Prices to see USC, UNC Final Four games in Phoenix skyrocket

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The price to travel and see the final four teams compete in the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament skyrocketed overnight as the South Carolina Gamecocks and the UNC Tar Heels sealed their spots in Phoenix.

Normally, it would cost a traveler around $500 to fly from Charlotte to Phoenix. But because of the Final Four, the prices jumped to over $1,000 for roundtrip tickets on American Airlines.

Channel 9 looked at the flights to Phoenix and found a few main cabin flights are sold out and people paying for first class are spending around $2,400 for a roundtrip ticket.

Reporter Gina Esposito was at Charlotte Douglas International Airport as USC and UNC fans returned home after seeing the Elite Eight games.

For first time in the school’s history, South Carolina is going to the Final Four, and alumnus Bryan Gregory and his daughters don’t want to miss out.

“I never thought that as a student, I would have the opportunity to go. It’s definitely cool,” Megan Gregory said.

As soon as the Gamecocks secured their 77-70 win over Florida in the Elite Eight, the Gregory family began receiving emails about high ticket prices for the Final Four.

“There are some packages you can get through the Gamecock Club, so we will look at that and check out all the options,” Bryan Gregory said.

PrimeSport works with the NCAA to offer travel packages for Gamecocks fans.

On its website, one of their packages is already sold out.

Another package, which includes airfare, transportation and a hotel room goes for more than $2,000 per person.

UNC fans wanting to attend the Final Four in Phoenix are looking at their options.

Wendy Meyer-Goodwin, whose daughter is a senior at UNC and a cheerleader, said since the ticket prices have climbed, she’s not sure if she can make the game in Phoenix. But she said some friends are taking their chances and hoping airfare will turn around after a few days.

“I just talked with a friend who said he has tickets to the finals if Carolina makes it, but he’s not even going to book his flight until after the game,” Meyer-Goodwin said.

Anthony Travel has travel packages looking for One Stop Shop at $2,600 per person.

American Airlines offers nine non-stop flights from Charlotte-Douglas Airport to Phoenix.

Read more top trending stories on wsoctv.com:

• Community mourns loss of father, son, both firefighters
• Chase starting in Iredell County leads to trooper-involved shooting
• Woman killed, husband airlifted after teen driver collides with motorcycle
• Tennessee bills dead teen $3K to replace guardrail that killed her
• VIDEO: Keith Monday's Monday morning forecast

Cox Media Group