A budget? for a pro sports game ?
Feb 08 '00
Attending a pro sports game on a budget really is an oxymoron.
Budget is the wrong word. keeping expenses to the minimum and cutting losses is really the key term.
The average ticket price to any game in any sport these days is in excess of $25.00. A family of four looks at spending a minimum of $125.00 to attend a game. This is ridiculous to spend on a sporting event which lasts normally less than 3 hours. The ticket agents should wear either a ski mask or a pair of nylons over their heads so they can remind us all we are being robbed.
So how does a Family attend a game on a budget? They save up or run up the charge card.
Deals: Look for "family night" games. These are normally games being played against non-rival competition or a team that was so bad the year before, your team is afraid of not selling many tickets to that game. Since you are going to see your team and your favorite players go to these games, you will likely even see your team win. Root root root for the home team. If they don't win it's a shame.
The Hartford Whalers used to have family night, Family night deals consisted of 4 tickets, 4 hotdogs, 4 popcorns and 4 sodas and 2 hats as souvenirs. Eat before you go, fill up so you are not hungry. Sports arenas are almost as bad as movie theaters when it comes to food prices. Now it is true that a hot dog, soda and popcorn are not a nutritious meal. Not even close, unless you are striving for that first heart attack. But they are nice to eat at games, and not terribly messy since you may be jumping up and down. The Whalers also played in a great place- The Mall. Which was actually a shopping mall. This allowed you to park for free. Normally parking at sporting events in major cities will cost you at least $15.00. This still beats taking a train into a game. Unless you have access to inexpensive public transportation taking your car is the best way. But be prepared for traffic.
Other Cheap Tickets:
Scalpers. Of course you cannot plan on attending a game with a family and rely on ticket scalpers. But if there are just a few of you and you have limited funds, try the scalpers. Especially try them after the game has started. So you miss the first inning or a portion of the first period, big deal. The scalpers wish to unload these tickets fast. The game has started, if they don't get rid of them, they are getting nothing for them. YOU have the upper hand in negotiation with them. Use it to your advantage. Walk away if your offer is not accepted. ALWAYS offer him less than he is asking unless you have some crazy low deal he wants to give you.
Student tickets
Save your college identification. Never return that little card. Many sports teams, especially minor league teams, have student ticket discounts. The Providence Bruins (AHL) sell tickets for $8.00 to students. Age is not a factor. They just need to see that ID. May as well get some benefits for spending some crazy amount on an education.
Season Tickets
A large expenditure in the beginning can pay off in the long run. You are essentially buying in bulk here and getting a deal. Can't afford the cost? Go in with friends on the tickets. Split up the tickets between each other. You may even agree to sell a certain pair inorder to reduce the cost. Say you have Yankees v Red Sox Tickets, stick that pair on Ebay or in the newspaper. You will at least double the face value on these. Use your rivalry tickets to your advantage.
Last year if you had season tickets to the Red Sox, you could have made your entire season cost back when the playoffs came. Season tickets allow you first choice on purchasing playoff tickets, always buy these. Again, Ebay auction! Yankees v Redsox Decent seats for the playoffs, many pairs topped one thousand dollars. Make your money back.
Do you have legal problems that you need taken care of? Go to a firm, ask them about tickets, better yet, do you have a friend who is a partner in a firm? Many Firms have season tickets, they give clients tickets to games.
Alcohol
Avoid drinking at games, the cost for alcohol is crazy, it would be cheaper to drink at a bar. Bring a flask if you must. But be sure you bring something real hard, like 151 rum. A flask doesn't hold much, and if you are looking forward to getting hammered and missing the game like a drunken fool, you better bring the right tool to get it done.
Parking
Save as much as you can on parking. Do not park close to the arena. Park within walking distance, and walk. The farther you are from the arena the less costly the parking is. Tricks to get cheaper parking include Validation. In Boston there are many shopping malls which offer validation on a purchase, this usually knocks a few dollars off the parking cost. May as well go buy a magazine or newspaper there.
Souvenirs, you don't NEED them, neither do the children, but if you must, get them something like a pennant if you are on a budget. Hats, shirts and balls can all be purchased outside of the park for less. Take advantage of street vendors, they are always cheaper than the park itself.
For high ticket prices, we have no one but ourselves to blame. We pay the prices, we attend the games, we buy the merchandise. We revere our athletes far to highly and allow them to demand higher and higher salaries. Until salaries go back down, and they likely never will, the cost of keeping your idols in your hometown ball park will continue to rise, and you will pay for it.
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mattjoe
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