Update: Luc has confirmed in the comments that the 2x $750 travel packages are simply 2x $750 Visa gift cards which makes this an incredible deal even if you threw the game tickets away. Unfortunately it sounds like most of these packages have sold out now.
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Choice Privileges is once again offering College Sports Experiences this year and there are some surprisingly great values to be had with some of these packages.
The Deal
- Redeem 25,000-175,000 Choice Privileges points for College Sports Gameday Experiences.
- Direct link to offer.
Key Terms
- All experiences are available on a first-come first-serve basis. These experiences are only available to members of the Choice Privileges Rewards Program who have the required number of Choice Privileges Rewards points in their account. Once redeemed the member will receive a confirmation email from Choice Privileges and within 48 hours of redemption, Learfield will contact the member with more information and any participation requirements. You (and any guests, if applicable) must be 18 or older to participate and you must provide a government-issued ID upon request.
- Selected members will receive the experience and redeem the listed amount of points for that experience, which generally range from a minimum of 25,000 to a maximum of 175,000 Choice Privilege points. The number of points required varies depending upon the experience chosen. The experiences must be taken (used) on the dates stated for that experience, which generally range from September 2023 – November 2023.
- As part of the Gold VIP Package, you may be given a $750 per person gift card (as specified in the package; limit two), which can be used at U.S. merchants who honor the issuing network’s card. Some limitations apply, including restrictions on use for recurring bills; see the relevant cardholder agreement for complete details. The card cannot be redeemed for cash, except where required by law. You are responsible for any income or other taxes. If specified in Package details, you may also receive a two-night Choice hotel stay. Reservations must be made through your Choice Privilege Representative and availability is not guaranteed; if a hotel room is not available, you will be awarded an equivalent number of Choice Privileges points that you can use for a future stay. The stay only includes the room rate and any fees or taxes on the room rate; you are responsible for any incidentals or other expenses and the hotel may require you to provide both valid government identification and credit card. If you are provided a room and you do not check in as booked, that stay is forfeited (and you will not be provided substitute compensation).
Quick Thoughts
When I first saw the press release for this opportunity, I assumed it would offer poor value for your points seeing as most non-award stay points redemptions usually aren’t worth it. However, when looking at the packages there are some surprisingly great values here.
One of the highlights is a package for the University of Alabama. For 175,000 Choice Privileges points you can get the following package for their game against LSU:
- Two (2) Pre-game hospitality passes
- Two (2) Pre-game Sideline Passes (with escort)
- Two (2) North Zone tickets-Premium area
- One (1) Parking Pass
- Visit to the Crimson Tide Sports Network radio broadcast booth pre-game
- $100 Gift card to team store
- $750 per person travel voucher = $1,500 total for 2 people
- Redeem for 175,000 Choice Privileges Points
- Date: 11/4/23 (LSU)
One of the key value-adds here is the $1,500 in travel vouchers you’ll receive. These vouchers state that they “can be used at U.S. merchants who honor the issuing network’s card”. That, to me, sounds like you’ll get something like two $750 Visa or Amex gift cards which, in addition to all the other gameday related stuff you’ll get as part of the package, makes a redemption of 175k Choice points great value.
On the other end of the redemption spectrum there’s this package for the University of Louisville for only 25,000 points:
- Two (2) Pre-game sideline passes with opportunity to be in the tunnel with the team and open the doors for the team to run through and onto the field before kickoff.
- Two (2) Suite tickets
- Two (2) Angel’s Envy Club Access passes
- UofL Swag Bags
- One (1) $50 Gift card to team store
- Redeem for 25,000 Choice Privileges Points
- Date: 10/7/23 (Notre Dame) or 11/4/23 (Virginia Tech)
If the Angel’s Envy Club Access includes free-flowing Angel’s Envy, you could get 25,000 points worth of value from there alone 😉
During the Daily Getaways sales a couple of months ago, it was possible to buy 55,000 Choice points for $285. If you bought points during that promo that puts the cost of the University of Louisville experience at ~$130. I’m sure suite tickets for a game cost well in excess of that alone, not to mention all the other perks you get.
It was possible to buy more than one of those points packages during Daily Getaways. If you bought enough points packages to end up with 175,000 points for the University of Alabama experience, that would’ve cost you ~$910. Considering you get $1,500 of travel vouchers (which I think might be Visa or Amex gift cards), that’s tremendous value for that alone, plus you get two tickets to the LSU game, pregame hospitality and sideline passes, free parking and more.
Even if you didn’t buy Choice points during Daily Getaways, they’re currently selling their points for 25% off. You can buy 180k points for $1,390.50 which is enough for the University of Alabama package with 5,000 points left over.
Many people will also have had a boost to their Choice balances following the conversion of Radisson Rewards Americas points to Choice last month. Not to mention the ability to transfer Citi ThankYou points to Choice on a 1:2 basis. If you have a zero balance in your Choice Privileges account, you’d need to transfer 13,000 ThankYou points for 25,000 point packages up to 88,000 ThankYou points for the top end 175,000 point packages for these College Sports Gameday Experiences.
Something important to note is that these packages are available on a first-come, first-served basis, so if you’re interested in any of them I’d get them booked ASAP as I imagine the most in-demand packages will sell out quickly – if they haven’t already sold out.
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Indiana University only one not Sold Out as of this morning.
Dang… guess I’m going to need a refresher on best use of choice points. Transferred TYP before reading the comments here.
Wait for this to happen next year jk
this sucks. gone so fast
My guess is most of these are already sold out.
If you go to the main “gift cards” section of the website, only Oklahoma and Indiana silver options are listed (Wake Forest is too, but for 99,999,999 points!)
Damn this was the deal of the year! Ohio St@Mich, LSU@BAMA or FSU@UF with a gift card worth 2x the cost of the points – amazing
That Oregon State package looks like a screaming deal even if you have no interest in the game.
site just churns with the spinny circle thingy… guess they are all sold out.
I can’t even get the website to load. Would love the Michigan tickets
I think they’re sold out
Do you have enough points in your account? I’m trying to determine if that is why it isn’t working for me or if it’s just getting slammed.
I think they’re sold out. I’m getting the spinning wheel even on some of the packages I can afford (but not all).
I think its sold out too ( I didn’t have enough in my account but saw a few packages available at other schools)
I jumped on the LSU v Alabama package. Will report back!
Awesome, have fun!
Stephen, you nailed it. $1500 in Visa gift cards. Hell of a deal here!
Wow, that really is a ridiculously amazing deal.
Good luck…and geaux tigers!
Geaux Tigers! Hope they don’t mind a couple of LSU fans crashing their dream day.
Roll Tide!
Not sure if you’ll see this comment, Luc, but wondering if you can share how the experience went? Please no comments on the game itself, which I prefer not to re-live! lol
Did you get any sense for how the travel voucher works?
Not exactly sure just yet but will let you know. I find these vague benefits can be a roll of dice but you can really come out ahead. If it’s just straight up gift cards as Stephen mentions then that’s fantastic. The tickets in that club sell for $1000 each, all inclusive food etc. so this thing has some potential to be a banger.