There just doesn’t seem to be any way to see a cheap carrier game this season.
First there were reports of the ticket package for Florida-Georgetown in Jacksonville, Fla., running somewhere in the range of $1,000. Not only that, but tickets are nearly sold out.
Now we have Syracuse-San Diego State off the coast of California.
It’s a beautiful setting for a basketball game in early November with two likely top-25 teams. But how much could it cost you? Somewhere between $1,200 and $5,000, depending on what you’re looking for.
Let’s start at the beginning:
According to Syracuse Athletics, you can secure yourself a baseline seat and a ticket to an “exclusive pre-game party” for that low-end figure of $1,200. Travel and hotels are on you.
For $1,500, you get a sideline seat, that same ticket to an “exclusive pre-game party” and—get this—a game day program. Why the $300 price bump for different seats and a program? No sure, but you could probably fetch a solid penny down the road if you flip that program on eBay, one would think.
Then it gets fancy.
Bump the price up to $2,200 and you get premium seats for the game, access to the media day and shootaround that happen the day before, a ticket to the event’s luncheon, a signed commemorative basketball, a program, and another ticket to that “exclusive pre-game party.”
But get ready for the big-time package.
For the high-end deal--$4,999—you can get all this:
- Travel with the team on charter aircraft from Syracuse
- Overnight accommodations for 2 guests in deluxe room at team hotel
- All ground transportation and transfers
- Premium seats for Battle on the Midway game
- Enjoy a meal with the SU coaches and team
- Access to Thursday Media Day and Shoot Around on the flight deck of USS Midway
- One ticket to Thursday Battle on the Midway Luncheon
- One ticket to exclusive pre-game party
- Commemorative Battle on the Midway autographed basketball (one per ticket)
- Game day program
A charter aircraft to the game? Deluxe room at the team hotel? Lunch with the team? You’re living like a D-I basketball player for a few days.
Now if only I had $5,000 around here somewhere.
Daniel Martin is a writer and editor at JohnnyJungle.com, covering St. John’s. You can find him on Twitter:@DanielJMartin_