Tips for getting tickets

[KenTankerous]

These are some great tips but it is a ten hour drive to Durham and I am just not adventurous enough to risk not getting into a game after driving all that way (although a night at the WaDuke in and of itself is almost worth the drive). What is the best way to get tickets far in advance of game day? I know the Iron Dukes have an exchange but isn't that someone last minute?

[coach_k5]

Hey Duke Nation, just wanted to say hello to all you guys, this board is totally new to me. I have been a fan since I was about 6 years old and have liked the blue devils for a long time. I have never been to cameron and I really never wanted to pay 200 bucks for a couple tickets. Do you guys think it would be worth the trip to Cameron to stand outside and hold my finger up, actually for me and my younger brother? You guys help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you. One more thing, does donating more money to be an iron Duke get you better chances to score tickets? Thanks again guys.

[downdraft1]

I want to thank everyone who has posted tips for getting tickets in this thread. I have been a longtime fan of both this site and Duke. Using these tips along with some luck, I made it into Cameron for my first Duke game!

I arrived about 30 minutes before the game started. On my walk to Cameron I saw plenty of people asking for tickets (well away from Cameron) along with scalpers willing to ask for more than double face value. I knew it would be a tall task for getting in. The tips in this thread suggested standing west of Cameron but I wasn't sure exactly where I was. I planted myself by the Whitford Dr. Lot, next to the Murray Building. It seemed like a good spot because plenty of season ticket holders were walking by. If I had to add a tip, don't stand by others asking for tickets. A group of people were standing toward Cameron but I made sure to be "upstream" from them so I had a better shot at a ticket by seeing the ticket holders first. I also made sure to wear plenty of Duke stuff. This makes you stand our from the scalpers as they do not have any Duke stuff on.

Most of the scalpers were asking between 125 and 150 for a ticket, a price a bit too high for me to pay. I waited patiently and about 5 minutes before the game started it paid off. An older couple with season tickets offered me 1 ticket at face value (50 bucks). I offered a bit more in my excitement!

If you are like me and always wondering if you should take the risk at just showing up, go for it! Just standing outside was an experience in itself. Once inside however...It was simply amazing! It was everything I hoped it would be (Cameron Crazies, Crazy Towel Guy, etc..) I made sure to hang around after the game and take plenty of pictures both inside and out.

As luck would have it I hung around long enough to see Brian Zoubek walk out! Both he and his family were nice enough to take a picture of me with Brian. They thanked "me" for the support! What a humble family.

Good luck to those in the future who try to visit Cameron for the first time. It was worth everything! I hope the above can offer you some insight.

[martinclan5]

I am so glad I found this web site and forum. I just moved to North Raleigh from New Jersey three weeks ago and I have been a lifetime Duke basketball fan. I grew up playing basketball and idolizing Bobby Hurley, who lived nearby.

I then went to Steinert High School and played with Dahntay Jones, who was a senior when I was a freshman.

Anyway, last week I drove over to Cameron just to check it out and I got some awesome pictures on the floor of Cameron and upstairs in the Hall Of Fame. I had the chills walking out on that floor...

I'm going to do whatever it takes to get into a couple games this upcoming season, I cannot wait!!! I called a couple ticket brokers bc that is the only way I thought you can get tickets. The people I spoke with said I'm looking at spending a minmum of $500 for an ACC game and $2,500 for Duke UNC at CIS...My heart almost stopped.

After reading around here in the forum for a little bit, I realize that there are other options and I'm so pumped. I plan on hanging around the site and learning all I can about how these things work...I can't wait for next season!!

Mike

Hi Mike,

I am a huge Duke fan too and will be in Durham in November for my son's soccer tournament. I wanted to visit Cameron Indoor but wasn't sure if it was open to the public. I see you visited and took pics on the floor. Can visitors walk around Cameron??

Tera

[uncwdevil]

I'd read here and other places many times that it was possible to get tickets for face value outside Cameron regardless of what ridiculous prices they are going for on eBay, StubHub, etc. but I just wanted to pass along my experience.

For the first time in my 29.5 years as a Duke fan (and a living person) I made the 2 hour drive to Duke with 2 friends without tickets in hand. It took a small leap of faith to drive up there without tickets, but I'm glad we did it.

It was the Long Beach State game last week when there were probably more tickets to be had outside Cameron than for a typical game, but I was able to get 3 (2 together, 1 seperate) for face value 30 minutes before tipoff.

I tried to distinguish myself from the scalpers as much as possible by wearing Duke stuff and being as polite as possible.

Just wanted to pass that along for anybody considering trying something similar.

