Baltimore has scored with NCAA lacrosse ticket sales.
Hosting the NCAA Division I, II and III men?s lacrosse championships May 26 though 28, M&T Bank Stadium, the Baltimore Ravens and other local business groups have been working together to sell out the event. As of Tuesday, more than 42,000 all-session passes had been sold, more than halfway to the ultimate goal of a 70,017-seat sellout.
While that number seems lofty, it is a driving force to keep up record sales.
“All-session number is past what our attendance was last time [in 2004],” said Baker Koppelman, senior director of ticket sales and operations for the Baltimore Ravens. “People are starting to understand that buying in advance is a good thing to do and we have seen a steady increase.”
In 2004, the last time the NCAA championships were held in the city, the Baltimore Area Convention and Visitors Association estimated that the event raised about $15 million in economic impact ? while drawing 43,898 spectators. For this year?s title matches, BACVA is roughly estimating a similar figure, with such variables as attendance, weather and who plays in the games.
“As these teams start to solidify themselves we will see if that effects the number,” Koppelman said of UMBC and Johns Hopkins, both of which still have a chance to play at M&T Bank Stadium in late May.
However, businesses and local groups are doing their best to take the guesswork out of that.
By selling more than 42,000 all-session passes, the Division I title game is almost assured of surpassing last year?s total attendance of nearly 50,000, a record for the contest. With more than a full week before single-game tickets go on sale, officials are hoping to break records and give the NCAA reason to bring the championships back to Charm City in 2009.
“We have not only the championship games, but also have Laxfest, on the West shore of the Inner Harbor, fireworks Friday night, and concerts at Pier Six all weekend,” said Nancy Hinds, vice president of public affairs for BACVA. “There should be a great more to do than just lacrosse.”
The 2008 championships are committed to Foxboro, Mass.
