obie7661
12-14-2006, 12:26 AM
By Marlen Garcia, USA TODAY
Ticket scalpers at the NCAA Final Four will have stiff competition in the future — from the NCAA.
In an effort to curb illegal scalping, the NCAA is partnering with RazorGator Experiences to allow fans to auction tickets at RazorGator's website.
NCAA programs benefit from the proceeds, said Greg Shaheen, NCAA senior vice president for basketball and business strategies.
"The program is designed to assure we have maximum benefit of what's going on in the marketplace," Shaheen said.
"We're offering sanctioned programs to be able to assist fans based on their feedback."
The NCAA is touting the program as a ticket exchange, but essentially, fans who plan to forgo either the tournament's national semifinals or championship game can name their price with a catch: A portion of the profit will go back to the NCAA. Shaheen said the organization hasn't determined how much will go to the NCAA.
Proceeds will go to the overall revenue of the NCAA and will be distributed to various programs, Shaheen said.
Asked whether the association is concerned about the perception that it's promoting the sale of tickets for profit, Shaheen said: "It recognizes the fact that it has been going on with no proceeds going to NCAA programs. We're trying to provide a bona fide way for people who want to make the investment to get tickets."
Ticket scalpers at the NCAA Final Four will have stiff competition in the future — from the NCAA.
In an effort to curb illegal scalping, the NCAA is partnering with RazorGator Experiences to allow fans to auction tickets at RazorGator's website.
NCAA programs benefit from the proceeds, said Greg Shaheen, NCAA senior vice president for basketball and business strategies.
"The program is designed to assure we have maximum benefit of what's going on in the marketplace," Shaheen said.
"We're offering sanctioned programs to be able to assist fans based on their feedback."
The NCAA is touting the program as a ticket exchange, but essentially, fans who plan to forgo either the tournament's national semifinals or championship game can name their price with a catch: A portion of the profit will go back to the NCAA. Shaheen said the organization hasn't determined how much will go to the NCAA.
Proceeds will go to the overall revenue of the NCAA and will be distributed to various programs, Shaheen said.
Asked whether the association is concerned about the perception that it's promoting the sale of tickets for profit, Shaheen said: "It recognizes the fact that it has been going on with no proceeds going to NCAA programs. We're trying to provide a bona fide way for people who want to make the investment to get tickets."