| Have you ever dreamed about seeing a big | | | | This is even the |
| sports event like the | | | | |
| | | | case for some of the biggies like the Super |
| Super Bowl, NCAA Final Four, or Daytona 500 | | | | Bowl or the NCAA |
| in person? If so, | | | | |
| | | | Men's Basketball Tournament.The tickets are |
| what kept you from realizing your | | | | out there. You just have to know when and |
| dream?Before you answer that one, let me | | | | where |
| demonstrate how the typical | | | | |
| | | | to look. Here are some suggestions.1) Check |
| fan tries to buy tickets. I'll use the | | | | the official website of the sponsoring |
| Indianapolis 500 as an | | | | organization. |
| | | | |
| example. As I write this the "Greatest | | | | Many times this will have all the |
| Spectacle In Racing" is | | | | information you need, |
| | | | |
| a few weeks away.Since many fans don't start | | | | including ticket procedures, deadlines, and |
| thinking about tickets until weeks, | | | | special |
| | | | |
| or months, before the event, it's very | | | | requirements. Do this as soon as possible |
| possible some are | | | | after the event has |
| | | | |
| just now deciding they want to see this | | | | taken place and keep checking periodically |
| race.Even at this late date, there are still | | | | until updated |
| a few tickets available | | | | |
| | | | information has been posted.2) If you're |
| directly from the Indianapolis Motor | | | | more impatient, call the organization |
| Speedway, but rest assured | | | | directly. You |
| | | | |
| the choice seats are long gone.There's good | | | | can usually find a phone number on the |
| news, however.A quick Internet search shows | | | | website, but if it's not |
| there are are plenty of good seats | | | | |
| | | | there call 800 directory assistance. Ask how |
| available. At one popular ticket broker | | | | you can purchase |
| site, they range in | | | | |
| | | | tickets to next year's game, or at least get |
| price from $65 to $645 each depending on | | | | your name on a |
| track location. | | | | |
| | | | waiting list so you'll be notified when |
| According to the official Indianapolis 500 | | | | tickets are available. |
| website, these same | | | | |
| | | | Make sure you know all the pertinent dates, |
| tickets have a face value of $40 to $90 | | | | addresses 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 up | | | | Check the official website of the host venue. |
| paying 2, 3, or 4 | | | | Often the arena |
| | | | |
| times face value.Not so good news.Before I | | | | or stadium handles ticket sales, as is the |
| get back to my original question, let me say | | | | case for the first/ |
| this. If | | | | |
| | | | second and regional rounds of the NCAA |
| you're independently wealthy, go ahead and | | | | Basketball 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 of | | | | information or get your |
| tickets that kept | | | | |
| | | | name on the proper list.4) Consider joining |
| you from seeing a game or event in person.So | | | | a team's fan club or booster club. Many |
| how do you avoid overpaying for tickets? Well | | | | |
| it's really | | | | times these memberships come with special |
| | | | advance notice of |
| quite simple. Plan in advance. See, I said | | | | |
| it was simple.Since every major sports event | | | | tickets sales or access to in-demand |
| occurs at approximately the same | | | | tickets. For example Boston |
| | | | |
| time each year, there's no reason why you | | | | Red Sox fans should join the Red Sox Nation |
| shouldn't be planning | | | | to get ticket |
| | | | |
| for next year right now. Let's get back to | | | | preferences for some of the hottest seats in |
| our typical race fan. | | | | Fenway Park. |
| | | | |
| Once he discovers how much Indy 500 tickets | | | | Membership will only set you back $9.95, a |
| will set him back, | | | | small price if you |
| | | | |
| he'll decide that's too much and forget | | | | score some premium tickets.5) Finally, |
| about the race. A year | | | | search the Internet for information about the |
| | | | |
| rolls by, and the approaching race starts | | | | |
| making news. By this | | | | specific event or venue. You may find a |
| | | | little-known piece of |
| time maybe he's forgotten about the ticket | | | | |
| prices, or maybe he | | | | information that allows you to apply for |
| | | | highly-coveted tickets. |
| thinks this year he'll find bargain tickets | | | | |
| somewhere.Nope.This year the prices are even | | | | Be creative and try different word |
| higher, so he gives up yet again | | | | combinations as your search |
| | | | |
| all the while thinking to himself that "one | | | | terms. Read everything you can find about |
| of these days" he's | | | | the upcoming game or |
| | | | |
| actually going to plunk down the money for | | | | previous games. It's all about your |
| tickets. Good luck. | | | | willingness to put in a |
| | | | |
| Sadly, while savvy fans will be experiencing | | | | little "leg work" that may pay off in |
| the sights, sounds, | | | | face-value Super Bowl or |
| | | | |
| and smells of the race in person, he'll be | | | | Final Four tickets.In fact I just applied |
| watching from home on | | | | for 2007 Final Four tickets last week, |
| | | | |
| the small screen.Now if he would have just | | | | but I'm sure that many hoops fans didn't |
| planned in advance for his race-day | | | | even 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 those | | | | person without taking out a second mortgage |
| | | | for tickets, try a |
| same tickets selling for well above face | | | | |
| value in the weeks | | | | little advance planning. With persistence |
| | | | and patience, you may |
| leading up to the race could have been had | | | | |
| for face value a year | | | | just be watching it next year from the front |
| | | | row.Copyright 2005-2006 All Rights |
| earlier.The window of opportunity for many | | | | ReservedJeff Howard publishes |
| sports tickets opens shortly | | | | SportsTickets101, 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. |