Getting the cheapest tickets to NBA games can seem daunting, but with some insider knowledge and planning, it’s definitely possible to score great seats without breaking the bank. Here are some tips and tricks for finding the best NBA ticket deals.
Buy Tickets for Less Popular Teams/Games
The most obvious way to save money on NBA tickets is to buy tickets for games that involve less popular teams or have less appeal. Weeknight games between two small-market teams will almost always be cheaper than weekend marquee matchups between championship contenders. You can expect to pay a fraction of the price for an Indiana Pacers vs. Charlotte Hornets game on a Tuesday in February versus a Los Angeles Lakers vs. Boston Celtics game on a Friday in March. Keep an eye on the schedule and target the under-the-radar games.
Look for Ticket Promotions
Many NBA teams run special ticket promotions at various points throughout the year to help fill seats. For example, a “kids free” promotion will allow 1 child under 12 to attend for free with the purchase of an adult ticket. Other popular promotions include college student discounts, military & senior citizen discounts, half-off upper deck seats, etc. Sign up for team email newsletters and follow their social media accounts to stay updated on the latest deals.
Buy Upper Deck Seats
It’s a simple equation – the further away your seats are from the basketball court, the cheaper the ticket price. Upper deck seats in the corners and ends of the arena will cost a fraction of lower level seats right next to the team benches. The view isn’t as good, but upper deck seats still provide a great experience while saving you money at the same time.
Purchase Tickets from Re-Sellers
There are often great deals to be had purchasing tickets from season ticket holders trying to sell some of their seats on secondary marketplaces like StubHub, VividSeats, SeatGeek, etc. Watch sites like these leading up to the game you want to attend, as prices tend to drop during the last 24 hours as sellers scramble to recoup some costs rather than eat the entire ticket. Sort seat listings by price to uncover the best deals.
Wait Until Right Before Tip-Off
If you really want to play a high-stakes game of chicken, wait until just an hour or two before tip-off to buy tickets. This strategy relies on the fact that ticket brokers and secondary sellers will often dump tickets at huge discounts right before the game just to recoup something. You can find some steals this way but also risk missing out entirely, so it takes nerves of steel!
Buy Partial Season Ticket Packages
Many teams sell partial season ticket packages that allow you to purchase 10-20 games at a slight discount. This can be a great way to score cheaper seats for the games you most want to attend. You’ll get a better seat location than buying single game tickets, along with the discounted per-game price. Just be prepared to commit to those games for the whole season.
Join a Team’s Official Fan Club
Official team fan clubs like Lakers Nation and Celtics Pride offer various benefits for yearly membership fees, including access to special ticket presales and discounts off individual game tickets. Price out the fan club membership fee versus the potential ticket savings to see if joining makes financial sense for the number of games you plan to attend.
Go To Preseason Games
Preseason games don’t count and feature plenty of star players sitting after halftime, so it’s no surprise tickets are much cheaper. But for the first half you’ll likely still get to see the starters playing together. Considering preseason tickets can start around $10, it’s worth checking out.
Buy a Last Minute Ticket at the Arena Box Office
Heading down to the arena without a ticket in hand is risky, but sometimes you can score an amazing same-day deal at the box office. This is dependent on availability, but unsold tickets must be moved quickly. Just be flexible on seat location. You may also be able to talk to arena staff to snag unused media/VIP tickets if available.
Check Team Social Media Accounts
It never hurts to send a tweet to your team asking about ticket deals. Or check out the team’s official social media accounts, as they will often post last minute deals on Facebook or Instagram stories. A public post asking for unwanted tickets can also yield some responses from nice fans with extras.
Buy a Multi-Game Package
Whether offered by the team or a secondary marketplace, multi-game ticket packages bundle anywhere from 3 to 30+ games at an overall discounted price. Even if there are some games you don’t want to attend, the per-game savings may make the overall package worthwhile.
Join an NBA Ticket Exchange Facebook Group
Joining team-specific fan groups on Facebook can open up ticket availability, as season ticket holders often post there when trying to sell tickets for individual games. Being part of a community of fans willing to buy and sell tickets among themselves removes the middleman and can lead to great deals.
Tip | Difficulty | Potential Savings |
---|---|---|
Buy tickets for unpopular teams/games | Easy | High |
Look for ticket promotions | Easy | Medium |
Buy upper deck seats | Easy | Medium |
Buy from re-sellers | Medium | Medium-High |
Wait until last minute | Hard | High |
Buy partial season tickets | Medium | Medium |
Join fan club | Easy | Low-Medium |
Go to preseason games | Easy | High |
Buy at box office | Hard | High |
Check social media | Easy | Low-Medium |
Buy multi-game packages | Medium | Medium-High |
Join ticket exchange groups | Easy | Medium-High |
Avoid Scams and Unauthorized Sellers
While there are many legitimate ways to score cheap NBA tickets, there are also plenty of scams out there to avoid. Stick to team websites, box offices, fan clubs, and reputable secondary ticket marketplaces. Scalpers outside the arena may offer deals but their tickets often turn out to be fraudulent or overpriced. Use your best judgement.
Be Flexible on Timing and Matchups
If you have your heart set on seeing a specific matchup or star player, be prepared to pay a premium. But having the flexibility on both the timing of the game you attend and the specific teams playing will open up many more affordable options.
Consider NBA Minor League Games
Games in the NBA G League (formerly D-League) provide high caliber basketball at a fraction of the price of NBA games. Many NBA teams own and operate G League affiliates where you can watch prospects for under $20. The atmosphere is more intimate too.
Follow Team Social Accounts
As mentioned earlier, following an NBA team on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram or other social media can provide valuable access to special offers and last minute deals that may not be available otherwise. Enable notifications so you never miss a coupon code or flash sale!
Use Cash Back & Coupon Sites
Check cash back websites like Rakuten or CouponCabin when buying tickets from primary and secondary marketplaces. You can earn a percentage back, essentially saving money you were already going to spend.
Similarly, check sites like RetailMeNot for any coupon codes that can be applied to your ticket purchase.
Buy With a Credit Card for Perks
Use a credit card that offers robust rewards on entertainment purchases to maximize the value of your ticket purchase. Some cards also offer special VIP access, onboard credits, or concierge services for booking tickets.
Conclusion
Finding cheap NBA tickets comes down to being flexible, doing thorough research, and taking advantage of every special deal and membership discount you can. Following ticket prices regularly can help identify patterns and optimal times to buy. While landing seats for a playoff game will be pricey, you can still find great deals for regular season matchups with lesser demand. Patience, persistence, and smart shopping will pay off!