How to Score Tickets to the College Basketball Tournament

March Madness. The Sweet Sixteen. The Final Four. Your team is in it. And you want to see the game in person. Here's what you need to do to get your hands on NCAA basketball tournament tickets.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

1. Research information about ticket distribution. If you're a student of one of the schools represented in the game, you may get priority for the some of the available tickets. Each school has its own policy on distributing these tickets, usually giving priority to those students and/or fans who are season ticket holders.
2. Find friends, family members or coworkers who are season ticket holders for one of the teams playing in the game or for the venue itself.
3. Purchase tickets from the venue by phone or over the Internet on the day the tickets go on sale. These tickets often sell out very quickly.
4. Check independent ticket broker sites like StubHub.com to find tickets posted by students or fans who cannot make the game.
5. Understand in advance how and when you will get your tickets.

Tips & Warnings

• For any Internet transaction you do, make sure the website where you buy tickets is secure and reputable. Look for a seal of approval from the Better Business Bureau, Verisign or similar organizations.
• In most cases (but not always), NCAA basketball tournament tickets are available at better prices well in advance of the game, especially before the opponents are determined.
• Watch for the thousands of tickets given away in contests. Enter to win.
• eBay is often a good place to find tickets, but beware of fraudulent tickets . To minimize risk, look for a 100% guarantee on transactions at ticket sites like Stubhub.com.
• If you choose to deal with scalpers, make sure your transaction is legal first. In some states, ticket scalping is illegal.