2012 Division III NCAA Tournament

[Just Bill]

Host school's choice. With UWSP and St. Thomas playing the first game I imagine they are expecting enough demand to justify it.  UWSP brought 700-800 to Mequon last weekend by themselves.

The biggest reason to do it is it gets the most possible home fans in the door. If you have 1,800 seats and you do one admission, the home team gets 900 seats and each visitor gets 300. There's a good chance the visitors will sell all or most of that allotment so there won't be many or any extras for the home fans to scoop up.

If you split the admission, the home team will start with 900 seats, but there's a much greater chance of the opponent not selling out and returning tickets back to the home team. In that case, even if your opponent sells 500 tickets, that's 400 more tickets the host school can sell to their fans.

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

Here is the release from Augustana for their reasons why they decided to split the games Friday:
http://www.augustana.edu/x33482.xml

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

Here is the release from Augustana for their reasons why they decided to split the games Friday:
http://www.augustana.edu/x33482.xml

But they're still charging full price for tickets, even though you get half the basketball.

[Pat Coleman]

Never had to clear the gym at Wooster, I suspect. If there was a chance of selling significantly more than 3,000 tickets or whatever Timken officially holds, they might do it.

It's true -- the NCAA prices seem to hold for one-game or two-game sessions. But Hoops Fan, you have to remember that if they didn't make it two separate sessions, a bunch of people would get 0% of the basketball.

Just offhand, I know they have had split-session tournament games at Lawrence, Brockport State, and even last year at UW-Stevens Point.

[Just Bill]

Just think if Wooster hosted a sectional with Witt, Illinois Welseyan and Hope. I bet they'd be splitting sessions.

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

Also... as much as I wished people would stick around for the second game or come early for the first game... those buying tickets have just their game in mind. So, it isn't like people are getting ripped off on tickets wanting to see both games. Yes... there may be some, but I like the idea that Augustana understands there are going to be a lot from UST and UWSP (maybe UMHB as well) that are going to want to see their games and having half the seats dedicated to the home school and the other half to the remaining three for a normal double-header... seems unfair.

[Greek Tragedy]

I completely understand the concept of the split session.  UWSP and UST get 50% each of the available tickets for the first game.  What exactly is the timeline of ticket distribution?

I mean, do UWSP and UST fans have exclusive rights to 1000 tickets each for, say, 3 days, and then the returned tickets go on sale for MHB and Augie on Thursday?  Are there any tickets available at Augie for the 1st game prior to that?  If I'm a fan of a team of the 2nd game, do I have to wait?  Do I have to call UWSP or UST ticket office to get a ticket for the first game?  Are there a few tickets set aside for neutral (or local) fans from the outset?

I remember talking to a friend of mine who went to Hope when La Crosse played there.  The Eagles lost in the 1st round and La Crosse fans weren't even able to buy a ticket for the 2nd round matchup of Hope vs. Calvin.  As a neutral fan, if I'm over there already, I'd love to see that game.  I guess they could've just lied and said they were a fan of Hope or Calvin. 

[woosterbooster]

Just think if Wooster hosted a sectional with Witt, Illinois Welseyan and Hope. I bet they'd be splitting sessions.

No way.  Witt fans have never been allowed to cross the border into Wayne County.  We have our pride. 

Seriously, you might be right, but with our big gym it's not a certainty.  I'd be disappointed if I didn't get to see both games; I see this as a heck of a sectional.

[Just Bill]

I hear you but Point's gym (2,700) is almost as big as yours and they've done it so I wouldn't call it shocking if you had the right opponents.

[ziggy]

I remember talking to a friend of mine who went to Hope when La Crosse played there.  The Eagles lost in the 1st round and La Crosse fans weren't even able to buy a ticket for the 2nd round matchup of Hope vs. Calvin.  As a neutral fan, if I'm over there already, I'd love to see that game.  I guess they could've just lied and said they were a fan of Hope or Calvin. 

Are you positive the situation was as cut and dried as that sounds? I seem to recall (in that situation and others like it) that second round tickets were made available to Calvin season ticket holders, students and faculty immediately following the Calvin/LaX game and I'm sure it worked the same way for those with Hope allegiances after their game.

My guess is that your friends was turned away the night of the first round games but should have been able to get tickets once they were available to the general public (probably the next morning).

[frodotwo]

I'm going down to support the Pointers and bought my tickets Tuesday, but they weren't selling tickets to the Aug/MHB game. I'd love to see the second game to see who Point plays on Saturday, but I doubt many tickets will be available by the time I get there. I'm disappointed that I can't even call the ticket office and buy a pair. Point emptied the gym during last years games that they hosted.

[iwumichigander]

Never had to clear the gym at Wooster, I suspect. If there was a chance of selling significantly more than 3,000 tickets or whatever Timken officially holds, they might do it.

It's true -- the NCAA prices seem to hold for one-game or two-game sessions. But Hoops Fan, you have to remember that if they didn't make it two separate sessions, a bunch of people would get 0% of the basketball.

Just offhand, I know they have had split-session tournament games at Lawrence, Brockport State, and even last year at UW-Stevens Point.

Right - better to have an opportunity to get tickets than none!  And, remember the committee must approve any plan for split session tickets.  It is not just a host decision; and, the visiting teams usually have an opportunity to voice their thoughts on the need/want for a split session.

[Greek Tragedy]

Frodo-

I would post a message on the CCIW page asking someone if they can buy two tickets for you.  They seem to be swell peoples over there.  When IWU went to Appleton for the 2nd weekend games a few years ago, I asked on that board and had a few posters willing to pick me up a ticker or two. 

Otherwise, the article says tickets go back on sale Friday at 3:30.  Get down there early and then go grab a bite to eat!

[Ralph Turner]

I guess that there were about 200 tickets sold to UMHB fans at the McMurry game, judging by the video.

If UMHB has 100 fans at Augie, then I think that they have done a good job.

I have not heard whether there is a caravan of students who will carpool to Rock Island.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

Also... as much as I wished people would stick around for the second game or come early for the first game... those buying tickets have just their game in mind.

Yeah, I imagine I'm in a lonely boat when I travel to see teams strictly because they play d3 basketball nearby.  Still, it would be nice to sell double session tickets or something for the few who want to see both games.  $14 for two playoff games really isn't that much if you really wanted to see both - I'm just cheap.