If you want to buy NBA tickets online or at the box office, know that there are many options. Some tickets will be expensive, some cheap, some seats will be the best seats available, some tickets will be for cheap seats, and season tickets will probabley get you good seats or better. The National Basketball Association, better known as the NBA, is made up of thirty teams from all around the United States, with one team in Canada. It attracts millions of fans to its games each year. Maybe you want to be one of them. The slogan is, "It's Fantastic," and it can be. Professional NBA basketball, live and in person, can be a great experience. But getting NBA tickets for seat at a sold out arena can be a challenge. Finding a good deal can be even more difficult.
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NBA Ticket Websites
Getting tickets depends on a lot of factors. Finding some ticket sales can be easy. But getting tickets to see winning teams is usually more difficult. When teams like the LA Lakers or the Boston Celtics come to town, the tickets are tougher to get as well. The latest team that tends to sell-out, even on the road, is the Miami Heat with LaBron James. But don't give up hope - there are ways.
There are websites and brokers that will be happy to help you score that a great deal on that ticket. A few things to remember: The more you pay, the better the seat and most importantly know whom you're dealing with. Don't get ripped off by the guy, or the website claiming to have the best tickets at super low prices. Make sure they really have the tickets. If you are booking a travel package, maybe a playoff package, make sure your agent is reputable.
NBA Travel Deals
The first place to start is your basketball team's website. Believe it or not, they'll have the best prices. Now buying season tickets is one way to make sure you get the seats you want, but season tickets may be a little pricy. For single game tickets the team will probably have the better deals since most other sites will have some sort of markup
There are many legitimate secondary sites such as StubHub and Basketballonline. Again, be sure of the site you are dealing with. Do some research to make sure the site can deliver the tickets you want.
If your team sells out at home all the time, think about taking a road trip. Sometimes it is easier to get a ticket from another team. Again, the team website is a good place to start. It will probably have a link to a travel agency that can take care of everything for you, from plane tickets to hotel, car and game tickets.
Also look around for other travel agencies that provide package deals. You can always do all the booking yourself and that may, or may not, save you a few bucks, but hitting the road can sometimes be a great way to see the NBA.
Cheap and Discount Tickets
Be very careful when it comes to people and places that claim they have discount tickets. Yes, there are some teams that are begging to fill seats but for the most part no one is going to sell a ticket for less than face value or at a loss.
Another warning is about so-called scalpers. Those are the people who buy and sell tickets outside the arena. The closer you get to game time, the lower their prices might go, but beware the tickets could be fake. In addition, in some places both buying and selling tickets can be illegal. Consider yourself warned.
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NBA Ticket Brokers and Ticket Exchanges
In most cities there are brokers. They buy big blocks of tickets and resell them. They also act as ticket exchanges for people who have tickets and can't use them for one reason or another. Check out a broker before you buy. Make sure they are legit.
Much of the exchange, but not all, business of brokers has been taken over by the teams themselves and by websites such as StubHub and Basketballonline. Check the team websites as there will often be a link to an exchange. If you team doesn't sell out often, they may not provide that function since they'd rather sell a new ticket. Then a good broker or other websites will be your best bet.
NBA Playoff Tickets
Season ticket holders get the first shot at playoff tickets. But if you aren't a season ticket holder don't despair you can still get tickets. They may be expensive, but you can get them. First again is the team website or box office.
In the playoffs, exchange sites and brokers play a larger role. Many season ticket holders will buy the full allotment they are allowed and then resell the extra tickets. Again, consider traveling for the playoffs but be forewarned the expense will be even more than the regular season. In this case, a reputable travel agency may be the best way to go.
You can visit each of the team's website for more information on buying tickets or sports gear such as jerseys, armbands, etc. For information on NBA travel packages, playoff tickets or special drawings for tickets, try the NBA's site. With all these options, you can follow your favorite basketball team both home and away.
Here's a list of all the teams, their division and the cities in which they are located.
In the Eastern Conference - Atlantic division:
- Boston Celtics
- New Jersey Nets
- New York Knicks - see if you can get special NYC travel deals
- Philadelphia 76ers
- Toronto Raptors
In the Eastern Conference - Central division:
- Chicago Bulls
- Cleveland Cavaliers
- Detroit Pistons
- Indiana Pacers
- Milwaukee Bucks
In the Eastern Conference - Southeast division:
- Atlanta Hawks
- Charlotte Bobcats
- Miami Heat
- Orlando Magic
- Washington Wizards
In the Western Conference - Southwest division:
- Dallas Mavericks
- Houston Rockets
- Memphis Grizzlies
- New Orleans Hornets
- San Antonio Spurs
In the Western Conference - Northwest division:
- Denver Nuggets
- Minnesota Timberwolves
- Portland Trail Blazers
- Oklahoma City Thunder
- Utah Jazz
In the Western Conference - Pacific division:
- Golden State Warriors
- Los Angeles Clippers
- Los Angeles Lakers
- Phoenix Suns
- Sacramento Kings
