Tuesday, March 13, 2007

Jayhawk fans face flight crunch

By Eric Weslander

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It's not too late to get game tickets. But it may be too late to get a good flight - unless you have some time to waste in Chicago.

As of Monday, a few hundred tickets remained available through the United Center box office for the first and second rounds of the NCAA Tournament in Chicago, where Kansas University tips off play at 6:10 p.m. Friday.

There are virtually no flights available between Kansas City and Chicago for Thursday or Friday. Some Wednesday flights still were available on Monday but were starting to fill.

With two days of NCAA Tournament games sandwiching St. Patrick's Day, Chicago will be a wild place this weekend.

"I think because it's spring break, it's a huge problem," said Marcia West, a travel consultant with Carlson Wagonlit travel. "So many things are already booked."

Some people attending the game from Lawrence are opting for the 550-mile drive.

Jim Bare, director of ticket operations for the United Center, said Monday afternoon that there were "several hundred" tickets still available for the first- and second-round games through the center's box office. To order, fans must print out a form through the United Center's Web site, www.unitedcenter.com, and fax it to the box office.

photo

Photo by Richard Gwin

Max Gould, 5, of Franklin, Tenn., pauses to look at the display backing the Jayhawks at Kinko's, 911 Mass. Gould was in town visiting his grandparents. The Jayhawks are headed to Chicago on Friday for the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

"Looking at how many we sold today, if that pace continues tomorrow, we would probably be out by the middle of Wednesday," he said. "They'd be pushing their luck a little bit if they waited until Wednesday."

Each ticket costs $225, plus an $11 service charge and $3 fee, and is good for the first- and second-round games. The limit is eight tickets per order.

Asked about the quality of the seats, Bare said, "They're in the building."

"They're all upper-level. ... They're among the top rows," he said.

Meanwhile, plenty of tickets elsewhere in the building are selling online through secondary-market Web sites, such as razorgator.com, which had one set of tickets selling for $864 apiece.

Jayhawks ordered to rest until their first round opponent is revealed

Upon earning the #1 seed in the NCAA tournament, the Jayhawks must await the results of a 'play-in' game to determine their first round match-up.

The NCAA started selling tickets for the games more than a year ago. All the 21,000 seats in the United Center initially sold for $225 apiece, but third-party sellers are now marking up their tickets based on the perceived quality of the seats.

Bare said he had no idea how many seats had been resold.

"Whatever it is, it's higher than I want it to be," he said. "The NCAA tries to lessen the secondary market, but obviously as you can see, there are those who are not true fans. : People that follow Kansas basketball are strong fans. I think they should have a chance to buy the tickets and see the game and not have to compete with people" who are trying to make money.

An estimated 7,408 KU alumni live in the Chicago area, including Will Cook, who bought his tickets two weeks ago through the United Center's box office.

"Everyone's trying really hard to get tickets now," he said. "The buzz here is really high. I think it's going to be crazy."

Jayhawks greeted with "Hero's welcome" after winning the Big 12 Conference Title

Late last night, the Kansas Jayhawks returned from Oklahoma City only to be greeted by several happy fans cheering on the victorious 'Hawks.

Fans who don't make it to the KU game will have a variety of Jayhawk-friendly bars to choose from, including Kincade's Bar and Grill, which boasts a 200-capacity room at the back of its bar devoted entirely to showing KU games.

"We are turning the key and holding onto our britches, man, just letting everybody in," general manager Greg Weinstein said. "I think everybody that usually comes to my place, a lot of them are going to try to go to the game. With the game being here in Chicago, we don't know what to expect."

NCAA Tournament

Comments

Kuku_Kansas (anonymous) says...

It's a great feeling driving down the Kennedy or Eisenhower Expressways and a fellow Jayhawk pulls up next to you honking their horn!

It's even better when we both cut-off the nearest car with Missouri license plates!!

Rock Chalk Jayhawk!!!

March 13, 2007 at 7:33 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

Kuku_Kansas (anonymous) says...

