Live sports have never been more expensive — and they've never been easier to find deals on either. The secret is knowing exactly when the market works in your favor and which platform to turn to at each stage.
Here are the eight strategies that consistently deliver below-face-value tickets for major league sports.
The 8 Strategies That Work
Buy Last-Minute on StubHub
Season ticket holders who can't make a game would rather sell at a loss than have the seat go empty. On StubHub, prices for non-playoff games often drop 30–60% in the 3–6 hours before tip-off or kickoff. Set a price alert and check on game day.
Use Ticketmaster Presales for High-Demand Games
For games you know will sell out and command resale premiums — playoff openers, rivalry games, star player appearances — get in early with a Ticketmaster presale. Face value on a playoff game is almost always cheaper than the StubHub resale price the day before.
Target Weeknight Games
Tuesday and Wednesday games, especially in MLB and NBA, consistently see lower demand. Families and casual fans can't always make weeknight games, which pushes resale prices down. The game quality is identical — the crowd just isn't as packed.
Sit in the Upper Deck
Modern stadium sightlines are surprisingly good from the upper deck — especially in baseball and basketball. You can often get upper deck seats for 20–30% of the cost of lower bowl seats while still enjoying a great view of the action.
Buy in Pairs, Not Singles
Single tickets are the hardest for sellers to move. If you can go with a friend, buying a pair often unlocks better per-ticket prices on StubHub because sellers who have pairs or groups are competing to move them all at once.
Compare Both Platforms Before You Buy
For the same event, Ticketmaster and StubHub often have very different prices. A midseason NBA game might have face-value tickets on Ticketmaster ($60) while StubHub shows $90+ for the same section. Always check both before clicking "buy."
Avoid Championship Ticket Traps
Super Bowl, NBA Finals, and World Series tickets are legitimate on both platforms, but prices are eye-watering and fees compound the cost. If your real goal is atmosphere and not courtside access, consider watching at a high-quality sports bar for playoff games and saving your live-attendance budget for regular season seats where you get more for your money.
Use a Credit Card With Stadium Perks
Cards like Amex Platinum, Chase Sapphire, and Citi Prestige often come with presale ticket access, concession credits, or lounge access at major venues. If you're going to spend on tickets anyway, a card that returns value on those purchases effectively lowers your cost.
The two cheapest windows for most games are: (1) the Ticketmaster on-sale date, when face-value tickets are first released, and (2) 2–4 hours before game time on StubHub, when sellers drop prices to clear unsold inventory. Everything in between tends to be the most expensive.
Sport-by-Sport Tips
- Preseason games are extremely cheap — often under $20 on StubHub — and still give you a full stadium experience.
- Early-season games for teams with a rough start see steep price drops as the season progresses.
- Conference championship and Wild Card games are often better value than the Super Bowl for the same playoff atmosphere.
- Home teams with losing records in December often have tickets available below face value.
- The NBA regular season runs 82 games — teams play a lot, so supply is high. Midseason weeknight games are your best bet for deals.
- Back-to-back game nights (when teams play two nights in a row) often mean star players sit out, which drops prices sharply on StubHub.
- First-round playoff tickets are often more affordable than Finals tickets and offer just as much excitement.
- Check StubHub 2 hours before tip-off for last-minute drops, especially for Eastern Conference teams in low-demand markets.
- MLB offers the best last-minute ticket value in all of sports. 162 games means supply far outstrips demand for most teams.
- Monday–Thursday games at non-competitive teams often have standing room available for under $10 on StubHub on game day.
- Bleacher seats and outfield sections are always cheaper and give you a great view of the outfield action.
- Avoid opening day, rivalry games (Yankees-Red Sox, Cubs-Cardinals), and late-season pennant race games — prices spike dramatically.
- NHL is the most undervalued live sports experience — the game is incredibly fast and exciting from anywhere in the arena.
- Non-playoff NHL games in smaller markets often have face-value tickets available right up to game time on Ticketmaster.
- The atmosphere at playoff games is unmatched. First-round series are often affordable compared to the intensity they deliver.
- Look for Tuesday/Wednesday games and early-season matchups for the best value.
Put These Tips to Work
Browse StubHub for last-minute deals or check Ticketmaster for face-value official listings.