Tag: Sports Custom TicketSmarter

Biggest opening-round upsets in NCAA men’s basketball tournament history

Bracket-busting outcomes that have become so much of the March Madness lore.

March Madness thrives on upsets.

Buzzer-beaters, unsung heroes, the unexpected outcomes throughout NCAA tournament history are just as iconic (if not more) than the teams that go on to win the championship game.

The David vs. Goliath stories and early round unknowns always add to the fans’ overall anticipation, too. It’s what makes attending the NCAA tournament such a bucket-list item.

Of course, that thrill had been amiss for the past two years, with attendance totals heavily reduced for the March Madness mix in 2021 and no tourney in 2020.

But crowds will be back in the stands at full capacity in 2022, which has created an exhilaration for basketball fans across the country!

And if you’re hoping to watch your team celebrate its own upset glory or begin a run to the Final Four, then you’re in luck. The groundbreaking partnership between TicketSmarter and USA TODAY shines in moments like the NCAA basketball tournaments.

The resale marketplace eliminates the concerns and headaches when it comes to purchasing tickets to watch your college basketball team. The user-friendly setup is safe, secure and has ticket options categorized by the NCAA tournament locations—more on that perk below—so you can find exactly what you need, with zero hassle.

The best part: there are no upsets with the ticket-buying process, as TicketSmarter has a 100% guarantee.

So are you ready to begin your March Madness journey?

BUY YOUR TICKETS TO THE 2022 NCAA TOURNAMENT HERE

To help tip off the post-Selection Sunday buzz and all the possible bracket-busters that await, we’re looking at the 10 greatest upsets in opening-round history.

Just imagine having been in the stands for one of these…

A fan’s guide to all 32 NCAA basketball conference tournaments: Tickets, locations, start dates, and more!

Let the March Madness begin!

Before Selection Sunday and all the Bracketology conversations and predictions consume college basketball fans’ attention, the NCAA conference tournaments will take center stage on the hardwood across the country.

The Opening Act to the must-see show in March, each tournament creates its own drama, frequently setting the “Madness” theme that will occur throughout the month—the upsets, last-second heroics, thrilling heartbreakers, a rush of memorable moments that only NCAA basketball can provide.

Overall, 32 conferences will have a tournament, with teams looking to write the beginning chapters to a Cinderella Story or live up to the perennial dominance heading into the NCAA Tournament.

That amount of basketball action is tremendous for fans, of course, but also presents an often overwhelming obstacle if you want to go the games.

When considering the different venues, the teams, and even deciding where you’d like to sit, buying tickets to conference tournaments can feel very much like navigating a maze—one dotted with distrust and confusion around each turn. Certainly not the type of madness you’re looking for…

However, the process doesn’t need to rival a full-court shot’s difficulty. Supporting your team or simply taking in the NCAA action is an easy layup…if you have TicketSmarter there to assist with creating the unique experiences.

The platform is unrivaled when it comes to the March Madness journey in 2022. Partnering with more than 100 Division I universities and 25 conferences as the official ticket resale marketplace, TicketSmarter has fans covered in one easy-to-use site that includes the company’s 100% guarantee.

No lines, no purchasing hassles or concerns about seating charts—fans can punch their tickets to the NCAA conference tournaments with worry-free ease.

So, are you ready to go dancing?

To help, we’ve created an ultimate NCAA Division I Conference Tournament guide—for both the men’s and women’s slate—complete with start dates, location(s) and when the championship game takes place. 

Daytona 500 sets the stage for early NASCAR calendar of must-see races

2022 NASCAR is off and running, with plenty of great racing action all across the country heading toward the spring and summer.

The NASCAR season is revved up and running in 2022, coming off a unique January that presented a delayed 2021 Hall of Fame induction—headlined by Dale Earnhardt Jr.— and entered February down the street from Super Bowl 56 with the Clash at the Coliseum.

A checkered flag on that season-opening exhibition now leaves one of the most anticipated events, in any sport, next on the calendar: The Daytona 500.

