dirty again, so why bother showering?
3. Flashlight/lantern/head light – It’s going to get dark while at the festival and there are many trip hazards on the grounds. An injury will be the biggest buzz kill at a festival. 
4. Chair/hammock/stool – You probably won’t be able to bring a lounging device into the actual concert area, but you’ll need a place to take a load off at your campsite. Build some rest time into your day so you can make it to the late night shows and dance the night away.

JF: Any last tips you have for those heading out to festivals this year?

MP: Yes, make sure you have a full tank of gas! Chances are very strong that there will be a line of cars waiting to get into the grounds and you’ll be in traffic for a long time. Fill your tank before you get in this line of traffic. You won’t want to hear your car chugging for gas when you want to leave.  Jumper cables are also handy.

Thanks to Michael for his really helpful tips. Hopefully this will help you find even more enjoyment at your music festival of choice this year.

It’s still pretty darn cold across much of the country, but that isn’t stopping the excitement bubbling up for spring and summer’s most anticipated outdoor music events. Coachella, Bonnaroo, Outside Lands and Life is Good may seem far away – but they’ll be here before you know it! Today I thought I’d get us in the mood for warm weather and great live music by sharing a Q&A I recently did with PJ Perdaems, our manager of Field Operations and Special Events. He’s a seasoned Stubber, who ventured to his first festival last year, Bonnaroo, and his tips may prove helpful if you’re looking forward to attending your first music festival this year!

StubHub’s Manager of Field Operations and Special Events PJ Perdaems

JF: So, we know you made your festival debut at Bonnaroo – was it really the first and only one you’ve been to?

PJ: I was given the opportunity to attend three music festivals last year.  I started with Bonnaroo, then found myself at Outside Lands and finally at Life is Good.  The only other time I went to a “music festival” was Music Midtown in Atlanta when I was in my 20’s, and I went to see two bands and wander around with my friends.  I might as well been going to the mall.  I am now 40 and prefer the club level to the pit any day, so I had no idea what I was in for.

JF: What was your first impression? 

PJ: My first impression was being struck by the realization that I had clearly chosen to start out at the biggest event of the year. Similar to how the Daytona 500 opens up NASCAR’s season, mine was a baptism by fire. I went big right out of the box. With nearly 100,000 fans going four days straight with continuous music in multiple locations, it is a music buffet.  There is truly something for every taste including a pleasant surprise of stand-up comedy.

Tough job: PJ (standing front and center) and fellow Stubbers take a break from the music to hang out at the StubHub Sports Lounge.

JF: Sounds like you had quite the experience at Bonnaroo! Was it your favorite festival of the summer? 

PJ: Outside Lands was my personal favorite – great location, beautiful surroundings, a true enchanted forest.  I enjoyed knowing that by midnight the music would be done, since I don’t have the stamina to keep the music adventure going till 4 a.m. anymore.  I know there are many people who can, but for me I am glad I got to experience my first Girl Talk show at the reasonable hour of 9 p.m.  I know the true festival fan might scoff at this, but I like a few limits in life. Outside Lands is done in three days, the perfect amount of time to get in what you need and still leave you wanting more.  

JF: Sounds like these can run the gamut from partying all night to a more chill environment. In your opinion, are there any festivals that might be ok for families? 

PJ: In my opinion, Life is Good was the place for kids.  If you used to love Bonnaroo when you were wild and single, but now you have a career, a spouse and a 5-year-old, this is the place for you.  It is the friendliest and most inviting of all the events I attended.  There is no chance of being carried away in a sea of humanity, but you still get a very laid-back, fun vibe.  Life is Good was truly family friendly with great music for all ages.

JF: So, now that you’ve got three under your belt, what do you think is the best part of attending a festival? 

PJ: Value! Want to see Coldplay or Adele?  Why see one show of your favorite artist at a stadium, when you can get 20 or 100 more for about the same price or cheaper!

JF: What tips do you have for newbies to the scene? 

PJ: I have five tips for first timers: 

1) Start small. Similar to Music Midtown in Atlanta, there are music festivals in most major cities that you can visit for the day and not make the commitment of living out of your car or a tent for a week.

2) You may be going because you want to see your favorite band, but make sure to throw in a couple of other shows.  Stroll around and sample a song here or there and maybe you might find a sound you like.  I experienced the greatness of Girl Talk by doing this.

3) Make sure you don’t cut it too close between shows. If there are five minutes between the end of one show and the show you want to see on another stage, that is not enough time. Make sure you get value out of your ticket, but like a buffet if you try to eat everything you will get sick – so don’t overdo it!

4) Plan ahead for the weather and the long days. Sunblock, sunglasses, very comfortable shoes, cash, baby wipes, water and something to sit on (blanket, walking stool) are essential.  Most festivals are in warm weather so HYDRATE! (And remember: Beer is not hydrating.)

5) Go with the flow! Sometimes the best experiences are the ones you did not plan for.  A music festival is not the place for bad vibes, so take it in, let it flow over you and roll with it.  You might be surprised how much you enjoy it!  I know I was.

Thanks to PJ for being a good sport and sharing his experiences and tips as a first timer on the scene. For those of you who are seasoned pros when it comes to attending festivals, stay tuned – I’ll be doing a follow-up blog with festival veteran Michael Pingel. You just might learn a new thing about getting the most out of your music experience! In the meantime, what are some of your tips for festival first timers?