There’s nothing like the thrill of attending a live sports event. You’re there with thousands of people who all enjoy the same sport and are cheering on the same team or athlete, and the atmosphere is electric. You see the finest athletes perform in the flesh and, hopefully, win. If they do win, you experience the win as it happened, revel in this moment of sporting glory and remember that little piece of magic or history for the rest of your days.
Are you planning a trip to a live sports event? Well, it can get expensive. Below is a look at ways to budget and plan your trip so you don’t have to return from the trip without a dime left.
Book travel as early as possible
If you’re travelling to a road game, book your transport as early as possible. Whereas accommodation prices can fluctuate, train prices are more likely to increase the closer you book them to a game. Leave it too late and the tickets could cost double the amount they did when you first bought your event tickets.
Buy your tickets online
The team’s box office isn’t the only way to buy tickets and can be expensive. You can buy tickets online at resale sites, where sometimes they’ll be cheaper than the official ticket price. Big-name ticket resale sites also offer guarantees that you won’t be scammed.
Eat before you go
Have you ever bought a beer or a hot dog at a sports event before? The prices are ludicrous, even for soft drinks. You can avoid the insane prices at stadiums and save a lot of money by having lunch or dinner before you go to the event, and you don’t have to wait in a queue and miss the action either! Check whether you’re allowed to bring a small bottle of water into the event and, if so, take one with you to save on drinks.
Check reviews of accommodation
If travelers have had a bad experience at their accommodation, they often rush to the internet to warn others about it. Reviews help you gain insight into whether the accommodation is good and whether the price is worth it. Reviewers might also suggest cheaper alternatives or discuss ways they found to save money in the area where they stayed.
Book hotels near public transport
A hotel near the stadium is likely to charge a lot for even the most basic room, and it might not even be that good. Instead, book accommodation near public transport that takes you to the stadium or close to it. Be sure to check when the last bus, train or metro line will bring you back. You don’t want to be stuck wandering around a strange city at 3 in the morning!
Pack what you need and nothing else
This should be easy if you’re just going away for two or three nights. Bring some fan gear and a couple of changes of clothes, and you should only need an overnight bag. This will save you from checking in luggage, which saves time and money. If you’re attending an NFL game, instead of using a carry-on bag, you could use the clear bag fans bring into the stadiums with them for carrying mobile phones, wallets and other items.
Use sports betting bonuses or promotions
Lots of fans place bets before going to sports events now. It’s a way of adding to the excitement of the event and engaging with the sport. If you visit an online sportsbook, check out the different bonuses and promotions, which allow you to save money and get more out of the services.
Choose cheaper seats
You don’t have to sit at the very front to enjoy the event. Nor do you have to sit in the seats at the far back, upper end of the stadium to save money. A lot of stadiums offer affordable tickets behind the end zone. Stadiums also order discounted general admissions seats without seat reservations.
Go where low prices take you
List the events you’d like to attend live and narrow it down by the cost of the entire trip. Perhaps the flights are cheaper to one destination, but the event tickets are expensive. Or the event tickets are dirt cheap, but accommodation rates are sky high because of a convention there on the days you wish to stay. If you have air miles, check whether you can use them and shave money off the price of the trip.
Catching the action at a live sports event and soaking up the atmosphere is thrilling. Remember though, you don’t always have to go to big events and fork out loads of money: You can attend amateur events or local ones and enjoy sporting action just as much for much less.