Single Game Football Tickets Tips

[Padraig]

I've posted this a few times in different threads (probably last year's Texas game, Senior Day, and most recently this year's Spring Game), but was asked to post it here as well to allow it to be seen as a "sticky" thread for the up-coming season:

I'm an usher for tOSU Football Games (last 3 years) and most games I have at least one or more friends or brothers come over to the games with me. We'd either try to get tickets for them pre-sale as they came available on-line @ hangonsloopy.com or often even had luck finding someone (non-scalper) who was looking to sell 1 or 2 "extras" and usually at face value or a very reasonable price.

Last year a brother and friend came with me for the Texas game hoping to find one of those persons willing to sell them an "extra" for a reasonable price, but if not they were willing to party all day and then watch the game on one of the big screens at a bar, someone's tailgate or where ever.

As we got there and were walking past the Schott (South East corner, of Lane & Olentangy I think) we saw about 75 people in a line not entering the usual Will Call / Student Ticket pick-up windows. When we asked what they were waiting for, we were told there were going to be General Public tickets sold there at about 8 or 8:30 for the game. We got in line, and in talking to some of the people around us (many of whom were clearly scalpers) we were told that there were always tickets available morning of the game no matter how "big" it was, or "sold out" it was supposed to be. One guy told us he'd gone to the Michigan home games each year for several years now buying them at face value at that window (or where ever they were sold before the Schott was built).

We proceeded to wait in line, got my brother and friend Texas tickets as well as tickets to each home game that year from that window on the morning of the game.

Now, it happens this way because as tOSU distributes tickets (to each faculty dept. at the school, student tickets, visiting school tickets, and OSU Alumni Assoc. around the country) any unsold tickets must be "turned in" by 8:00 morning of the game to be offered for general public sale. But no one at the ticket office is allowed to acknowledge these tickets because they are technically not "available" until they are turned back in and logged back into the system.

In any case, while I can't guarentee that everyone who shows up to Columbus @ the Schott on a Saturday morning will get tickets at face value for their favorite OSU matchup, Michigan this year or USC in a few years, I will say that we got tickets to every game this past year (2005). And I don't see why (based on what a few of the "regulars" we talked to told us) this coming season or seasons to come would be any different.

A couple tips: #1...get there early, around 7:30 or 8:00 depending on how big the game is to get your best shot. We were told some (scalpers) people hired homeless people to spend the night in line and hold their places for the Texas game. There's no guarentee how many tickets will be available, but for regular season games there usually isn't a problem, even toward mid to late morning.

#2...If you're unsure where to go, ask one of the Schott employees you'll see hanging around both inside and outside the building. There are always several lines forming and you'd hate to be in a Student Ticket line or Will Call line while the General Sales line grows and grows.

I'll keep everyone up-to-date as we hit the games this year and let you know of any changes. Otherwise, see you all at the Stadium this year...

[CleveBucks]

Good post. I know people that have done this for every game the last couple years. Is it a window inside the Schott rotunda by Will Call, or is it on the outside of the VCA?

[keeponrisin]

I appreciate the post as well. Do you know what type of quantity restrictions there may, or may not be? I don't have a problem being there early enough to have to shake the dew off my lilly, but my partners in crime are not as dependable...just curious. As I mentioned earlier it sure beats paying the season ticket price I've had to pay for the last 3 seasons whether I am successful or not...once again thanks!

[Padraig]

Yeah, the window is outside. They usually had a few of the temporary metal barricades set up along the wall to separate those lining up to go inside and get their student tix verses those waiting in hopes of purchasing General Public tix. (though there was one game where it was raining early that morning and the lines weren't long so they sold the General Public tickets inside at a window right next to the Will Call windows, but the rest of the games were sold out of the same window on the outside)

And I believe they usually had a sign up that stated "Limit 4 tickets per person", although for Texas they only sold 2 per person, then if you wanted to get back in line and go through again you were able to buy more...and shockingly, as long as the line was I know of several people who made it through twice and got more than 2 each.

