Against all the odds your team has made it to the post-season/play-offs/FA Cup Final and you want to be there to watch them win. The problem is, is that so will everyone else and tickets are going to be like gold dust. One way or another you know you are going to be there the question is how you are going to get your ticket.
Official sources
The best way to get tickets is to go straight to the official source. Your team will have its own dedicated box office to supply tickets to fans as well as a website where ticket can be bought. As you are buying through an official source tickets will be at face value with maybe a little added on for handling fees or postage.
While this approach is fine for most games for the most in-demand matches tickets are likely to sell out fast. Priority is generally given to season ticket holders so they get first choice of tickets. While you can go and actually queue up for a ticket there is generally a limited number on sale and there is no guarantee of getting a ticket this way.
If the Event is a Sell-out
If all the tickets are sold there is no need to panic just yet. Many venues and team across the country have created “no-scalp zones” close to the venues where fans can sell their unwanted tickets at face-value. This concept is becoming increasingly popular although not all venues have one just yet.
Online Sources
If you can’t get hold of a ticket through official sources or using a no-scalp zone you may still be able to get a ticket but you are probably going to have to pay more than face value for it. There are a number of websites that bring people who have tickets to sell for big games and those who want to buy them together. Prices are determined by supply and demand so the most in-demand tickets are going to have a premium attached to them. Using sites such as GET ME IN!, StubHub and Viagogo will be more expensive but all transactions on the site are protected and you won’t get ripped off.
The Last Resort
The very last option is to use a ticket tout or scalper outside the venue. This is most likely going to be the most expensive way to buy sports tickets and may or may not be legal depending on where you are and you have no guarantee of a genuine ticket.