Good luck!

[bundabergdevil]

Hi,

Several people in this have suggested that getting tickets by standing outside Cameron and utilizing the "McGrupp" method stands a reasonable chance of success...especially for non-conference games and lower level conference games. What about for bigger conference games? My parents are going to be in Durham the weekend of the MD game and I'm going to drive down w/ my girlfriend from DC to meet them and hopefully attend the game. I've checked out stub hub, craig's list, and a few other places and the going rate seems to be anywhere from $200 a ticket and (way) above, which is a pretty steep mark up if face value if $50.

Do folks think its worth the risk of just showing up at the Maryland game and trying buy tickets from Iron Dukes that might have extra tickets or is this too big of a game? I might be hyping the Maryland game a bit more than some on this board - I was at Duke from 99 - 03 when the rivalry was particualrly heated.

Thanks for the help. Any thoughts appreciated.

[duke4life32182]

I live about 3 hours and 15 minutes away and would almost need a guarantee to drive that far. What is the best way to buy tickets in advance? I have to get two tickets sometime in this lifetime for my father and I. We are both lifetime Duke fans and this is a gift I want to give to him before he leaves this earth (hopefully that is no time soon). That would make his day, year and life (mine as well) to attend a game at Cameron. Any advice?

[wtm001]

I'm glad I read this thread. Last year I went to three games, but I had tickets to each one. This year I don't plan on buying them in advance (unless they sell tickets online like last year), so after reading everyone's replies I will definitely be on campus an hour before tip off trying to get a ticket. Thanks everyone!

[nocilla]

Just curious, Does anyone think the Championship will increase demand for this season resulting in there being less tickets to be available through the McGrupp method?

[-jk]

Just curious, Does anyone think the Championship will increase demand for this season resulting in there being less tickets to be available through the McGrupp method?

Supply and demand. The demand will ratchet up. Supply will remain constrained.

That said, I imagine there will still be a bunch of games where tickets will be plentiful, but mostly early in the season.

-jk

[BoozerWasFouled]

I haven't been to a Duke game since I was a student in 2002, and I would like to go to an ACC game this year, primarily so my girlfriend can experience this atmosphere.

Would the easiest method be to join Iron Dukes and get on their waitlist for tickets that aren't used?

[JBDuke]

I haven't been to a Duke game since I was a student in 2002, and I would like to go to an ACC game this year, primarily so my girlfriend can experience this atmosphere.

Would the easiest method be to join Iron Dukes and get on their waitlist for tickets that aren't used?

The easiest method would be to pay through the nose and buy off of ebay or from a ticket reseller like StubHub. Joining the Iron Dukes is no guarantee that you'll get tickets, but it gives you a good shot, especially for some of the lower-priority weekday games. Plus, you contribute to Duke Athletics and get a subscription to the Blue Devil Weekly.

[DevilWearsPrada]

There are already excess scalpers and fans outside of Cameron, just for the Countdown 2 Craziness. I saw scalpers, at CTC, that usually dont show up, until the big games, and the ACC games.

More this season, with the 2010 national championship, and the Back 2 Back possibility. Drive to 5

[Devilsfan]

Many Iron Dukes have an ocassional ticket where a family member can not make it at the last minute and don't take advantage of the return for credit process. They would rather give the ticket to a student or have it go unused than sell it even for face value and have it go to an opposing fan or worse in the hands of a scalper using his five year old as a pawn to fool people into beleiving it is going to someone less fortunate for a once in a lifetime sports event. Wish there was a list you could trust, maybe from the Boys and Girls Club or K Family Center where last minutes tickets go to worthy people.

[Justafan23]

Nice info, would any thing found here apply to the UNC/Duke game at Duke??? Thought about coming down and trying to find a ticket for the game but I didn't want to drive down if tickets are impossible to get. Just a fan trying to get the experience and avoid dealing with scalpers selling higher than I could ever afford.

Thanks

[DCDevil9194]

So I finally took the chance and brought my family of 4 down from D.C. without tickets for the Maryland game this past weekend. A couple of times in the past, i had been able to grab tickets for myself before the game, but i was worried about being able to get 4 tickets for my family. As an avid reader of this board, I wanted to share my experience. We got to Cameron about 1 1/2 hours before gametime. At first, I wandered around alone looking for tickets, thinking that I would look desparate if I was with my family. For the first 30 minutes or so, it was very depressing. Lots of buyers. No sellers. Then the season ticket holders started showing up, and I quickly realized that having my whole family (particularly my young girls all dressed in Duke blue) would be an asset, not a liability. I ended up getting 4 tickets for less than face value (someone gave us a ticket for free) With 30 minutes to spare.
A big thanks to the season ticket holders with an extra ticket or two ( and particularly the guy in section 2 who not only sold us two tickets, but then moved so that I could sit with my girls) We all had a great experience and looking forward to trying again next year.