I think it just depends on how many are turned back in, how big the game is / expected demand, and how long the line looks...I know some games I could have bought 10 or more tickets no problem.

[LoKyBuckeye]

great post Padraig... this works at most sporting venues as it's how I got a lot of tickets to Lambeau when I lived near Green Bay.

[buckbleeder]

Great post. I had no idea such a thing existed. I know I'll be giving it a try.

[BuckeyeSever24]

what kind of seats are available for those morning ticket sales? are they c deck? b deck? south stands?

thank you for the post though!

[Padraig]

Originally Posted by BuckeyeSever24

what kind of seats are available for those morning ticket sales? are they c deck? b deck? south stands?

thank you for the post though!

Usually lots of South Stands, but it completely depends on what order tickets are "logged" back into the system and what place in line you are.

As the ticket office gets blocks of tickets turned back in, they are manually keyed back into the system as being "available". My brother and I were in line for Texas tickets...about 75th or so. By the time we got up there we asked for the best 2 seats available together and it was South Stands, so we asked if they had any singles real close together in a better location...we got A Deck about the 5 yard line only 7 or 8 seats apart, so we took those.

Our friend was about 20 people in line behind us. When he got up there he asked for best 2 availabe together and got lower C Deck 50 yard line. Luck of the draw. The guy in front of him bought South Stands, all of a sudden 50 yard line popped up.

[BuckeyeSever24]

sweet, thanks for the info, i would rather have south stand than c deck though, i might just have to start going there rather than searching on ebay for them!

[Hawaii Buck]

Padraig,
What do you suggest for someone wanting 5 tickets for Michigan game yet live in Hawaii? Thanks. Please send me a PM.

[Padraig]

My suggetion for the game vs. the Wolverweenies (if coming from anywhere super far from Columbus):

Buy any tickets you can get at the most reasonable price you can (anywhere...nose-bleed seats, South stands, etc...just make sure you're in the Stadium). THEN, morning of the game, get up early, stand in line, and give yourself the opportunity to get better tickets (or more tickets period) then sell the "extras" at a profit to a scalper and maybe make some of the $$ back that you've spent on your trip . Or even sell them face value to some OSU fans you meet in the best tail gate party you can find and have the time of your lives while making some life-long friends in the process.

I was going to say, "sell them to a scalper or scUM fan at a profit", but I say screw the scUM fans...that's our house .

[Buckeyefever]

Actually, I have been doing the Saturday morning thing for about 10 years. You have to get there about 6am. The scalpers get there about that time or sometims a little earlier. If you don't mind standing with scalpers who are fairly obnoxious and like to cut in line it is a good way to get tix. There has only been 1 time when I waited in line and did NOT get tix. That was the 2004 fichigan game. NO ONE got tix that morning. After you get your tix you just have to find a bar that opens at 8am!!!!

As far as PADRAIG's last post.... SCREW SCALPERS!!!!!! sell them to fans who really want to go to the game or sell them at face to a father and his son. I figure I'd rather make a $10 profit and have a true fan go rather than sell them to a scalper who will turn around and sell them for $50 over what they just paid for your ticket. Any fan would love to buy a ticket $10-$20 over face. You know if scalpers do NOT sell there tickets just destroy them. Like I said I have been dealing with these A-Hole scalpers for over 10 years.

Go Bucks,

[OSUBuckeyes71]

How much do the tickets cost at face value?

[BB73]

I think these sell at the same price as alumni tickets. About $57 apiece.

[Padraig]

Yes, face value for the Game Day Ticket sales is the same as Single Game Alumni tix as well as Pre-sale Internet (HangOnSloopy.com) tix. The annoying thing is that even though you walk up to the window, i.e. no shipping / mailing, etc. they still do charge a 'handling fee'.

So I think we're looking at $60 - $62 here...which you still can't beat for any tOSU game in my opinion. And if you're lucky enough to pull it off for a Penn State / Michigan / Texas game, etc. then what a deal it is!