Strategies for buying sports tickets to get the best seats at the lowest price?

[Costanza]

What tactics do you use? Is it better to purchase as soon as they become available or, for games that won't sell out, at the last minute? Do you buy from Ticketmaster or a resell place like Stubhub?

I'm asking because of the upcoming NBA season... My local team, the Wizards, have pretty pitiful attendance so I'm buying tickets for must-see games ahead of time but it might be best to wait in other cases.

Including fees, the lowest prices for the first 4 games are:

• $70.35 vs Boston- Home opener
• $21.78 vs Cleveland
• $15.73 vs Atlanta
• $91.96 vs Golden State

I bought good tickets to the Golden State game because that's the #1 game of the season for me.

I'm very interested in buying good cheap seats to see a team like Cleveland. I got very close to the court last year for less than $100 per ticket.

But for games like against Boston, I'd like to see them but not at $70 for a nosebleed seat. I wonder if the same tickets might be cheaper on gameday because someone bought them with intent to resell or bought them and shit happened.

 

[therealjondoe]

One of my guys used to always do Craigslist a little before the game but I'm too paranoid of fake tickets

 

[Costanza]

One of my guys used to always do Craigslist a little before the game but I'm too paranoid of fake tickets

Yeah, I'll definitely only go through a legit reseller.

 

[Non-StopJFK2TAB]

What an odd thread. I spent most of my morning yesterday buying a plan for the Wizards. If the Nets are awful I intend on getting a package there too.

The day was supposed to be buying tickets for tonight’s Phillies game in Queens. But they wanted $300 for standing room. Shame on the Orioles. Shame them to hell.

 

[Costanza]

What an odd thread.

There have always been practical threads on BGOL about saving money.

I spent most of my morning yesterday buying a plan for the Wizards. If the Nets are awful I intend on getting a package there too.

You live in both cities?

You gotta really love basketball and have surplus income to buy a Wizards plan...

 

[Costanza]

I am broker than a smoker. I live in the Philly area but I love seeing all the black faces at the Capital One Arena. The absence of white people reminds me of Tobago and it gives me so much inner peace. The packages are very economical compared to the Sixers. You can get into the 100 Section for $125 per game. An equivalent seating arrangement with the Sixers is $500 per ticket. And I have my son. I plan on taking the train into DC. If you plan in advance, you can get a train ticket for the price of parking at the ballpark. And you catch the midnight train back.

How many games is your package? I assume they exclude marquee opponents?

 

[Non-StopJFK2TAB]

How many games is your package? I assume they exclude marquee opponents?

Yeah, it depends on the opponents. I picked the stacks that wouldn't put too much pressure on my pockets. I don't need to see Lebron or Steph. Let me see the Orlando Magic. Let me see the Hornets.

 

[Costanza]

Just bought nearly courtside seats (Row K in a center section) for Webanyama's single visit to DC this season, in early February, for $260.

I will be very interested to see what the price is a month ahead of the game and in the days before.

Gregg Popovich will not live to see 77 if he rests Wemby that night.

 

[Costanza]

Yeah, it depends on the opponents. I picked the stacks that wouldn't put too much pressure on my pockets. I don't need to see Lebron or Steph. Let me see the Orlando Magic. Let me see the Hornets.

I have never seen LeBron in person... I'm going to wait for that game to get closer and see what happens but I would like to see him before he retires.

That's a bucket list thing since he's near retirement and still a high-quality player. Steph is my favorite player to watch so I'm going to pay to see him once a year from now on.

But generally, I'm with you. I don't think I'll pay this much to see Wemby again any time soon. I'd much rather spend a few dozen dollars for a decent seat to see a regular team for the most part.

 

[Costanza]

Went to the final pre-season game for the Wizards and Knicks today. Decent game, came down to a game winner in the final 10 seconds.

Too bad 80% of the seats were empty... I think the experience shows what the NBA is doing wrong in cities with bad attendance.

Apparently they don't lower prices based on sales and would rather the seats stay empty out of principle, like they make more money long-term if they don't budge.

This is penny-wise, dollar-foolish.

They should partner with local schools to give these tickets to students for $5. They would not only make more short-term than from the empty seats but 1) it would also create a better arena experience, further enhancing the short-term benefit & 2) most importantly, it would grow the league's popularity, creating more fans and paying huge dividends in the long run.

But the relevant point for this thread is I looked at prices in the 24 hours before the game and they didn't seem to have dropped AT ALL from a week ago. Despite more seats empty than paid for.

On the bright-side, I took it upon myself to upgrade our seats for the second half.

 

[Costanza]

I have tickets to see the Warriors in 8 days… Third time purchasing them and Steph missed 1 of the 2 I’ve been to. If it’s 1 for 3, I’m never buying tickets in advance again.

 

[Non-StopJFK2TAB]

Went to the final pre-season game for the Wizards and Knicks today. Decent game, came down to a game winner in the final 10 seconds.

Too bad 80% of the seats were empty... I think the experience shows what the NBA is doing wrong in cities with bad attendance.

Apparently they don't lower prices based on sales and would rather the seats stay empty out of principle, like they make more money long-term if they don't budge.

This is penny-wise, dollar-foolish.

They should partner with local schools to give these tickets to students for $5. They would not only make more short-term than from the empty seats but 1) it would also create a better arena experience, further enhancing the short-term benefit & 2) most importantly, it would grow the league's popularity, creating more fans and paying huge dividends in the long run.

But the relevant point for this thread is I looked at prices in the 24 hours before the game and they didn't seem to have dropped AT ALL from a week ago. Despite more seats empty than paid for.

