Move over Caitlin Clark and the WNBA, the College World Series has turned into the hottest event this summer when it comes to ticket sales.
The monster match-up between is set to begin on Saturday night in Omaha, and you might have to decide between paying rent or attending the highly anticipated series. It's as if the baseball gods were looking down on the city of Omaha this week, getting both the Vols and Aggies to bring their massive fan bases to town.
For the first time since 1951, Tennessee will play for a national championship, while Texas A&M is appearing in its first title game ever. So, you throw in both of these milestones, along with two rabid fan bases, and you get a massive storm brewing around Charles Schwab Field this weekend.
Tennessee and Texas A&M will start the College World Series championship on Saturday at Charles Schwab Field Pic: Trey Wallace
Tennessee, Texas A&M Match-up Drawing Huge Ticket Prices
In a stadium that holds just over 21,000 fans, there was going to be a massive demand for tickets once Texas A&M recorded the final out against Florida on Wednesday night. Just after the Vols won their game against Florida State, tickets started at $220 for outfield seats.
But that has now changed in a drastic way. According to Ticketmaster on Thursday night, it will cost you over $500 to sit in the right field stands. If you want to sit along the 3rd or 1st baselines, you had better be willing to choose between paying bills or attending a once in a lifetime event. Ticket prices range from $475-$1,187 per seat. And as you already know, this is not a one-game event, so I would imagine those prices staying the same, or increasing, for Sunday afternoon's game that could potentially clinch a title for one team.
Ticket prices to get into the College World Series between Tennessee and Texas A&M are soaring into the weekend.
Now, if we get to Monday night and the series is tied 1-1, you might as well take out a loan from your local bank. I'm mostly kidding, but there are certainly lengths fans will go to in order to experience something for the first time.
If you're looking for a comparison to another highly entertaining event, ticket prices to see Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese play again this weekend in Chicago are going for $270 a piece, according to Ticketmaster. So, it's safe to say that for this weekend alone, College Baseball is the most expensive ticket in America for a sporting event, and would certainly rival the Final Four and College Football Playoff.
Ticket prices for the upcoming rematch between Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese, according to Ticketmaster on Thursday night
As for hotel prices, you better be willing to spend over $500 a night if you don't want to sleep at a 1-star location.
The Vols, Aggies Collision Course At The College World Series
Both teams have been on heater since entering postseason play, with Tennessee going 8-1, while Texas A&M is a perfect 8-0 since the tournament started. As for Tony Vitello and the Vols, they are looking to end a trend for No.1 overall seeds in the NCAA Tournament. The boys clad in orange are looking to become the first No.1 seed to win the College World Series since Miami did it in 1999.
Tennessee and Texas A&M will play in the College World Series national championship starting Saturday. Via: Tennessee Athletics
On the other side, Texas A&M head coach Jim Schlossnagle has found a way to keep his team unbeaten in Omaha, even with injuries to key players Jace LaViolette and Braden Montgomery. What we've seen out of the Aggies over the past few months proves that they deserve to be playing for a national championship.
The only meeting between these two teams came in the SEC Tournament, where Tennessee won 7-4, with the Vols leading the entire game.
History Between Tony Vitello And Jim Schlossnagle
One thing that both these teams have in common is the familiarity between head coach's. Tennesssee head coach Tony Vitello was an assistant coach under Jim Schlossnagle at TCU from 2011-2013. After spending eight seasons as the recruiting coordinator at Missouri, Schlossnagle hired the young and enthusiastic Vitello to become an assistant for the Horned Frogs.
So, there is certainly history between the two coaches. But none of that matters this weekend, with a national title on the line. Sure, they've recruited against one another for the last few years, even dating back to when Vitello was at Missouri, but so much has changed since then that the past doesn't matter.
KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE - MARCH 24: Head coach Jim Schlossnagle of the Texas A&M Aggies and head coach Tony Vitello of the Tennessee Volunteers shake hands after their game at Lindsey Nelson Stadium on March 24, 2023 in Knoxville, Tennessee. (Photo by Eakin Howard/Getty Images)
One thing is certain, this will be a battle on the diamond between the Vols dynamic offense and the Aggies fantastic pitching rotation.
Something has to give this weekend, and that's what makes this series so intriguing. If you want to watch a heated three-game series between the best two teams in the country, either pay an absorbent amount of money to attend, or tune into ABC and ESPN to watch the fireworks.
Let the games begin.
