800 Directory

Dont Let High Ticket Prices Keep You From Seeing The Big Games In Person
By: Jeff Howard

Have you ever dreamed about seeing a big sports event like the

Super Bowl NCAA Final Four or Daytona 500 in person If so

what kept you from realizing your dream

Before you answer that one let me demonstrate how the typical

fan tries to buy tickets. Ill use the Indianapolis 500 as an

example. As I write this the Greatest Spectacle In Racing is

a few weeks away.

Since many fans dont start thinking about tickets until weeks

or months before the event its very possible some are

just now deciding they want to see this race.

Even at this late date there are still a few tickets available

directly from the Indianapolis Motor Speedway but rest assured

the choice seats are long gone.

Theres good news however.

A quick Internet search shows there are are plenty of good seats

available. At one popular ticket broker site they range in

price from $65 to $645 each depending on track location.

According to the official Indianapolis 500 website these same

tickets have a face value of $40 to $90 each. So if you buy

your tickets from a broker youll end up paying 2 3 or 4

times face value.

Not so good news.

Before I get back to my original question let me say this. If

youre independently wealthy go ahead and buy your tickets from

a broker since money isnt an issue. However if youre like the

rest of us it was probably the high cost of tickets that kept

you from seeing a game or event in person.

So how do you avoid overpaying for tickets Well its really

quite simple. Plan in advance. See I said it was simple.

Since every major sports event occurs at approximately the same

time each year theres no reason why you shouldnt be planning

for next year right now. Lets get back to our typical race fan.

Once he discovers how much Indy 500 tickets will set him back

hell decide thats too much and forget about the race. A year

rolls by and the approaching race starts making news. By this

time maybe hes forgotten about the ticket prices or maybe he

thinks this year hell find bargain tickets somewhere.

Nope.

This year the prices are even higher so he gives up yet again

all the while thinking to himself that one of these days hes

actually going to plunk down the money for tickets. Good luck.

Sadly while savvy fans will be experiencing the sights sounds

and smells of the race in person hell be watching from home on

the small screen.

Now if he would have just planned in advance for his raceday

experience the outcome could be very different. Many of those

same tickets selling for well above face value in the weeks

leading up to the race could have been had for face value a year

earlier.

The window of opportunity for many sports tickets opens shortly

after the preceding years event

has ended. This is even the

case for some of the biggies like the Super Bowl or the NCAA

Mens Basketball Tournament.

The tickets are out there. You just have to know when and where

to look. Here are some suggestions.

1) Check the official website of the sponsoring organization.

Many times this will have all the information you need

including ticket procedures deadlines and special

requirements. Do this as soon as possible after the event has

taken place and keep checking periodically until updated

information has been posted.

2) If youre more impatient call the organization directly. You

can usually find a phone number on the website but if its not

there call 800 directory assistance. Ask how you can purchase

tickets to next years game or at least get your name on a

waiting list so youll be notified when tickets are available.

Make sure you know all the pertinent dates addresses and prices

so youll be ready when they go on sale.

3) Check the official website of the host venue. Often the arena

or stadium handles ticket sales as is the case for the first/

second and regional rounds of the NCAA Basketball Tournament. In

this case the early bird definitely gets the worm. Again a

polite phone call may provide additional information or get your

name on the proper list.

4) Consider joining a teams fan club or booster club. Many

times these memberships come with special advance notice of

tickets sales or access to indemand tickets. For example Boston

Red Sox fans should join the Red Sox Nation to get ticket

preferences for some of the hottest seats in Fenway Park.

Membership will only set you back $9.95 a small price if you

score some premium tickets.

5) Finally search the Internet for information about the

specific event or venue. You may find a littleknown piece of

information that allows you to apply for highlycoveted tickets.

Be creative and try different word combinations as your search

terms. Read everything you can find about the upcoming game or

previous games. Its all about your willingness to put in a

little leg work that may pay off in facevalue Super Bowl or

Final Four tickets.

In fact I just applied for 2006 Final Four tickets last week

but Im sure that many hoops fans didnt even know that was possible.

So regardless of the event or game if you want to see it in

person without taking out a second mortgage for tickets try a

little advance planning. With persistence and patience you may

just be watching it next year from the front row.

Copyright 2005 All Rights Reserved

Jeff Howard publishes SportsTicketSecrets Tip Sheet a monthly

ezine providing tips information and advice for sports fans

who are tired of watching the BIG games on TV. To sign up and

receive a preview of his latest publication Super Bowl Ticket

Secrets visit http://www.superbowlticketsecrets.com