Tips for Getting the Best Deal on NFL Tickets
The 2024 NFL season has officially started, and millions of people are making plans to attend a game this season.
According to a study published by the Sports Business Journal, there were 18.9 million tickets purchased during the 2023 season, which was up from the year before. On average, NFL games had 69,524 people in attendance, the highest number since the Sports Business Journal started collecting that data in 2004.
This means that NFL games are more popular than they’ve ever been before, which comes as no surprise.
When you look at the TV ratings and how they’ve increased year over year, it’s evident that more people are watching professional football than ever before. The NFL Is the most popular major sport in the United States, and there’s not really a close second.
Are you interested in catching an NFL game in person during the 2024 season?
If so, it’s important to know how to get deals on NFL tickets. Saving on NFL tickets is a great way to enjoy the game without breaking the bank, and it also helps you hang on to some money to spend on souvenirs to commemorate your day.
Let’s take a look at the best way to get NFL ticket deals for 2024.
Buy Early or Buy Late
Timing is everything when it comes to getting the best deals on NFL tickets. Ideally, you would grab your tickets during the offseason, right around the time that the NFL releases the schedule.
Obviously, that date has come and gone for the 2024 season, but that doesn’t mean that timing isn’t important. Since we’re past the point of buying early, you may have to be willing to buy late. And when we say late, we mean really, really late.
While NFL games are usually the hottest ticket in town, they don’t all sell out months in advance. With this in mind, it’s often a good idea to grab your ticket (or tickets) within 24 to 48 hours of the game’s scheduled kickoff. Stadiums will typically lower prices significantly in the days leading up to kickoff to try to get a sellout, which gives you a great chance to grab a discounted ticket.
If you can’t find a ticket at the last minute for a game you want to see in 2024, be willing to wait until the 2025 season and make your ticket purchase in the offseason. Timing is everything when it comes to getting a good deal on your NFL tickets.
Choose Your Game Wisely
Some games have higher ticket prices than others based on the matchup. For instance, if you want to see the Kansas City Chiefs play the San Francisco 49ers in a Super Bowl rematch, you’re going to spend around $265 for the cheapest tickets.
However, you can find a less sought-after matchup for significantly less money.
Every NFL team has games on its schedule that are considered more important than others, at least when it comes to ticket prices.
For instance, a game between the Green Bay Packers and the Chicago Bears will typically cost more than catching a game between the Packers and the New Orleans Saints. This is because the Packers and Bears are the oldest rivalry in the NFL, so a premium is placed on those tickets.
If there’s a game that you just have to see live, you may need to be prepared to pay more than you want to pay. However, if your goal is just to experience your favorite team in person, spend some time looking at their schedule and try to choose a game that doesn’t have huge divisional stakes and isn’t a rivalry.
Avoiding Primetime Games
Every week of the NFL season includes at least three primetime games. Thursday Night Football, Sunday Night Football, and Monday Night Football are often some of the biggest matchups of the week.
Since every team is required to play a Thursday game, some of these games aren’t as high-stakes as those on Sunday and Monday nights, though.
If you want to save some money on your tickets, try to avoid catching these primetime games in person. Monday Night Football is one of the longest-standing NFL traditions, and the league is careful to put marquee matchups on its biggest game of the week. These marquee matchups lead to higher ticket prices.
Typically, you can save some money by trying to catch a game that is going to air at 1 PM Eastern on Sunday afternoon, as that’s the most crowded part of the weekly TV schedule.
Consider Your Location
You may also want to consider catching your favorite team in a road game instead of seeing them at home. This is even true if your favorite team is your hometown team.
While there’s certainly nothing wrong with being in a stadium with 65,000 like-minded people, cheering the home team to victory, you might be able to save some money by catching your squad in a road game.
Let’s revisit the Kansas City Chiefs, who are the hottest ticket in the game. Not only are they in pursuit of their third straight Super Bowl win, a feat which would make them the first to ever threepeat, but Patrick Mahomes is widely considered the best player in the world.
Additionally, now that Taylor Swift attends many home games in support of her boyfriend, Travis Kelce, ticket prices at Arrowhead Stadium have never been higher than they are right now.
A quick glance at the Chiefs 2024 schedule can give you some ideas about games that you may be able to catch for less money.
For example, the Chiefs visit the Carolina Panthers in November, in a game that’s expected to be a blowout. Depending on how you manage your travel plans, you may be able to catch a Chiefs game in Charlotte, North Carolina for much less money than you’d spend by going to Arrowhead Stadium.
Be willing to catch a road game if you’re looking to save some cash.
Utilize the Secondary Market
In addition to waiting until closer to kickoff, don’t be afraid to use the secondary market. No, this doesn’t mean that you meet a scalper in a dark alley near the stadium.
In today’s world, ticket resellers use websites like SeatGeek and StubHub to unload their tickets. Buying off the secondary market through these platforms is a great way to save some money, especially when you’re getting closer to game time.
It’s important to be choosy when shopping online for resell tickets. Only buy your tickets from websites that offer refunds and returns.
While most websites have security measures in place that protect buyers from buying fake tickets, scammers work tirelessly to circumvent those measures. When shopping the secondary market online, be sure to only purchase tickets that are guaranteed or certified by the platform you’re buying from.
Follow and Subscribe
In our digital world, NFL teams are using email mailing lists and social media platforms to stay connected to their fans.
With this in mind, you can get access to all sorts of discount codes and flash sales by signing up for NFL team mailing lists and following them on their various social media platforms.
You’re probably not going to get a discount code for tickets to a marquee matchup because teams know those games will sell out regardless.
However, it’s very possible to find some discount codes that come straight from the teams for games that may not have the national appeal that some others have. Being connected to your favorite team is a great way to nab a deal on your 2024 NFL tickets.
Get In the Game
Watching the NFL in person is one of the most enjoyable ways to embrace your fandom and support your favorite players.
With these tips, you can be sure to get a great deal on your tickets. Enjoy supporting your favorite squad this season!