Pairing a Trip With a Big Game: What to Sort Out Before You Buy Tickets

A big game makes a great reason to travel. A conference tournament, a bowl game, a playoff series or a rivalry weekend can anchor a whole trip. It can also turn into a mess if the tickets are the only thing you have planned. Hotels near big events fill up, schedules shift, and the cost of getting it wrong is usually a seat you cannot use. Here is what to sort out before you pay for the first ticket.

Know what you are actually buying

Not all tickets are the same. Ask where the seats are, whether they are together, how they will be delivered and what happens if the event is postponed or moved. Buy only from sources you can verify, and be wary of anything that seems too easy for an event that is supposed to be sold out. If a price looks far below what other sellers are asking, ask why. A reputable seller can tell you plainly what you are getting. Get the details in writing, including the section, row and seat, before you pay.

Check the real shape of the schedule

Some events have fixed dates months in advance. Others, such as tournaments and playoffs, are set in stages, and the matchup or the time may not be known until days before. If your event works this way, find out when the schedule becomes final and look for travel plans that can handle a change. Flexible lodging terms matter more here than a slightly lower price. Also think about how many days you need. A single game may only need one night, but a tournament weekend with several games can stretch longer.

Book the room around the event, and budget the whole weekend

Lodging is often the hardest part of a game-day trip. Rooms near the venue go quickly and prices climb as the date approaches. Decide whether being close or being cheaper matters more to you. A hotel a bit farther out may be fine if it is easy to reach the venue, but check how you will actually get there on game day, because roads and trains can be crowded. Ask about parking, shuttles and the walk from the hotel to the gate.

Ticket prices grab the attention, but the weekend's total is what decides whether the trip is a good idea. Add up the tickets, lodging, travel to and from the city, parking or rides, food, and a cushion for the unexpected. Event weekends tend to push up the cost of nearby hotels and meals, so build in room for that. If the total is more than you want to spend, look at what you can trade: a game on a less popular day, a seat in a different section, or lodging farther away. It is better to adjust the plan early than to spend the weekend counting every expense.

Plan game day like an itinerary, especially with a group

Write out the day backward from kickoff or tip-off. When do the gates open? How long will it take to get through the entrance, park or get a ride? Where will your group eat before and after? Check the venue's rules on bags and other items before you leave home, since venues often have strict policies. Plan a meeting spot in case your group gets separated, and decide how you will get back to the hotel once everyone leaves at the same time.

Bringing friends, a booster club, a team or several families raises the stakes. Seats together get harder to find, rooms need to be near each other, and someone has to track who has paid. Set a deadline for final names, since tickets and hotel blocks usually need them. Decide how you will handle people who want to arrive early or leave late, and pick a time and place for everyone to meet before the event. The more people in the group, the earlier you should start.

Make it a real trip

• Add a day before or after to see the city, so the game is not the only reason to go.
• Keep one meal for somewhere local rather than near the stadium.
• Check for concerts, shows or other events that could affect hotel availability or traffic that weekend.
• Decide in advance who handles transportation, so no one is guessing at the airport.
• Save room in the budget for food, souvenirs and rides, which add up quickly.

Why game travel is Keith's territory

KBW Sports and Travel is built around this mix. Keith Wilson spent more than 30 years as a Head Varsity Boys Basketball Coach, and he has attended 29 NCAA Final Fours as well as other major sporting events, including Super Bowls and the World Series. The agency's site says it can help clients buy tickets to concerts, Broadway plays and major college and professional sporting events.

If a game is on your calendar, call Keith at 214 418 4232 before you buy tickets. Tell him the event, your group size and your budget, and ask what to line up around it.