The View From Here; Plenty to Offer at the WCWS
If you think people have lost perspective, just take a look at tickets for sporting events, especially pro and some college events. Fans are spending hundreds of thousands of dollars for tickets to watch their favorite college or professional team. One NBA franchise listed its top ticket for the playoffs a few years ago at $10,500.00. That's a lot of money for one game and especially if you don't have it.
Apparently many people have that kind of money as this franchise has sold out for the last three or four years. Of course the ticket price is only part of the equation. There is parking, souvenirs and concessions. Usually all of these are way overpriced, but the loyal fan doesn't want to disappoint their favorite pro or college team and is willing to pay whatever it takes. One major university recently did away with its press section and sold the seats to the highest bidder. Apparently the new AD who came up with the idea didn't want any press coverage, just the money. Fortunately, there is one college sport that hasn't gone over the top on its ticket prices and especially for its marquee event--the Women's College Softball World Series.
This is baseball's version of the "Summer Classic," and it doesn't get any better for this event and the thousands of fans who journey each and every year to watch the nation's top eight women's fast pitch teams battle it out for the national title. Eleven teams have won the NCAA title since the NCAA started sponsoring the event in 1982 and eight of them are in this year's field of 64 teams, including defending champion Oklahoma. The softball fans can choose from several ticket options including all-session tickets, which include access to a minimum of 14 and up to 17 games for $100 in the outfield. Fans may also purchase an outfield flex package starting at $60.00. (The average price for an NFL football game went from $62.34 in 2006 to $81.54 in 2013). The flex package allows fans to purchase tickets to a minimum of four sessions, based on availability. The all-session and flex package seats are reserved. Fans also have available ticket and hospitality packages. The hospitality packages permit admission to an area that includes a tailgate meal, cold beverages, lawn games, entertainment and much more. Just call 1-800-591-9198 or visit NCAA.com/WCWS to purchase tickets for the NCAA Experience.
In the long run, this event will be a good experience for everyone involved and once you've been to the event you might want to come back again and again. That can't be said for some of the pro and college sports because the ticket prices and everything else associated with the event is off the chart a fan might be able to afford the event just once, depending on the size of the family, how much money they have and how many of them want to go to the event. Of course there are those who have the time and money to go back time and time again to support their favorite college or pro team. We applaud their support, but ticket prices continue to increase, especially in pro sports. More money is needed because the players' salaries have increased considerably and more and more money is needed to pay them. Fortunately, women's college softball remains the best bang for the buck and gives fans an outstanding product for a fair and reasonable price. It doesn't get any better than that and the 32nd annual Women's College World Series will be worth it in the long run for the fans who continue to attend year after year and for those who will be newcomers this year. And they will be back.
