The Indiana Fever haven’t even drafted Caitlin Clark yet and they’re already reaping the rewards.
The former Iowa superstar is expected to be unanimously selected by the Fever with the first pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft on April 15, and Indiana told ESPN there has already been a “spike » of interest in the tickets.
Amid this increased interest, the Fever took the “unprecedented” step of pre-selling tickets for a single game instead of two games over a 15-day period, according to the report.
Indiana is leaning heavily on Clark Madness in offering these tickets, even though the franchise can’t yet say the 22-year-old will come to town.
“The Fever announce the most anticipated season in franchise history! » reads the pre-sale site. “Be there to see the 2024 No. 1 pick join forces with the 2023 No. 1 pick, Aliyah Boston.”
Clark’s presence also drives up ticket prices, as seen during the NCAA tournament.
Vivid Seats told ESPN that Indiana’s May 14 season opener against the Sun in Connecticut received a 91 percent price increase since it declared itself a draft candidate, and that the Fever’s May 16 home opener against the Liberty received a 50 percent raise.
SeatGeek told the outlet that the average resale price for Indiana games is $182, a 136% increase from last year’s 13-27 campaign.
Front Office Sports also reported that Clark’s road games are much more expensive than other teams’, with some tickets costing more than $100.
“It’s definitely the most significant example I can think of on the women’s side,” Chris Leyden, SeatGeek’s director of growth marketing, told ESPN.
The Aces, reigning champion previously announced they would move their July 2 home game against Indiana from Michelob Ultra Arena to the larger T-Mobile Arena.
This game represented one of their five selloutsto April 5.
The league and its television partners — largely ESPN — are also all-in on Clark, with 36 of the Fever’s 40 games set to be broadcast nationally this upcoming season.
Indiana played just one national game last season.
New York Post
