Attention, all college sports fans — it’s game time.
Though you’ll usually get the most value from hotel points when you redeem them for hotel stays, Choice Privileges launched a non-stay way to redeem Choice points in late 2022 that can provide significant value for some travelers: college sports experiences. Starting Dec. 13, you can redeem Choice points for college basketball and hockey game day experiences at 14 schools through Choice Privileges College Sports Experiences.
These experiences are bookable on a first-come, first-served basis. Based on past releases, the best college game day experiences will go quickly. So, if you see a basketball or hockey experience you don’t want to miss out on, plan on booking it quickly before it’s gone.
Here’s what you need to know about Choice Privileges College Sports Experiences.
Available Choice Privileges College Sports Experiences
Choice Privileges is letting its members redeem 50,000 to 250,000 points (worth $300 to $1,500 based on TPG’s valuations) per experience for college basketball and hockey game day experiences hosted by 14 schools.
Choice Privileges College Sports Experiences are available on a first-come, first-served basis. So, some of these experiences may sell out when you visit the Choice Privileges College Sports Experiences page. Here’s a look at the college basketball and hockey experiences available this winter:
| School | Silver VIP game day experience | Gold VIP game day experience |
| The University of Alabama | 100,000 points for the Feb. 17 basketball game against Texas A&M
Two tickets, two club passes into the Club Room with food and drinks provided, a parking pass and a $50 gift card to the team store |
225,000 points for the March 2 basketball game against Tennessee
Two tickets, two club passes into the Club Room with food and drinks provided, two passes to visit the benches pregame to watch warmups with an escort, a parking pass, a $100 gift card to the team store, a two-night stay at a Choice Hotel and $750 per person travel vouchers |
| University of Arkansas | 100,000 points for the Jan. 27 basketball game against Kentucky
Two VIP suite tickets that include food and beverages, two pregame hospitality passes, an arena tour, a basketball autographed by coach Eric Musselman, a parking pass and a $50 gift card to the team store |
N/A |
| University of Kansas | 150,000 points for the Feb. 10 basketball game against Baylor
Two tickets, two pregame and halftime hospitality passes, a University of Kansas hat, a parking pass and a $50 team store gift card |
250,000 points for the Feb. 3 basketball game against Houston
Two premium tickets, two pregame and halftime hospitality passes, a pregame tour of Allen Fieldhouse, an autographed item, a parking pass, a $100 gift card to the team store, a two-night stay at a Choice Hotel and $750 per person travel vouchers |
| Indiana University | 125,000 points for the Feb. 3 basketball game against Penn State
Two tickets, two hospitality passes, pregame court access with an escort, a tour of the Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall, a parking pass, a $50 gift card to a local restaurant and a $50 TIS Gameday Spirit gift card |
N/A |
| University of Louisville | 75,000 points for the Feb. 21 basketball game against Notre Dame
Two suite passes, the chance to sit on the team bench during warmups, the opportunity to present the game ball prior to tipoff on the court, a parking pass and a $100 gift card to the team store |
N/A |
| University of Michigan | 150,000 points for the Jan. 15 basketball game against Ohio State
Two lower-level tickets, the opportunity to take pregame photos on the court, a parking pass and a $50 gift card to the team store |
250,000 points for the Feb. 17 basketball game against Michigan State
Two lower-level tickets, two VIP pregame tour tickets of the Michigan Basketball Practice Development Center that ends on the floor of Crisler Arena, the opportunity to take pregame photos on the court, a parking pass and a $100 gift card to the team store |
| University of Minnesota | N/A | 150,000 points for the March 2 hockey game against Michigan
Two game tickets in the all-inclusive Captains Club, the opportunity to attend a practice on a non-game day, a chance to watch warmups from the team bench (pending team availability), the opportunity to watch part of the game from the ice level, a parking pass, a $100 gift card to the team store, a two-night stay at a Choice Hotel and $750 per person travel vouchers |
| The Ohio State University | 50,000 points for the Jan. 30 basketball game against Illinois
Two premium tickets, two pregame visits to the floor to watch warmups with an escort, a parking pass and a $50 gift card to the team store |
150,000 points for the Jan. 20 basketball game against Penn State
Two VIP tickets, two pregame hospitality passes, two pregame visits to the floor to watch warmups with an escort, a parking pass, an autographed basketball item, a $100 gift card to the team store, a two-night stay at a Choice Hotel and $750 per person travel vouchers |
| The Pennsylvania State University | 100,000 points for the Jan. 27 hockey game against Ohio State
Two seats in the club section, a stadium tour, pregame warmup VIP ice views from the team tunnel for two people, one signed hockey puck, car service to and from the game, and a $50 gift card to the team store |
