Watching your favorite sport or team in the flesh is one of the best experiences. But often, depending on the event, getting your hands on a sports ticket is not always the easiest. There are many things to think about when going through the process, and even then, you can miss out on some prime tickets simply because of the sheer demand of the event.
As such, there are some important things to know and consider before buying sports ticket. Take a look here as we run through some of the factors you should not ignore if you want to make a good decision.
Start looking early
If you know an event is popular, then make sure you’re looking to get tickets as early as possible. Prices will often rise and fall or simply the tickets will sell out if you leave it too late. Depending on the sport or event, you may need to book months in advance, while other events may only require a week or two.
For events, you know are popular, you should also check whether there are ways to get early notifications. Some events have presales, or allow members to sign up for early bird offers. If it’s a sporting event you’re really interested in, then opting for something like this is a good way to ensure you’re going to get the early access you need to claim a ticket.
Book from reputable sites
While it’s also recommended that you shop around and compare prices, don’t sacrifice a low-priced sporting ticket for poor security. Many sites aren’t necessarily to be trusted. As such, you should always look for reputable sites such as Go Sport Travel or Ticketmaster where you have some security once you’ve purchased your ticket.
Not only are we talking about security in the knowledge that your ticket is real, but also that your payment will go through, and you won’t be providing payment details to a fraudulent site. Additionally, using a reputable site will also mean that it’s more likely you can get a refund or resell your ticket should you be unable to attend the sporting event after all.
That being said, don’t be afraid to grab a resale ticket if you’ve missed buying tickets during the initial sale. Many reputable sites allow you to sell tickets on such as Viagogo. These are reliable tickets that will work at the stadium when you enter. You won’t necessarily get them cheaper than the original price, but it’s a great option if you’re booking something last minute or were slow off the mark during the original sale.
Extra costs at the event
If you’re on a budget, then you may be looking for cheap tickets. But it’s also worth pointing out that there are always additional expenses to factor in. Once you’re at the event, there are always additional costs. If you’re driving there, factor in parking costs and maybe even book your spot in advance. Food, drinks and merchandise are always a fun part of any sports event, so if you want to make the whole day special, factor in some costs for these items too. Budget for this when planning this type of trip so that you’re not left wanting.
Accessibility and viewing
Another thing to consider once you’ve budgeted and are buying the tickets, is where you will sit. If accessibility is a requirement, then you need to make sure that you check what the venue has available. Not all venues have options, but those that do will keep accessibility tickets available.
Even if you don’t need specific accessibility, you will want to have a good view of the game. This is why it’s very important to check out the venue as a whole to see which seats are available. Of course, viewpoints will differ depending on the sport you’re watching and what the stadium looks like. Don’t forget, you don’t need the best seats in the stadium to have a good view or a good time. And, these are often the most expensive seats, especially if you want to be right near the court in basketball or on the halfway line in football or rugby.
Never share your tickets
Finally, once you’ve got your tickets, or at least the confirmation email, never share them. It can be tempting to simply share on social media, either your ticket or confirmation email. But this is the best way to lose your ticket to fraudulent scammers. Many people online are quick to spot barcodes, order numbers or even QR codes, copying this information and taking it for themselves. If they’ve got enough information and arrive at the venue first, they can use your tickets before you. This can cause a lot of disappointment if you have your heart set on the event.
