1997 Final Four Tickets: Arizona’s Overtime Championship in Indianapolis

These two original 1997 NCAA Final Four ticket booklets place a collector directly inside one of the most memorable championship weekends of the 1990s: Arizona’s overtime victory over defending champion Kentucky at the RCA Dome in Indianapolis.

What these 1997 Final Four tickets represent

The printing identifies the venue as the RCA Dome in Indianapolis and gives the dates March 29 and March 31, 1997. Those dates correspond to the national semifinals and national championship game.

In the semifinals, No. 4 seed Arizona defeated No. 1 North Carolina 66–58, while defending champion Kentucky defeated Minnesota 78–69. Arizona then beat Kentucky 84–79 in overtime for the national title. NCAA records note that Arizona became the first champion of the 64-team era to defeat three No. 1 seeds during its tournament run.

Miles Simon scored 30 points in the final and was named the Final Four’s Most Outstanding Player. The championship was also coach Lute Olson’s first national title.

Why a complete booklet can matter

A collector should distinguish a complete ticket booklet or strip from a single detached admission stub. A booklet can preserve more of the original event context: tournament branding, host city, venue, session dates, perforations and the way individual admissions were issued.

The photograph also shows why condition must be described precisely. The booklet on the left has visible handling and separation near the lower perforation, while the example on the right appears more intact in this view. That is an observation from the photograph, not a formal authentication or condition grade.

Details to check on a 1997 Final Four ticket

• Event and session: Determine whether the piece admits the holder to a semifinal session, the championship game or the full weekend.
• Completeness: Check for attached panels, staples, perforations and any removed admission portion.
• Venue and date: The expected identifiers are RCA Dome, Indianapolis, March 29 and March 31, 1997.
• Condition: Look for folds, tears, writing, fading, surface loss and separation along perforations.
• Provenance: Original envelopes, programs, receipts or a credible account of attendance can add useful context, even when they do not independently prove authenticity.

How to preserve Final Four ticket booklets

Store the piece flat in an archival, acid-free sleeve with enough room that the perforations are not under pressure. Keep it away from direct sunlight, moisture and large temperature swings. Do not laminate it, apply household tape or try to flatten a fold with heat. Those interventions are difficult to reverse and can reduce collector appeal.

For more preservation basics, see our guide to storing old ticket stubs.

Does a 1997 Final Four ticket have value?

There is no responsible one-number answer from a photograph alone. The exact session, whether the admission portion remains attached, overall condition, originality and current buyer demand all matter. A full booklet and a detached stub from the same weekend should not automatically be treated as equivalent.

StubHaul does not publish a generic price range for this item because broad estimates can be misleading. If you have a 1997 Final Four ticket, send clear photos of the front, back and every attached panel for a private review.

Related ticket guides

• Sell basketball ticket stubs
• NCAA Final Four ticket stub collector’s guide
• How to store and protect ticket stubs

Sources and photo note

Historical results were checked against the NCAA’s 1997 tournament record and its history of Final Fours in Indianapolis. The ticket photographs are original user-submitted images published with the owner’s permission. Personal contact information is not published.