March Madness 2023 Final Four: Predictions, Location, & Tickets
As always, March Madness has lived up to its name, so if you made a Final Four prediction before the tournament that came remotely true, you should feel great. But even if this isn’t the Final Four anyone predicted, it’s bound to be a great conclusion to the NCAA Tournament. Whether you’re a fan of one of the four teams or just a fan of college basketball, you’re going to want to get your hands on Final Four tickets so you can see the games in person. Let’s walk you through everything you need to know about the 2023 Final Four and how you can score great tickets.
The Venue
The 2023 Final Four is scheduled for Saturday, April 1, with the national championship game set for Monday, April 3. All three games will be played at NRG Stadium in Houston. This will be the fourth time the city of Houston has hosted the Final Four and the third time it has been held at NRG Stadium, which is typically the home of the NFL’s Houston Texans. NRG Stadium previously hosted the Final Four in 2011 when Kemba Walker led UConn to a win over Butler in the title game and in 2016 when Kris Jenkins hit a buzzer-beater to lift Villanova to a win over North Carolina in the championship game. In other words, NRG Stadium and the city of Houston have a history of hosting compelling and memorable Final Fours.
Best Places to Sit
Since NRG Stadium is typically used for football, the configuration changes when hosting basketball. Some of the temporary seats in sections 106, 107, 126, and 127 are the best options, as they are located on the lower level and close to mid-court. Just keep in mind that some of these sections have over 30 rows, so not every row will be in close proximity to the court. With this in mind, some of the best places to sit during the 2023 Final Four will be in sections 309, 310, 337, and 338. These sections are on the second level of the venue but still close to mid-court. Therefore, they have a central view of the action and a great view of the court without being too high or too far. However, most seats outside the back rows of the 600-level should provide a good view of the court.
Individual or All-Session Tickets
Fans who attend the Final Four have a choice to make between buying an all-session package or tickets for just one night. Tickets for the Final Four on Saturday night will give you access to both semifinal games but not Monday’s national title game. If you plan on attending Monday’s title game regardless of the results of Saturday’s game, the all-session tickets will give you the best bang for your buck. This will likely be the cheaper option and guarantee that you are in the same seats on both Saturday and Monday. Of course, fans of the two teams that lose on Saturday might end up selling the tickets they have for Monday’s game, putting more tickets onto the secondary market and giving you the option to have different seats.
Ticket Tips
Finding affordable tickets for an event like the Final Four is no easy task. However, by sticking to the secondary market, you’ll increase your chances of finding a good deal. Keep in mind that there is an immediate rush to buy Final Four tickets as soon as teams punch their ticket. But as the national semifinals draw closer on Thursday, Friday, and even Saturday, demand slows down, and prices drop. By showing a little patience and buying your tickets closer to the start of the Final Four, you’ll be able to find the best deals. Also, compare the cost of tickets for Saturday’s semifinals with all-session tickets that includes Monday’s championship game. As mentioned, all-session tickets can help give you more bang for your buck while still allowing you to sell your ticket for Monday’s game if you don’t want to stick around.
The Teams
This year’s Final Four has some surprise participants, with three of the four teams reaching the Final Four for the first time. Perhaps the biggest surprise is the Florida Atlantic Owls, who have made a shocking run as a no. 9 seed but have a 35-3 record this season. They will face the San Diego State Aztecs, who hail from the Mountain West and took down top overall seed Alabama on their way to the Final Four. In the other matchup, the Miami Hurricanes give the state of Florida two teams in the Final Four. Miami coach Jim Larrañaga took George Mason to the Final Four in 2006 and is now back with the Hurricanes. They will play the UConn Huskies, who will compete in the Final Four for the sixth time in program history since 1999, and even won a national title in four of their previous five trips.
Final Four Predictions
Given all of the surprises that we’ve seen in the NCAA Tournament thus far, it’s possible that there will be one or two more unexpected twists during the Final Four. However, it’s clear that UConn is the heavy favorite to win the national title. The three other teams all have an argument for why they can win it all. But if you’re looking for a Final Four prediction, the Huskies are the safest and the best choice.