It’s the Great American Race’s 64th running and one that has a heightened excitement. Not only will teams be entering the first major test for the Next Gen cars, but practice and qualifying are also back on the schedule this year, including one extended session.

(Of course, many will also be keen to watch owner Floyd Mayweather Jr. and The Money Team Racing team’s debut.)

In all, the official start to the NASCAR year has plenty to offer. And much like the Super Bowl, the chance to attend such an exceptional destination is tops for racing fans and even those who’ve wanted to add this Mount Rushmore of Sporting Events to the list.

Are you looking to make the trip?

If the experience is something you’re hoping to check off in 2022, then TicketSmarter can help. The partnership with the online ticket reseller and USA TODAY Network allows readers to easily purchase tickets to events happening both locally and nationally, from article pages (like this) and drop-down menus across a wide range of sites.

It’s a perfect fit in so many areas—it’s fast, easy and secure—and as TicketSmarter CEO Jeff Goodman highlights, great for NASCAR fans.

“At TicketSmarter, we love helping fans build once-in-a-lifetime experiences whether that is the new race at the LA Colosseum or the Daytona 500,” Goodman said. “NASCAR is one of the largest fan bases in the country, and it is easy to see why after just one race at the track.”

The exciting fan-centric opportunities go beyond the Daytona 500, too.

Here’s what caught our eye while looking at the early part of the 2022 NASCAR calendar.

Tale of the Ticket: The unique history created at each Super Bowl in Los Angeles

What will Super Bowl 56 add to the script?

The Super Bowl returns to Los Angeles in 2022, a long-awaited reunion that takes the NFL’s greatest show and places it center stage in the entertainment mecca for the first time since 1993.

And if you’re looking to make this year “the year” and have thought about buying tickets to the Big Game, then you’re in luck. Thanks to an unparalleled partnership with TicketSmarter, USA TODAY Network readers now have secure and easy access to purchase tickets to Super Bowl 56.

The Kansas City-based resale marketplace also has you covered for many of the star-studded events beyond the action at SoFi Stadium on February 13—like Shaq’s Fun House Super Bowl Party, the Maxim Super Bowl Party and the Super Bowl Experiences taking place at the Los Angeles Convention Center.

The best part: However you have the bucket-list experience unfolding, you can take comfort in knowing TicketSmarter’s 100% ticket guarantee means that you won’t have to battle the unknown should anything wind up on the cutting room floor.

So, are you ready for Hollywood’s return to Super Bowl Sunday?

Ahead of the showtime, we’re taking a look back at the proverbial “15 minutes of fame” each Los Angeles-area Big Game has provided since 1967.

If SB 56 continues the trend, then what an experience it will be!

14 of the greatest Super Bowl moments (that would have been incredible to see live!)

Imagine being at the game to see these iconic Super Bowl moments…

While watching all the Super Bowl action unfold on television is great, not even the highest of hi-def flat screens could replace the experience of seeing the Big Game from the stands.

Have you ever been part of it?

Because of the exciting new partnership with TicketSmarter, USA TODAY Network readers can make that destination dream a Los Angeles-bound reality. You’ll be able to purchase tickets to Super Bowl 56—and more than 125,000 live events on TicketSmarter’s website—while having the reassurance that each is covered by the company’s 100% ticket guarantee.

“Attending the Super Bowl is a bucket list item for football fans all over the world whether their team is playing or not,” said TicketSmarter CEO Jeff Goodman. “Over the years, we have facilitated millions of sales to live events and helped to create countless memories. That is one of my favorite things about TicketSmarter and the work we do to make events like this more accessible.”

Those memories that Jeff mentioned have created a wave of Super Bowl nostalgia, causing us to ponder the highlights from past years. 

So to help you get ready for Super Bowl 56, we’re taking a look back at the legendary moments throughout Super Bowl history, the snapshots in time that would have been amazing to see live…

(If only TicketSmarter had been around for all of them! )