Butler hoops tickets in hot demand; IU on the rise

Maybe it’s the promise of a strong season. Perhaps it’s the recently renovated Hinkle Fieldhouse. Either way, tickets for Butler University men’s basketball games are a hot commodity.

Secondary ticket broker Vivid Seats recently released its annual NCAA Men’s Basketball Ticket Report for this season, and Butler—No. 15 in the AP poll for its play on the court—has the ninth-highest median ticket price on the secondary market. Indiana University is No. 23, according to the report, and Purdue and Notre Dame are just outside the top 25.

According to Vivid Seats, Butler fans looking to catch a home game will pay an average of $89. The median (half paying more, half paying less) is $81. The ranking is based on the median.

The relatively modest size of Hinkle Fieldhouse, which seats about 10,000, no doubt has helped increase demand for Butler tickets.

While Butler is a long way behind Duke, which is tops with a median of $195 and an average of $329, the Bulldogs impressively rank ahead of defending national champion Connecticut, which sits at No. 10 with a median of $79 and an average of $97.

Kentucky boasts the second-most-expensive ticket, according to Vivid Seats, with a median of $177 and an average of $278. Kansas sits third with a $165 median and $219 average.

The median price to an IU game at Assembly Hall is $60 and the average is $79. With IU off to a solid start—Tuesday night notwithstanding—those prices could be on the way up.

Two of the hottest IU tickets are for its pair of games against rival Purdue. Tickets to the Feb. 19 game at Bloomington average $151, according to Vivid Seats, and the Jan. 28 match-up in West Lafayette average $107.

Tickets to the Crossroads Classic at Bankers Life Fieldhouse also are in demand, with the average for that Dec. 20 event going at $125. The classic features a double-header with IU playing Butler, and Notre Dame squaring off against Purdue.