Big East Tournament 2012

[Zar Zar Binks]

Not sure if this belongs in The Superbar or not but...

I'm planning on making the trip out to NYC next year for the BE Tourney with a friend. I've never been to NYC (and subsequently the tournament) so I was looking for some advice from posters who have. Obviously we're pretty far away but I figured that it wouldn't hurt to do some preliminary research. So here it goes:

1) How far in advance do you normally buy your plane tickets?

2) Do tickets for the tournament sell out fast?

3) I know the days are broken up into different sections so do you buy tickets for the whole tournament (which I'm assuming are pretty expensive) or pick and chose which ones to go to? If the latter, how do you decide which ones to pick considering the seeding is determined just a few weeks before it begins?

4) I'm assuming that as fans teams are eliminated there's a fair amount of tickets that are available, how do these transactions take place?

5) Where do MU fans generally stay? Is there a go-to hotel? Any other ones in the area with better deals/closer to the arena?

That's all for now. This also is will be my first time going to any big, out of state tourney so any advice you guys have would be helpful.

Thanks in advance for all the help!

[NYWarrior]

I go every year .... happy to help

1) How far in advance do you normally buy your plane tickets?
your call...lots of options though -- Newark, JFK, LGA, HPN even McArthur. Figure out how much u wanna pay and search the area.

2) Do tickets for the tournament sell out fast?
Buy them through MU ... that is the best way.  They usually send a reminder out in the early stages of the season, but calling the ticket office is a smart thing to do.  

3) I know the days are broken up into different sections so do you buy tickets for the whole tournament (which I'm assuming are pretty expensive) or pick and chose which ones to go to? If the latter, how do you decide which ones to pick considering the seeding is determined just a few weeks before it begins?
You buy tix for the entire tourney ... the same seat for each game of the tourney. The price of each 'session' is progressively higher.

4) I'm assuming that as fans teams are eliminated there's a fair amount of tickets that are available, how do these transactions take place?
After-market madness right outside MSG.  It's easy to find tickets. Be sure to look for the watermark on the back of the ticket, just below the tear line (presuming the tickets remain similar in format year to year).  If UConn and the Cuse lose, overall tix prices drop fast in the after-market.  You can always get tickets in the aftermarket, sometimes even within MSG from disappointed fans looking to bail on the rest of the week.

5) Where do MU fans generally stay? Is there a go-to hotel? Any other ones in the area with better deals/closer to the arena?
The team stays at the Westin in Times Square.  I think the rest of the entourage might be at the Hilton.  The hotel is not a big deal because the university hosts pre/post game events at a bar across from MSG, as well as a series of alumni events around the city all week long.  In terms of a hotel, just get a decent price and be happy with it.

[GGGG]

Regarding airfare, use Orbitz and they will refund you the difference if another customer uses Orbitz to book the same flight.  Usually, if you start looking 4-6 months out is when you find the lowest prices.

[Skarrface]

NY Warrior is spot on. Don't underestimate buying the whole sleeve, the other games are VERY entertaining. It is nice to sit back and enjoy the game when you don't have a dog in the fight, especially when it is UConn and Syracuse. If you decide not to go to a particular session you will always be able to sell your ticket.

[MU Fan in Connecticut]

1) How far in advance do you normally buy your plane tickets?

Sign up at www.kayak.com.  You can set an alert where they will send you daily and/or weekly e-mail with the daily range of prices.  It includes a graph so you can the price flucuations.  It will even give you fares (in one e-mail) to the list of NYC area airports NYWarrior mentions.

[rugbydrummer]

ZZB,

I went in 2008 and had a blast as a student, so obviously ticket acquisition was somewhat simpler.  Anyway, I think when you fly in/out depends on whether you're going to attend the entire tourney regardless of what possible byes Marquette gets.  When I went, I missed the first game (versus SJU I think?) because I just made an executive decision to fly there on Thursday am, and MU didn't get the bye and played Wednesday night.  Personally, if you have the time and financial reserve, I'd just go for the whole tourney cuz like the others are saying, it'll be fun to watch the other games, too.

I flew the then-Midwest airlines into Newark then took the train to Jersey City, which is across from Manhattan.  It's easy enough to take the NY-NJ transit (subway) directly to MSG.  I guess the only pain is coming home again, but we got a very reasonable price at the courtland Marriott we stayed at, maybe around $130/night (don't quote me i'd have to dig up receipts).  Also, I feel like you should be able to get a roundtrip flight from mke (or ORD/midway as it appears you may use them) for no more than $200, especially this early, though I don't know if the current gas prices won't add more to that.  Again, don't quote me as I didn't go search travelocity recently or anything, just my personal experience.

Best of luck planning your trip!  Most important component is having commitment from your travel buddy 

[T.V. Diener 34]

Hey guys,

I was thinking about heading out to NYC for the Big East Tournament next year and had a few questions for some of you who may have already been out there. 

Would you guys recommend getting tickets from scalpers outside MSG or would you recommend buying them before you get out there?  I would just think that buying tickets before going out there would be in a worse location that finding them outside and choosing where you want to sit. 

Also, when buying tickets are you just buying for an entire day?  Or is it like the NCAA tournament where there's an afternoon and evening session? 

Lastly, are there any MU bars in the area that people meet up at before/after the games?  I have friends out there and would be traveling with a few people but it's always nicer to be in a place with some MU fans to shoot the crap a bit.

Any answers/advice would be greatly appreciated!  Thanks!

[WarhawkWarrior]

I have gone the last 4 years and find it best to buy the tickets through MU.  I never get to use the first day but they aren't of much value.  As the tourney progresses it gets increasingly more difficult to buy tickets at reasonable prices, especially the semi and final.  You can always scalp the ones you don't use (I have done this every year too).  The tickets are split by days I believe and include multiple games except the Saturday final which is only one game on that day.

[WarhawkWarrior]

There are plenty of notices ahead of time indicating the MU bar for congregating pre- and post-game with alums and friends.

[Archie]

I agree with Warhawk. Def best to buy from MU.

[rocky_warrior]

I was thinking about heading out to NYC for the Big East Tournament next year and had a few questions for some of you who may have already been out there. 

Merged with previous topics so that everyone gets the same info   Just scroll up above your post for previous answers.