[Newton_14]

So I finally took the chance and brought my family of 4 down from D.C. without tickets for the Maryland game this past weekend. A couple of times in the past, i had been able to grab tickets for myself before the game, but i was worried about being able to get 4 tickets for my family. As an avid reader of this board, I wanted to share my experience. We got to Cameron about 1 1/2 hours before gametime. At first, I wandered around alone looking for tickets, thinking that I would look desparate if I was with my family. For the first 30 minutes or so, it was very depressing. Lots of buyers. No sellers. Then the season ticket holders started showing up, and I quickly realized that having my whole family (particularly my young girls all dressed in Duke blue) would be an asset, not a liability. I ended up getting 4 tickets for less than face value (someone gave us a ticket for free) With 30 minutes to spare.
A big thanks to the season ticket holders with an extra ticket or two ( and particularly the guy in section 2 who not only sold us two tickets, but then moved so that I could sit with my girls) We all had a great experience and looking forward to trying again next year.

Wow. That is a great story. I am shocked the scalpers did not sniff you out early and try to take as much of your money as possible! Those guys are like leeches out there, and most of the "Buyers' out there 1.5 hours before the game, are actually scalpers trying to buy up as many tickets as possible at face or less so they can "Flip them" and max their profits by doubling face value (or more depending on the opponent). Given it was the last ever ACC visit for Maryland, I am surprised you made out that well, but huge props. That is awesome! I had tried for two weeks to get a ticket to that game and got lucky when a DBR buddies wife bailed on the game a couple of hours prior to tip.

Very glad you avoided the scalpers and got 4 seats at below total face value. Well done, and I applaud the folks that hooked you up, whoever they are!

[AtlDuke72]

Wow. That is a great story. I am shocked the scalpers did not sniff you out early and try to take as much of your money as possible! Those guys are like leeches out there, and most of the "Buyers' out there 1.5 hours before the game, are actually scalpers trying to buy up as many tickets as possible at face or less so they can "Flip them" and max their profits by doubling face value (or more depending on the opponent). Given it was the last ever ACC visit for Maryland, I am surprised you made out that well, but huge props. That is awesome! I had tried for two weeks to get a ticket to that game and got lucky when a DBR buddies wife bailed on the game a couple of hours prior to tip.

Very glad you avoided the scalpers and got 4 seats at below total face value. Well done, and I applaud the folks that hooked you up, whoever they are!

I am going to try to buy for the Carolina game which is probably a different animal than a game against a non-rival. Anyway, I need two tickets. If anybody wants to sell to a Duke alum who also put three kids through Duke please let me know. Also, please let me know if you have a recommendation for where to go watch the game on TV if I end up getting shut out. Thanks in advance !

[laf136]

Cameron Indoor was everything and more! Went with my 13 year old daughter. The people
Were incredibly friendly including the students in Kville and the people working at Cameron.
The players were all so nice. I just can’t believe how polite and accommodating they were
To the fans. Do the tour of Cameron if you can and check out the basketball museum too.
We went to the Syracuse game. I had only 1 ticket as I wanted to make sure my daughter got in.
We stood at the walkway from the iron dukes parking for an hour and a half with no
Luck. Only ones approaching us were skeevy scalpers. The police warned us about
Getting ripped off as there have been scalpers selling counterfeit tickets. So I said no way.
My daughter was getting in and I would have been disappointed to not get in too but ok since
She would get to experience it. I went and stood outside the box office holding 1 finger up.
It was getting later and later and nothing. Everyone gets in there early for warm ups because
That’s an event too! So I resigned myself to not getting in and next thing a gentleman
Walked up to me and said do you need a ticket? I said yes! How much? He said nothing !
Just come in! It was seriously unbelievable. I am forever greatful to that Iron Duke for
Being so generous and helping us experience Duke Basketball at Cameron Indoor! Go DUKE!

[knicknut]

Hi -- having recently returned to Durham, acquiring tickets is excitingly a new priority for my family. Having been burned by scalpers in the past, I am hesitant to transact outside the stadium for the often successful "wait for tipoff" method.

Is MTD's post from 2007 still relevant? I'd be willing to buy through the Duke ticket office for less desirable games if a modest donation to the Iron Dukes would afford me that chance from time to time. Or have times changed? Please feel free to PM if that's preferable. Thanks so much!