Are you a huge NFL fan but can never make it to a game because the team you support is always full? Well, consider hitting the road to support your team. There are a number of places where teams don’t sell out week after week. Making the trip might mean getting a ticket. Or it could be that you have a season ticket and love the team so much that you want to see even more games. Going on a road trip might satisfy that urge.
You could plan the whole trip yourself. The first step, of course, is to make sure you can get a ticket to the game. (You don’t want to take the flight and rent a hotel room only to find out you can’t get a ticket once you get there.)
The easiest place to start is on your local team’s website. They will have links to buy tickets, including for away games. You can also go to the website of the team your club plays for. Just buy the tickets there online.
If both methods don’t work, check out the NFL Ticket Exchange. Your team’s website will have a link. It’s where fans who can’t make it to the game can put their tickets up for sale. You can also try third-party ticket companies like StubHub. Same deal for people who can’t make it to the game who resell their tickets.
In most cities, there are also ticket brokers. They also have access to tickets. Be prepared to pay extra for those tickets. The broker also needs to make a profit.
You have to be very careful who you are dealing with when it comes to ticket exchanges and brokers. Make sure they are legitimate. If the deal looks too good, be very, very careful. You don’t want to hand over your money, take the trip, and end up with fake tickets or no ticket at all.
It is important to know a little about the stadium you will be going to and where the seats are located. For example, in some stadiums, field-level seating at the 50-yard line sounds great. The only problem is that you will be on your feet the whole game because the seats in the front rows are so low that people have to stand up to see the players. So know your stadium.
Good, now you have a ticket. You will then need to make an airline reservation. Make sure you give yourself plenty of time. Don’t try to fly in game day or even out the same day unless it’s an early game and you’re on a late flight. Games can go on for a long time, getting to and from the stadium can be a nightmare and who knows what kind of delays there could be. It is best to travel the day before to the site and leave the next day. In addition, it will give you the opportunity to soak up the atmosphere of the city you are visiting.
Renting a car is a hassle. Yes, it will give you mobility but it can also be a headache. If you’re in a city you don’t know, you’d hate to get lost on your way to the game. Most stadiums have some form of public transportation to get to them. Some places are better than others, so check before you go.
And a good place to check is the hotel where you will be staying. They will know how to get to the stadium from the hotel. So after talking with them, you can make a decision about the car.
When choosing the hotel there are a number of criteria. Cost and location are the most important. If you’re a rabid fan, you might want to find out which hotel your team is staying at and stay there, too. However, it is likely to be expensive. NFL teams don’t stay in a cheap motel. You may want to find accommodation in a central area, that way there will be plenty of bars and restaurants to spread out, both before and after the game. If cost is a major concern, shop around for deals, but still make sure you can easily get to the stadium from the location.
Now if all that sounds like a lot of work, there is an easier way, think about travel packages. They do all the work and you just show up and enjoy the game. The best place to start, once again, is your team’s website. Usually, if you go to the page with the schedule, you will find a link to the travel packages. They will give you the option to choose hotels, tickets and more.
There are also tourism companies that organize travel packages. If you have a group this might be the way to go. They can get all the reservations you need. Tickets are usually included in travel packages, but be sure to double check.
It won’t be cheap, but traveling to see your team play can be a great experience.