Donnie and I love watching sports, playing fantasy sports, and, most of all, attending sporting events. We’re definitely not unique in that regard. Even the people I know who aren’t sports fans still enjoy spending an evening at the ballpark with family and friends.Watching sports is a great way for families to have fun together, while sharing important lessons about hard work, persistence, fair play, and teamwork. Unfortunately, many people feel they can’t enjoy live sporting events with their families, because the price of tickets is prohibitive.
I agree that tickets for many major athletic events are ridiculously expensive. However, that doesn’t mean you and your family can’t enjoy a night at the ballpark without breaking the bank. There are many reasonably priced options available to those of us who love sports, but hate high ticket prices.
Here are a few of my favorite tips.
- Go minor league. There are minor or developmental leagues for many major sports, including basketball, baseball, and hockey. Donnie and I particularly love going to minor league baseball games. Ticket prices for our local team, the Reading Phillies, start at $7, and food prices are a fraction of the cost you would pay at a bigger ballpark. The atmosphere at the games is fun, and extremely family friendly. Plus, we get to watch future Philadelphia Phillies begin their careers!
- Head back to school. The price of admission at high school or small college sporting events is usually miniscule, but the action can still be big. If you don’t already have a favorite school, check your local sports page to find out which teams are playing well, then pick up a schedule at the school’s athletic office.
- Bask in obscurity. Have you ever heard of the American Indoor Football League? How about the National Lacrosse League? Or the Major Indoor Soccer League? Believe it or not, these leagues all exist (and they all have passionate fans!) Learning about a new sport is fun for the whole family, and the prices can’t be beat. Tickets to see our local AIFL team, the Reading Express, start at $8. Even the most popular “obscure” sports league, the Arena Football League, caters to frugal fans by offering $13 tickets!
- Get the cheap seats. If you plan well in advance, you can usually snag $15-$20 tickets to most major league sporting events (except football, unfortunately). Your seats won’t be the greatest, but you’ll still get to enjoy the experience of a major league game. The key is to order tickets through team websites as far in advance as possible. Wait too long, and ticket brokers will have purchased all the seats.
Are sporting events part of your family’s budget? How do you save money on tickets? Share in the comments!
3 comments:
Yes, the ball games are a lot of fun. I live in Round Rock with the Round Rock Express. It is great fun to take the grandsons to the games. Monday night is $1.00 hot dogs. You can not beat that. Baseball and hot dogs...Roxie
Yes, the minor league games are so much fun! They usually have so many more "events" associated with them, like goofy activities between innings and lots of give-aways. We love going to them!
Good tips! I often forget about high school sports in my area. I have been taking my 6 year old son to watch some local HS basketball and it has been a blast and cheap! I wish we had a local minor legue baseball team in my town. Nothing better than spring air and baseball!
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