200,000 points for the Feb. 24 basketball game against Indiana
Two courtside seats, a VIP tour of the basketball arena, a meet-and-greet with coach Mike Rhodes, a shoot around with the coaching staff, a signed basketball and swag bag, postgame access to the media room, car service to and from the game, a $100 gift card to the team store, a two-night stay at a Choice Hotel and $750 per person travel vouchers |
| Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey | N/A | 150,000 points for the Feb. 10 basketball game against Wisconsin
Two VIP seats, two passes to the Rutgers Men’s Basketball Hospitality pregame, opportunity to run out with the team at the beginning of the game, chance to stand with the team at the end of the game while the Rutgers alma mater plays, a basketball autographed by the head coach, a $100 gift card to the team store, a two-night stay at a Choice Hotel and $750 per person travel vouchers |
| University of Tennessee, Knoxville | 150,000 points for the Feb. 28 basketball game against Auburn
Two lower-level tickets, a postgame on-court photo opportunity, a parking pass and a $50 gift card to the team store |
250,000 points for the Jan. 20 basketball game against Alabama
Two lower-level tickets, a postgame on-court photo opportunity, a basketball autographed by coach Rick Barnes, a parking pass, a $100 gift card to the team store, a two-night stay at a Choice Hotel and $750 per person travel vouchers |
| The University of Texas at Austin | 100,000 points for the Feb. 6 basketball game against Iowa State
Two tickets in the Longhorn Sports Properties Suite with food and drinks provided, access to the private UT Club pregame party, a parking pass and $50 of University of Texas Co-Op gift cards |
250,000 points for the Jan. 20 basketball game against Baylor
Two suite tickets in the Longhorn Sports Properties Suite with food and drinks provided, access to the private UT Club pregame party, a basketball autographed by the head coach, a parking pass, a $100 gift card to the team store, a two-night stay at a Choice Hotel and $750 per person travel vouchers |
| Wake Forest University | 150,000 points for the Feb. 24 basketball game against Duke
Two premium tickets, the opportunity to sit on the baseline during pregame warmups, two Allegacy Club passes, a parking pass and a $50 Deacon Shop gift card |
N/A |
| University of Wisconsin | N/A | 225,000 points for the Jan. 19 basketball game against Indiana
Two baseline seats, pregame access to the court for photos, a parking pass, a Wisconsin swag bag, a $100 gift card to the team store, a two-night stay at a Choice Hotel and $750 per person travel vouchers |
Julie Purser, vice president of loyalty strategy and membership rewards for Choice Hotels, had the following to say about the Choice Privileges College Sports Experiences for the 2023 to 2024 college sports season:
During college football and basketball seasons, our hotels are filled with dedicated fans sporting their teams’ colors and attending the games. With over 900 Choice properties located within 30 miles of each of these schools’ stadiums and arenas, it was a no brainer to expand Choice Privileges Experiences to the locations where our guests are already traveling to see their favorite sports teams. Through these Choice Privileges experiences we’re enabling our members to get closer to the gameday action so they can create memories with their families and friends to last a lifetime.
You likely won’t be able to ask any questions you might have about experiences before redeeming points. So, you’ll need to decide whether an experience is worth booking based on what you see on Choice’s website.
If you book an experience, you’ll get a confirmation email from Choice. Then, someone from Learfield (Choice’s collaborator for these experiences) will reach out within 48 hours with more information.
Your experience may change after booking due to weather or other factors. Additionally, you and your guest (if applicable) must be 18 years of age or older and may need to sign a release to participate. You’ll also need to follow any rules or instructions the individual university and its staff provide during your experience.
Related: Hotels you can book for less with Choice Hotels’ Sweet Spot Rewards
How to earn Choice points
There are plenty of ways to earn Choice points. For example, you can earn points through stays with Choice or by spending on a cobranded Choice Hotels credit card. If you need to earn Choice points quickly to book an experience, you can transfer American Express Membership Rewards points, Capital One miles or Citi ThankYou Rewards points to Choice Privileges.
It could also make sense to buy Choice Privileges points. TPG values Choice points at 0.6 cents per point, so you’ll generally only want to buy at or below that rate. However, if you plan to redeem points for a high-value college sports experience, it may occasionally be worth buying points at a higher rate.
Related: Register for Choice Hotels Your Extras to earn gift cards or other perks on weekday stays
Bottom line
Redeeming Choice Privileges points for college sports experiences can provide good value for your points. Some of the experiences available this winter are sure to sell out quickly — especially for big games in popular programs — so act fast if you have your eye on a particular option.
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