The Best Ways to Get Sports Tickets

Attending sporting events has been a preferred means of entertainment for generations, but with the rising popularity in many sports, finding tickets to these events can prove to be a difficult and expensive task. There are a few ways to ensure you will have a great seat at your team's next game.

  1. Where Do I Start?

    • The best way to start is to go straight to the source. Tickets are always available at the team's box office, which is usually located in or near the team's home venue.

      At the box office, you will have the best choice of seats and get the best prices, because you are essentially buying the tickets directly from the team. Here you will get your tickets for face value, which is the suggested retail price of the ticket.

      In some cities, getting to the box office can be a major inconvenience. With many of them being located in downtown areas, sometimes there are easier options. You can also purchase tickets straight from the source online. This can be done by using the website of either the team or event you wish to attend. Once again, you will get a fair price, but it will likely be a little higher because of added fees.

      Ticketmaster, one of the primary brokers for online ticket sales, is used by many of the top U.S. sports teams. Ticketmaster sells its tickets for face value but adds fees. It has various convenience charges that usually total about $12 to $15 per ticket. Sometimes it is worth it to pay the fees when the alternative is fighting city traffic or waiting in line at the box office.

    What if the Event is Sold Out?

    • Getting tickets to a sold-out event is more difficult but not impossible. The best way is by going to what is known as a "no scalp zone" outside the venue. This area has been a great success for the Boston Red Sox, who provide their fans with an area to sell their extra tickets for face value. It is a safe and cost-efficient way to get a good seat, but the options are usually limited.

      Not every team or event offers these areas, so check with the team or venue before searching for them.

    What if My Team Doesn't Have a "No Scalp Zone?"

    • If the event is sold out and there is no "no scalp zone," you will have to decide if you want to pay significantly more than face value for a ticket.

      If you want to spend the extra money, there are safe scalping outlets online. Both StubHub and Ace Ticket (see Resources below) are websites that allow ticket holders to sell their tickets at any price they choose. You will likely pay at least double the face value, and possibly much more, if you go this route. However, it is safe, and both sites provide protection for their customers. If you are going to buy tickets online from an outside source, avoid eBay. On eBay, you risk getting counterfeit tickets.

      The last-ditch effort to get your tickets would be to buy them from a scalper outside the venue on the night of your event. This is risky, and is even illegal in some states.

      In the states that it is legal you still have no guarantees. You will be paying significantly more than face value, though the exact amount varies greatly for each event, and have no guarantees. If you buy a counterfeit ticket from someone outside the venue, your money is lost.

      If you are in a situation where you feel you must buy a ticket from a scalper, wait as long as possible. The tickets are useless to them after the event starts. If you can wait a few minutes until after the start, you can probably find a good deal.

      But beware, and be sure to follow the laws of your respective state or country.