Travel fans for Sale

When a college-level team’s success brings them to a bowl game in a faraway city, fan travel expenses may prevent the diehard locals from turning up to show their support. Some universities are employing a unique ticket sales strategy to ease these costs, bundling airfare, accommodations and meals into creative ticketing packages for big-exposure games where fan turnout can be a key motivator on the field.

Most universities offer fans the opportunity to buy tickets for away games in other cities, and occasionally offer bus transportation or tailgate party entry if the location is within driving distance. Other schools throw parties for alumni who have relocated to cities where the away games are located.

A few schools pave the way for students and alumni to attend far-flung games, especially when the team has hit the playoffs. For example, the offers all-inclusive ticket options for certain away Gopher games, allowing attendees to purchase one package that grants them airfare, hotel accommodations and other VIP fan perks.

CFP Championship Revenue and Fan Costs

Ticket prices for major bowl and championship games are set by independent operators, leaving universities little wiggle room to bundle additional costs into the purchase price. One such example is the inaugural College Football Playoff (CFP) National Championship game between Ohio State University and the University of Oregon. CFP allocated about 20, 000 tickets to each school, leaving few for public sale. CFP corporate partnered with the Colonnade Group, Dallas Fan Fares, QuintEvents and PrimeSport to sell 3, 000 tickets via customizable AT&T Stadium hospitality suite packages, according to the . Pricing varied from $1, 899 to $5, 999 per ticket, depending on the selected hotel and VIP perks.

NCAA Helps Parents of Players

The CFP Championship marked the first time the defrayed out-of-pocket costs for parents or guardians of student-athletes. The NCAA implemented a first-ever waiver allowing the CFP to reimburse each parent or guardian for hotel, travel and meal costs up to $1, 250. This innovative program saves families money and allows parents that normally could not afford to attend these high-profile games the opportunity to do so.

College Sports Fan Travel Packages

Offering the option to fly on the same airplane as the team, arranging for blocks of hotels or gathering like-minded fans for bonding meals in local restaurants and hotel buffets are the kinds of promotions administrators can use to enhance the fan experience. Travel costs are also an opportunity to sign up sponsorship partners that want to be a part of this new sports business trend. Athletic directors and directors of ticket sales can utilize these revenues to create big game sales strategies that offset fan travel expenses.