College hoops fans who want to watch the last four women's teams battle it out in this year's edition of the March Madness tournament in person may want to brace for sticker shock.
According to SeatGeek, the cheapest tickets for the women's Final Four matchups on April 5 were priced at $674, compared with $611 for the men's bracket. Meanwhile, Ticketmaster listed the lowest-priced seats for the women's and men's Final Four games at $746 and $693, respectively, as of Monday.
The prices have surged due to increasing demand for tickets in recent days, driven by the impressive on-court performances of Louisiana State University's Angel Reese and the University of Iowa's Caitlin Clark, as reported by online ticket brokers. Some ticket dealers are now selling women's tournament seats at a higher price than men's games.
Clark and Reese faced off in last year's national championship, which LSU won, and the two star players met again in an eagerly anticipated Elite Eight contest on Monday night.
"The world of sports is undergoing a major transformation, all thanks to athletes like Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese, and others who are captivating audiences with their exceptional talent and star quality," stated Chris Leyden, Growth Marketing Director at SeatGeek. "This shift is primarily fueled by the remarkable brand power these athletes possess, leading to an unprecedented demand for this year's March Madness tournament."
Clark and Reese are not only displaying their skills on the court but are also "ushering in a new era of fan enthusiasm and interaction," Leyden added.
Recent years have seen a surge in viewership for college basketball, particularly among college-educated men who prefer online streaming services. A survey conducted by S&P Global Market Intelligence Kagan revealed that approximately 22% of internet-using Americans watch NCAA basketball. The survey also indicated that 7% of respondents tune in to women's college basketball, a number that has risen to 9% this month.