On the bright-side, I took it upon myself to upgrade our seats for the second half.

When the Sixers had Hinke I learned a lot about games. Back then you can be in the 100s and after a good beat down weasel your way near the court. Michael Carter Williams heard me call him a bum when he missed a layup. He was always missing layups. Bum ass mothafucka.

 

[Costanza]

When the Sixers had Hinke I learned a lot about games. Back then you can be in the 100s and after a good beat down weasel your way near the court. Michael Carter Williams heard me call him a bum when he missed a layup. He was always missing layups. Bum ass mothafucka.

I personally think it’s bad to go to someone’s job and call them names if they’re trying their best.

This might be a different case…

 

[Costanza]

I have tickets to see the Warriors in 8 days… Third time purchasing them and Steph missed 1 of the 2 I’ve been to. If it’s 1 for 3, I’m never buying tickets in advance again.

“Questionable.” I need better than questionable, Sway Curry, I need answers!

 

[Costanza]

Tickets in the row I'll be in for the Warriors/Wizards game tonight, which I bought for $360, are going for under $220 now.

I'll be in the 100s section but I could have been center court for less than what I paid.

And I don't even get to learn the answer to the question I had at the start of this thread because I don't know how much of that is attributable to Curry's status being questionable.



But that's a hell of a lot cheaper considering he could play tonight... So I'm definitely waiting until the last minute next time.

 

[Coldchi]

Tickets in the row I'll be in for the Warriors/Wizards game tonight, which I bought for $360, are going for under $220 now.

I'll be in the 100s section but I could have been center court for less than what I paid.

And I don't even get to learn the answer to the question I had at the start of this thread because I don't know how much of that is attributable to Curry's status being questionable.



But that's a hell of a lot cheaper considering he could play tonight... So I'm definitely waiting until the last minute next time.

my dad wants to see Lebron play before he retires.
the Mavs play the Lakers in January. damn near 80% of the tickets are sold already.
im trying to get some midlevel seats. im not doin no fuckin nose bleeds.

i also noticed on Ticketmaster, that some sections, they will only sell tickets in pairs.
So it forces you to buy 2 tickets if you want a better seat. And gives you the option to buy 1 ticket, if its a seat further back.

 

[XXXplosive]

The Wizards are trash and rarely ever sell out so I would wait last-minute to get tickets cheap from places like StubHub, SeatGeek, etc.

 

[Costanza]

The Wizards are trash and rarely ever sell out so I would wait last-minute to get tickets cheap from places like StubHub, SeatGeek, etc.

Yep. The last Wizards/Warriors game was sold out though so I figured it would be hard to get a good seat.

And the league's biggest stars, him and LeBron, only play here once a year.

I don't think tickets to the Lakers game will be cheap under any circumstances.

But your advice is definitely right in general. The next game I want to go to is when the Mavs come and I will not buy tickets until 24 hours in advance at most.

 

[Complex]

Went to the final pre-season game for the Wizards and Knicks today. Decent game, came down to a game winner in the final 10 seconds.

Too bad 80% of the seats were empty... I think the experience shows what the NBA is doing wrong in cities with bad attendance.

Apparently they don't lower prices based on sales and would rather the seats stay empty out of principle, like they make more money long-term if they don't budge.

This is penny-wise, dollar-foolish.

They should partner with local schools to give these tickets to students for $5. They would not only make more short-term than from the empty seats but 1) it would also create a better arena experience, further enhancing the short-term benefit & 2) most importantly, it would grow the league's popularity, creating more fans and paying huge dividends in the long run.

But the relevant point for this thread is I looked at prices in the 24 hours before the game and they didn't seem to have dropped AT ALL from a week ago. Despite more seats empty than paid for.

On the bright-side, I took it upon myself to upgrade our seats for the second half.

Wizards tickets are too damn expensive for a shitty product they put on the floor. That's why people are only coming to see the other team.

You're serving McDonald's burgers for $25.

 

[xxxbishopxxx]

Went to the final pre-season game for the Wizards and Knicks today. Decent game, came down to a game winner in the final 10 seconds.

Too bad 80% of the seats were empty... I think the experience shows what the NBA is doing wrong in cities with bad attendance.

Apparently they don't lower prices based on sales and would rather the seats stay empty out of principle, like they make more money long-term if they don't budge.

This is penny-wise, dollar-foolish.

They should partner with local schools to give these tickets to students for $5. They would not only make more short-term than from the empty seats but 1) it would also create a better arena experience, further enhancing the short-term benefit & 2) most importantly, it would grow the league's popularity, creating more fans and paying huge dividends in the long run.

But the relevant point for this thread is I looked at prices in the 24 hours before the game and they didn't seem to have dropped AT ALL from a week ago. Despite more seats empty than paid for.

On the bright-side, I took it upon myself to upgrade our seats for the second half.

A lot of cheap owners are happy to live and thrive off the TV deals. That's where the real money seems to be.

You really can't expand the fan base with a loosing team The Commanders/Redskins were bullet proof when it came to fan loyalty and ticket sales. After multiple years of the Snyder era, even they said fuck it after awhile.

My nephew has been buying season tickets to the Wizards, just to see other teams play when they come to town. He doesn't care about the Wizards at all.

 

[Costanza]

 

[D24OHA]

One, ticketmaster and similar sites are inflating the prices, those same groups have lobbyists that have $upported drumpf.......

2, doesn't he have better things to worry about on his first few weeks in office....... ie avoiding wars in Israel and Ukraine....

 

[Costanza]

Crazy that this will get someone clowned online.

 

[Costanza]