Here's a fun post to get all you sports fans ready for a great weekend. It comes from SmartMoney who has an article about saving on sports tickets. Here are my favorites from their suggestions:
Plan ahead. Sports tickets don't get cheaper as the event date approaches. That's especially true if you're talking about popular teams, pivotal games, matches between rivals, season openers or championship events — all of which sell out within minutes of availability. Your best chance for decently priced tickets for regular games comes during the first days of season ticket sales. After that, the sooner you plan, the better the price you're likely to find.
Go alone. (Or sit separately.) If you didn't buy early, single seats are the only easy way to catch a game at regular ticket prices. For $27, you can get a terrace reserved outfield seat at Wrigley Field on Aug. 26 to watch the Chicago Cubs vs. the Florida Marlins. On the secondary market, two tickets in the same section would cost you at least $45 a ticket, and maybe as much as $120 each.
Pay attention to unused season-ticket resales. Most professional sports teams, as well as many minor league and college teams, offer a venue for season-ticket holders to sell seats they won't use. Pay attention, though, because each system is different: Some teams insist the ticket holders sell the seat at its original value, while other programs, like the San Francisco Giants' Double Play system, let the seller determine the price. Don't see a program posted on the team's web site? Call the ticket office and ask.
Be charitable. A few teams ask season-ticket holders to donate unused seats to charity (bonus: donations are tax-deductible). The charity then resells or auctions the tickets. Want to see a Green Bay Packers game? The local Boys & Girls Club resells unused season tickets at face value to support its community programs. (Tickets have a face value of $54 to $67. On the secondary market, the cheapest is about $95, with most tickets selling for $200 or more.)
Have a great weekend!
Update: Linking to the Beltway Traffic Jam.
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