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NCAA News Archive - 2006
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NCAA inks agreement to boost fan experience
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The NCAA has announced it will partner with an event-management and ticket-hospitality firm to provide services, including a fan ticket exchange, for the 2007 Men’s Final Four. RazorGator Experiences will be the Association’s official ticket, hospitality and hotel package provider and will operate a Fan2Fan Ticket Exchange for the event.
The Association will work closely with RazorGator Experiences to create a comprehensive program for fans, the membership and other organizations. The company will provide ticket and hospitality management and strategic marketing, specifically hotel accommodations, transportation, planning, catering, sales, entertainment, décor and other event management services.
The NCAA also has asked RazorGator Experiences to address another vexing problem that many fans attending the Men’s Final Four have faced in the past — ticket-scalpers pursuing fans whose teams do not progress beyond the first day of the Men’s Final Four. RazorGator Experiences will negotiate with fans on the resale of their game tickets via the Fan2Fan Ticket Exchange Program if they are unable to use their tickets or if their team loses in the semifinal basketball game.
“The NCAA agreement with RazorGator Experiences is the next in a series of strategic steps by the NCAA to reaffirm and elevate our commitment to our fan base, our membership and the many organizations that want an official Men’s Final Four experience,” said Greg Shaheen, NCAA senior vice-president for basketball and business strategies.
Shaheen said RazorGator Experiences has the expertise and the resources to help the NCAA significantly reduce activities that taint the Men’s Final Four, such as the unauthorized sale of NCAA event tickets, which not only limit revenue for student-athlete programs, but also put the fan base at risk. “Ultimately,” he said, “the agreement with RazorGator Experiences will be an added benefit of reassurance for those associated with the Men’s Final Four.”
The NCAA entered the agreement with RazorGator Experiences to protect NCAA interests and further its branding surrounding the Division I Men’s Basketball Championship. The arrangement also reinforces efforts to preserve the integrity of the championship and eliminates unauthorized third-party profit on the tournament, which reduces revenue for all NCAA member colleges and universities. The NCAA returns about 94 cents of every dollar to its member schools, through direct distribution, programs and championships. That includes revenue generated from tournament ticket sales.
Additionally, basketball fans will have access to comprehensive ticket, hospitality and travel packages surrounding the Men’s Final Four. RazorGator Experiences will work directly with individual fans, as well as groups and companies of any size, including NCAA corporate champions and partners, to provide the opportunity to experience the NCAA Men’s Final Four at a level comparable to sanctioned hospitality programs available at major national sporting events.
The NCAA and CBS will continue to offer separate, special hospitality access to its corporate champions and partners as part of the exclusive NCAA marketing program managed by CBS.
The Association will work closely with RazorGator Experiences to create a comprehensive program for fans, the membership and other organizations. The company will provide ticket and hospitality management and strategic marketing, specifically hotel accommodations, transportation, planning, catering, sales, entertainment, décor and other event management services.
The NCAA also has asked RazorGator Experiences to address another vexing problem that many fans attending the Men’s Final Four have faced in the past — ticket-scalpers pursuing fans whose teams do not progress beyond the first day of the Men’s Final Four. RazorGator Experiences will negotiate with fans on the resale of their game tickets via the Fan2Fan Ticket Exchange Program if they are unable to use their tickets or if their team loses in the semifinal basketball game.
“The NCAA agreement with RazorGator Experiences is the next in a series of strategic steps by the NCAA to reaffirm and elevate our commitment to our fan base, our membership and the many organizations that want an official Men’s Final Four experience,” said Greg Shaheen, NCAA senior vice-president for basketball and business strategies.
Shaheen said RazorGator Experiences has the expertise and the resources to help the NCAA significantly reduce activities that taint the Men’s Final Four, such as the unauthorized sale of NCAA event tickets, which not only limit revenue for student-athlete programs, but also put the fan base at risk. “Ultimately,” he said, “the agreement with RazorGator Experiences will be an added benefit of reassurance for those associated with the Men’s Final Four.”
The NCAA entered the agreement with RazorGator Experiences to protect NCAA interests and further its branding surrounding the Division I Men’s Basketball Championship. The arrangement also reinforces efforts to preserve the integrity of the championship and eliminates unauthorized third-party profit on the tournament, which reduces revenue for all NCAA member colleges and universities. The NCAA returns about 94 cents of every dollar to its member schools, through direct distribution, programs and championships. That includes revenue generated from tournament ticket sales.
Additionally, basketball fans will have access to comprehensive ticket, hospitality and travel packages surrounding the Men’s Final Four. RazorGator Experiences will work directly with individual fans, as well as groups and companies of any size, including NCAA corporate champions and partners, to provide the opportunity to experience the NCAA Men’s Final Four at a level comparable to sanctioned hospitality programs available at major national sporting events.
The NCAA and CBS will continue to offer separate, special hospitality access to its corporate champions and partners as part of the exclusive NCAA marketing program managed by CBS.
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