Heading to Texas to watch the Badgers will impact your pocketbook

ARLINGTON, TEXAS (WITI) -- Thinking of heading to Texas to see the Wisconsin Badgers play in the NCAA Tournament's Final Four? You might want to clear some space on your credit card first!

The closest center court seats for the Badgers game vs. Kentucky -- set for Saturday, April 5th in Arlington, Texas could set you back about $3,600 a ticket!

With prices fluctuating on the NCAA's ticket website, about $200 would at least get you in the door -- as of Sunday evening, March 30th.

As far as getting there, the cheapest and only round-trip flights arriving in Texas on time -- flying out Friday from Appleton or Green Bay land at about $780.

FOX6 News checked flights leaving from Mitchell International Airport -- round-trip flights from Milwaukee to Dallas set for Friday via Southwest Airlines were sold out as of Sunday, March 30th.

A United Airlines or U.S. Airways round-trip flight is going for over $780 from Milwaukee to Texas.

Hotels average around $450 for a two-night stay.

An economy rental car and stadium parking will tack on between $200 and $450.

Then, there's food and drinks.

With the cheapest option, for two people, it would be over $2,000 to take in the game.

Those considering trying to save money by hitting the road may have a lot more to plan than just directions on how to get there.

The over 1,000-mile trip from Milwaukee to Dallas would take a little more than 15 hours -- if driven non-stop.

A rental car could cost at least $40 or $50.

Factor in at least 60 gallons of gas for the entire trip - at an average of $3.54 a gallon - you will exhaust more than $200.

Plus the two cheapest available game tickets, one night hotel stay and parking.

But who says you have to go to the game?

The NCAA has a variety of free events, from concerts to kids clinics for basketball fans through next weekend.

Those take place around the stadium and downtown Dallas.

The Final Four games will be played Saturday, April 5th. Wisconsin will play the Kentucky Wildcats on Saturday. Tipoff is set for 7:49 p.m.