MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — The University of Miami campus is buzzing as the Hurricanes prepare for the College Football Playoff National Championship at Hard Rock Stadium on Monday, and students are rushing to secure seats for what promises to be a sold-out event.
UM student Sophie Moran told Local 10’s Linnie Supall that she spent 30 minutes waiting for tickets to appear online before finally securing a seat after a website crash.
“It was $500 for student tickets — not free. They’re usually free,” she said.
With the national title game less than a week away, opportunities to see the Hurricanes in person are limited.
“I’m from the South, so I grew up watching football,” Moran said. “Seeing my team win is huge. I’m very excited. I think we got it. I think we’re going to win. We’ll take it home. I’m excited!”
Student tickets went on sale Monday, priced at nearly $500 each.
Rich Clark, executive director of the CFP, spoke to Supall about the hefty ticket prices for the big game.
“We look at pricing and we price our tickets competitively, but then they go to market and the market takes over from there,” he said. “We’re very happy that we’re able to have our fans come in and have people pay what they think they should pay to come to this game.”
Luisa Arana, another UM student, described the ticket process as stressful.
“To get the tickets was so stressful because we thought maybe with the discount it was going to be a little bit cheaper,” she said. “I don’t know, I saw it was $400, almost $500, and I was like, I can’t, but I would love to go.”
Non-students face even steeper prices.
Tickets in the 300 level are selling for more than $3,000, while prices climb to $24,000 for two tickets in the 100 level of the stadium.
“As UM students, I feel like we should have priority supporting our team,” said student Jaydis Garcia. “At least with the pricing of these tickets, it should be at least front row, but it is what it is.”
South Florida sports radio host Andy Slater reported that the cheapest parking on Hard Rock Stadium grounds for the title game between No. 10 Miami and No.1 Indiana Hoosiers is $747.
Parking across the street, accessible via a pedestrian walkway, is available at a significantly lower price of $280.
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