A little Jayhawk coverage from the Chicago Tribune:
http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/...

March 13, 2007 at 7:37 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

jayhawks71 (anonymous) says...

Let me know the route you take to get from Lawrence to get to the UC in 550 miles. You aren't taking Interstates if you make it.

March 13, 2007 at 11:49 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

agingfan (anonymous) says...

Just to check your facts, I looked at the SW Airlines site and they had numerous flights to Chicago Thursday, Friday and back to KC on Monday. You said they were none available. Why?

March 13, 2007 at 12:22 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

agingfan (anonymous) says...

My prior comment was incorrect. Please disregard it. Iam, afterall, aging!

March 13, 2007 at 12:26 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

dbgjayhawk (anonymous) says...

i'm flying to chicago on saturday, but unfortunately not for the game. i bought the tickets a while ago to visit a friend on spring break. that and the game tickets would be way too much for a poor college student like myself.

March 13, 2007 at 12:38 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

Kuku_Kansas (anonymous) says...

It's about 600 miles from Lawrence to O'Hare.

I have been driving back and forth from Kansas City to the outlying suburbs in roughly 515 miles if you take I-35 to I-80. Great timing too...about 6 hours 10 minutes.

March 13, 2007 at 1:42 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

Kuku_Kansas (anonymous) says...

Here ya go Jayhawks71:

Starting Point:
Lawrence, KS 66047

Ending Point:
End at United Center:
1901 W Madison St, Chicago, IL 60612, US

Total Est. Distance: 571.48 miles

5: Merge onto I-70 E toward kansas city (Portions toll). 32.7 miles Map

6: Merge onto I-635 N via EXIT 418B on the LEFT (Crossing into missouri). 7.8 miles Map

7: Merge onto I-29 S / US-71 S via EXIT 12B toward I-35. 3.2 miles Map

8: Merge onto I-35 N via EXIT 1B toward des moines (Crossing into IOWA). 193.7 miles Map

9: Merge onto I-80 E (Crossing into illinois). 172.2 miles Map

10: Merge onto I-88 E via EXIT 4B toward sterling / rock falls (Portions toll). 140.2 miles Map

11: I-88 E becomes i-290 e / eisenhower expy e (Portions toll).

March 13, 2007 at 1:45 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

oldvet (anonymous) says...

A fellow who used to work for me hated to fly after 9/11 and took the train round-trip to Chicago several times on assignments there. Check it out...

March 13, 2007 at 2:30 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

beebe1 (anonymous) says...

In WWII, you had to take a minimum of 500 miles to get RR Pullman. KC/Chgo barely made it; memory is short but somewhere around 505 miles. To Lawrence add 40 mi. So the RR track is less than 550 miles. But you probably can't find a really good road that follows the RR track.
Lived for years in Chgo. My route was: Ks 10 to 435; to KC 470; to I70 E of KC; then to StL, 370 n (exit about 223 on I70); go to Mo 270 around north of the city; enter IL and get I55 n to Chgo. Pick your exit in Chgo, it will take you almost to the United Center. No traffic lights and no stop signs till you exit in Chgo. I think the Stevenson exit would be my choice. (Poor memory again).

March 13, 2007 at 3:18 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

bmcmich1 (anonymous) says...

The I-35 to I-80 to I-88 route is the fastest

March 13, 2007 at 3:37 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

Kuku_Kansas (anonymous) says...

This Chicago native agrees with you bmcmich1

March 13, 2007 at 4:32 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

LAJayhawk5 (anonymous) says...

Anyone know what time we'll be playing on Sunday?

March 13, 2007 at 8:36 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

rtjayhawk (anonymous) says...

Anyone got tickets they are looking to give away? hahahaha

March 13, 2007 at 9:28 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

kcmostwanted (anonymous) says...

Can't fly into Chicago??..Fly to Milwakee (Spelling is incorrect but who cares) WI.. it's only an hour or so away from Chicago i believe....

March 14, 2007 at 10:33 a.m. ( | suggest removal )