With the NBA season now underway, many fans are starting to look for tickets to upcoming games. A common question is whether ticket prices will drop as the event date gets closer. There are a few factors that impact NBA ticket prices leading up to game day.
Demand and Opponent
The biggest influence on NBA ticket prices is demand. Games against rivals or top teams like the Lakers and Warriors tend to have the highest demand. Prices for marquee matchups are likely to hold steady or even increase closer to the game. Less in-demand games against lower profile opponents have a better chance of seeing ticket price drops. But even here, prices are unlikely to decrease dramatically.
Other factors like team performance and playoff implications will impact demand as the season goes on. For example, if a projected playoff team starts losing and falls out of contention, demand and prices for their games will decrease. The opposite happens for surprise winning teams gaining playoff spots later in the season.
Day of Week
NBA games are played Thursdays through Sundays during the regular season. Weekend games, especially Friday and Saturday nights, tend to be the most in-demand and expensive. There is little chance prices for weekend NBA games will fall very much, even close to the event. Midweek games on Thursdays and Sundays have the best opportunity for price drops leading up to game day.
Ticket Resale Market
The secondary ticket market is where most NBA tickets are resold. As game day approaches, season ticket holders and other sellers lower prices to recoup some costs rather than eat the entire ticket. This can sometimes lead to deals, even on typically high-demand games. But for the most part, massive last minute drops only happen when sellers panic that they won’t be able to sell their unused tickets at all.
Last Minute Deals
In rare instances, unsold ticket inventory gets released at the last minute by teams and the secondary market. This occurs when the local team and secondary sellers misjudge demand. If this happens, prices can see large drops within 24-48 hours of tipoff as they try to get some revenue from the seats. Fans who can handle the uncertainty and risk can find great deals. But it’s a gamble that relies on the team or sellers overestimating demand.
Best Days to Buy
For most games, the earliest you can buy offers the best prices and selection. But for some midweek and low-demand games, waiting until a week or less before the game can yield lower prices. Just keep in mind that with last minute buying, you risk missing out on seats altogether.
Here is a table summarizing the best time to buy NBA tickets for the lowest prices:
| Game Day | Best Time to Buy |
|---|---|
| Friday or Saturday Primetime | At the on-sale date months before the season |
| Weekend Afternoon | At least 2-3 weeks before game day |
| Sunday or Thursday | 1-2 weeks before game day |
| Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday | Up to 1 week before game day |
Where to Buy
Season ticket holders resell a majority of NBA tickets on secondary marketplaces like VividSeats, StubHub, SeatGeek, and Ticketmaster. Buying directly from the team box office is also an option for some games. Joining fan ticket exchanges and forums like your team’s subreddit can uncover deals from season ticket holders looking to sell some of their games.
No matter where you decide to get NBA tickets, act fast once you see a good deal. With most teams only hosting 41 regular season home games, demand for tickets is high in any given city. Being flexible on seat location can help you find the best discounts. Upper deck corners and ends provide the cheapest entry points. Don’t wait too long or you may miss out entirely.
Factors That May Increase Prices
While you can sometimes get a deal on NBA tickets leading up to the event, there are a few situations where ticket prices actually increase, even at the last minute:
– A star player returns from injury for a game
– Team goes on a long winning streak
– Late season playoff push
– Major trade happens bringing excitement for a “new look” team
– Young player breaks out with buzzworthy performances
– All-Star players come to town that don’t visit often (like Warriors with Steph Curry)
If any of the above happens leading up to a game, demand can actually spike and result in rising prices. Buy early if it looks like one of these scenarios may unfold.
Beating Dynamic Pricing
Many NBA teams and ticket resellers use dynamic pricing algorithms. This means ticket prices adjust automatically based on current demand and inventory levels. To beat dynamic pricing:
– Buy early before the algorithms have enough data to increase prices
– Buy on off-peak days/times when fewer fans are shopping for tickets
– Avoid shopping for tickets on weekends when more people are looking and prices spike
Buying at the right time is key to securing the best ticket prices and avoiding dynamic price hikes.
Best Methods for Getting Cheap NBA Tickets
Beyond buying at the optimal time, there are some other tricks fans use to get cheaper NBA tickets:
– Sign up for team and venue insider deals and presales
– Follow NBA ticket sellers on social media for special offers
– Join team fan clubs and groups that have ticket allotments or resale forums
– Shop for tickets last minute outside the arena from people with extras
– Search for unused player ticket allotments released last minute
– Look for free ticket giveaways and contests on team and radio stations
It takes some persistence and creativity, but scoring affordably priced NBA tickets is very doable. Avoiding the most in-demand games against the best opponents will go a long way towards saving money.
Conclusion
While NBA tickets do get cheaper for some games as the event date approaches, significant drops only occur under the right conditions. For high-demand matchups against elite teams, prices will remain steady or even increase for last minute tickets.
Your best bet is to buy NBA tickets early for the games you really want to attend. For lower profile games, keep an eye on prices and be ready to purchase 1-2 weeks before if you see tickets start to drop. Join team forums and pay attention to presales to get the best deals.
Following these tips will help you find the cheapest NBA tickets out there. The last thing you want is to miss out entirely because you waited too long to buy. While snagging a great last minute deal can happen occasionally, buying early is the safest way to guarantee you’ll get into the game.
