Prepare your car for the race


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

Have you ever dreamed about seeing a bigThis  is  even  the
sports  event  like  the
case for some of the biggies like the Super
Super Bowl, NCAA Final Four, or Daytona 500Bowl  or  the  NCAA
in  person?  If  so,
Men's Basketball Tournament.The tickets are
what kept you from realizing yourout there. You just have to know when and
dream?Before you answer that one, let mewhere
demonstrate  how  the  typical
to look. Here are some suggestions.1) Check
fan tries to buy tickets. I'll use thethe official website of the sponsoring
Indianapolis  500  as  anorganization.
example. As I write this the "GreatestMany times this will have all the
Spectacle  In  Racing"  isinformation  you  need,
a few weeks away.Since many fans don't startincluding ticket procedures, deadlines, and
thinking  about  tickets  until  weeks,special
or months, before the event, it's veryrequirements. Do this as soon as possible
possible  some  areafter  the  event  has
just now deciding they want to see thistaken place and keep checking periodically
race.Even at this late date, there are stilluntil  updated
a  few  tickets  available
information has been posted.2) If you're
directly from the Indianapolis Motormore impatient, call the organization
Speedway,  but  rest  assureddirectly.  You
the choice seats are long gone.There's goodcan usually find a phone number on the
news, however.A quick Internet search showswebsite,  but  if  it's  not
there  are  are  plenty  of  good  seats
there call 800 directory assistance. Ask how
available. At one popular ticket brokeryou  can  purchase
site,  they  range  in
tickets to next year's game, or at least get
price from $65 to $645 each depending onyour  name  on  a
track  location.
waiting list so you'll be notified when
According to the official Indianapolis 500tickets  are  available.
website,  these  same
Make sure you know all the pertinent dates,
tickets have a face value of $40 to $90addresses  and  prices
each.  So,  if  you  buy
so you'll be ready when they go on sale.3)
your tickets from a broker, you'll end upCheck the official website of the host venue.
paying  2,  3,  or  4Often  the  arena
times face value.Not so good news.Before Ior stadium handles ticket sales, as is the
get back to my original question, let me saycase  for  the  first/
this.  If
second and regional rounds of the NCAA
you're independently wealthy, go ahead andBasketball  Tournament.  In
buy  your  tickets  from
this case, the early bird definitely gets
a broker since money isn't an issue.the  worm.  Again,  a
However,  if  you're  like  the
polite phone call may provide additional
rest of us, it was probably the high cost ofinformation  or  get  your
tickets  that  kept
name on the proper list.4) Consider joining
you from seeing a game or event in person.Soa  team's  fan  club  or  booster club. Many
how do you avoid overpaying for tickets? Well
it's  reallytimes these memberships come with special
advance  notice  of
quite simple. Plan in advance. See, I said
it was simple.Since every major sports eventtickets sales or access to in-demand
occurs  at  approximately  the  sametickets.  For  example  Boston
time each year, there's no reason why youRed Sox fans should join the Red Sox Nation
shouldn't  be  planningto  get  ticket
for next year right now. Let's get back topreferences for some of the hottest seats in
our  typical  race  fan.Fenway  Park.
Once he discovers how much Indy 500 ticketsMembership will only set you back $9.95, a
will  set  him  back,small  price  if  you
he'll decide that's too much and forgetscore some premium tickets.5) Finally,
about  the  race.  A  yearsearch the Internet for information about the
rolls by, and the approaching race starts
making  news.  By  thisspecific event or venue. You may find a
little-known  piece  of
time maybe he's forgotten about the ticket
prices,  or  maybe  heinformation that allows you to apply for
highly-coveted  tickets.
thinks this year he'll find bargain tickets
somewhere.Nope.This year the prices are evenBe creative and try different word
higher,  so  he  gives  up  yet  againcombinations  as  your  search
all the while thinking to himself that "oneterms. Read everything you can find about
of  these  days"  he'sthe  upcoming  game  or
actually going to plunk down the money forprevious games. It's all about your
tickets.  Good  luck.willingness  to  put  in  a
Sadly, while savvy fans will be experiencinglittle "leg work" that may pay off in
the  sights,  sounds,face-value  Super  Bowl  or
and smells of the race in person, he'll beFinal Four tickets.In fact I just applied
watching  from  home  onfor  2007  Final  Four  tickets  last  week,
the small screen.Now if he would have justbut I'm sure that many hoops fans didn't
planned  in  advance  for  his  race-dayeven know that was possible.So, regardless of
the  event or game, if you want to see it in
experience, the outcome could be very
different.  Many  of  thoseperson without taking out a second mortgage
for  tickets,  try  a
same tickets selling for well above face
value  in  the  weekslittle advance planning. With persistence
and  patience,  you  may
leading up to the race could have been had
for  face  value  a  yearjust be watching it next year from the front
row.Copyright 2005-2006 All Rights
earlier.The window of opportunity for manyReservedJeff Howard publishes
sports  tickets  opens  shortlySportsTickets101, an ezine providing tips,
information, and advice for sports fans who
after the preceding year's event has ended.are tired of watching the "BIG" games on TV.



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