Don't Let High Ticket Prices Keep You From Seeing The "Big" Games In Person

Have you ever dreamed about seeing a big sportsafter the preceding year's event has ended. This is
event like theeven the
Super Bowl, NCAA Final Four, or Daytona 500 incase for some of the biggies like the Super Bowl or
person? If so,the NCAA
what kept you from realizing your dream?BeforeMen's Basketball Tournament.The tickets are out
you answer that one, let me demonstrate how thethere. You just have to know when and where
typicalto look. Here are some suggestions.1) Check the
fan tries to buy tickets. I'll use the Indianapolis 500official website of the sponsoring organization.
as anMany times this will have all the information you
example. As I write this the "Greatest Spectacle Inneed,
Racing" isincluding ticket procedures, deadlines, and special
a few weeks away.Since many fans don't startrequirements. Do this as soon as possible after the
thinking about tickets until weeks,event has
or months, before the event, it's very possible sometaken place and keep checking periodically until
areupdated
just now deciding they want to see this race.Eveninformation has been posted.2) If you're more
at this late date, there are still a few tickets availableimpatient, call the organization directly. You
can usually find a phone number on the website, but
directly from the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, butif it's not
rest assuredthere call 800 directory assistance. Ask how you can
the choice seats are long gone.There's good news,purchase
however.A quick Internet search shows there aretickets to next year's game, or at least get your
are plenty of good seatsname on a
available. At one popular ticket broker site, theywaiting list so you'll be notified when tickets are
range inavailable.
price from $65 to $645 each depending on trackMake sure you know all the pertinent dates,
location.addresses and prices
According to the official Indianapolis 500 website,so you'll be ready when they go on sale.3) Check
these samethe official website of the host venue. Often the
tickets have a face value of $40 to $90 each. So, ifarena
you buyor stadium handles ticket sales, as is the case for
your tickets from a broker, you'll end up paying 2, 3,the first/
or 4second and regional rounds of the NCAA Basketball
times face value.Not so good news.Before I getTournament. In
back to my original question, let me say this. Ifthis case, the early bird definitely gets the worm.
you're independently wealthy, go ahead and buyAgain, a
your tickets frompolite phone call may provide additional information
a broker since money isn't an issue. However, ifor get your
you're like thename on the proper list.4) Consider joining a team's
rest of us, it was probably the high cost of ticketsfan club or booster club. Many
that kepttimes these memberships come with special advance
you from seeing a game or event in person.So hownotice of
do you avoid overpaying for tickets? Well it's reallytickets sales or access to in-demand tickets. For
quite simple. Plan in advance. See, I said it wasexample Boston
simple.Since every major sports event occurs atRed Sox fans should join the Red Sox Nation to get
approximately the sameticket
time each year, there's no reason why you shouldn'tpreferences for some of the hottest seats in
be planningFenway Park.
for next year right now. Let's get back to ourMembership will only set you back $9.95, a small
typical race fan.price if you
Once he discovers how much Indy 500 tickets willscore some premium tickets.5) Finally, search the
set him back,Internet for information about the
he'll decide that's too much and forget about thespecific event or venue. You may find a little-known
race. A yearpiece of
rolls by, and the approaching race starts makinginformation that allows you to apply for
news. By thishighly-coveted tickets.
time maybe he's forgotten about the ticket prices,Be creative and try different word combinations as
or maybe heyour search
thinks this year he'll find bargain ticketsterms. Read everything you can find about the
somewhere.Nope.This year the prices are evenupcoming game or
higher, so he gives up yet againprevious games. It's all about your willingness to put
all the while thinking to himself that "one of thesein a
days" he'slittle "leg work" that may pay off in face-value Super
actually going to plunk down the money for tickets.Bowl or
Good luck.Final Four tickets.In fact I just applied for 2007 Final
Sadly, while savvy fans will be experiencing theFour tickets last week,
sights, sounds,but I'm sure that many hoops fans didn't even know
and smells of the race in person, he'll be watchingthat was possible.So, regardless of the event or
from home ongame, if you want to see it in
the small screen.Now if he would have just plannedperson without taking out a second mortgage for
in advance for his race-daytickets, try a
experience, the outcome could be very different.little advance planning. With persistence and patience,
Many of thoseyou may
same tickets selling for well above face value in thejust be watching it next year from the front
weeksrow.Copyright 2005-2006 All Rights ReservedJeff
leading up to the race could have been had for faceHoward publishes SportsTickets101, an ezine providing
value a yeartips, information, and advice for sports fans who are
earlier.The window of opportunity for many sportstired of watching the "BIG" games on TV.
tickets opens shortly