UNC should provide transportation to the Final Four game
And I don’t mean paying $800 for a plane ticket
Last Saturday, our men’s basketball team played their hearts out and advanced to the Final Four on Saturday, April 2nd. This is our first time in the Final Four since 2009, and we are the only number one seed still in the NCAA tournament. It’s a pretty historic achievement.
Naturally, students want to cheer our team on. We should be chanting “GO, FIGHT, WIN” in the risers. We should be splitting the stadium so one half yells “TAR” and the other yells “HEELS.” We should be watching the Brice and Marcus postgame bromance that always brings tears to our eyes. We should be there to see Roy win another daggum’ title.
As you might have discovered already, we can’t have this fantasy, unless you happen to have a low-cost way to get to Houston.
Want to go to Houston and add another to those Final Four banners? Yeah, so do I.
Student tickets for the Final Four game sold out earlier this week for $40 a piece. “What a steal!” you might say, before you realize there is a catch.
Look up flights to Houston – they average from $800 to over $1000, if there are any left. Calculate the cost of that hotel fee, which will increase exponentially if you end up staying for the NCAA Championship Game. Or, calculate the mental sanity you will need to drive the 17 hours and 4 minutes to Houston, and the amount of mileage you would rack up on your car.
I have one question: why can’t UNC provide student transportation to the game? I’m not talking about anything fancy – we don’t need a private jet with complimentary champagne. A few buses would be lovely.
The cost would be nominal. Gas is the cheapest it has been in years, and people would be more than willing to pay for their fare if it were less than $800. That could cover the cost of gas and renting the bus.
This could be us but you playin’, UNC
Maybe you are one of the lucky few with points for flights, family in the area, a car with multiple willing drivers, or any other special circumstance. I am genuinely happy for you, and I expect to see pictures and hear every detail.
As for the rest of us?
We (wishfully and longingly) ask that UNC consider a way to transport its students to our Final Four games. If you’re going to offer discounted game tickets, please offer discounted transportation as well.