The Cheapest Times of the Season to Buy Tickets (and When to Avoid)
Timing isn’t just about the day of the week or the hour of the day. Entire seasons have rhythms that affect ticket prices. If you’ve ever wondered why an early-season NBA game was affordable but the same seat in March cost double, you’ve already experienced how seasonality drives ticket prices.
This article is part of our Ticket Buying Playbook, Pingseat’s definitive guide to smarter ticket buying. Pair it with When Ticket Prices Drop and Why Ticket Prices Spike to understand how timing and context combine for maximum savings.
NBA: Early-Season Value, Playoff Premiums
NBA ticket prices tend to be lowest at the start of the season (October–November), before playoff implications and rivalry narratives build. According to SeatGeek, November tickets can be 20–30% cheaper than those in March or April.
Once playoff seeding tightens, prices spike quickly. ESPN often notes how late-season matchups between top contenders see resale values soar.
Best time to buy: Early-season midweek games, especially against non-rival opponents.
When to avoid: March and April, especially games with playoff stakes.
NFL: Midweek Listings and Non-Marquee Opponents
The NFL’s short season means demand is always high. But not all games are equal. Statista data shows tickets for marquee games (divisional rivalries, primetime) sell for 50%+ above average. Meanwhile, midseason games against weaker teams are often discounted.
Best time to buy: Midseason, weekday listings for games against struggling opponents.
When to avoid: Opening week (buzz-driven spikes) and late-season playoff-clinching games.
NCAA Football and Basketball: Overlooked Windows
College sports have unique rhythms. Early non-conference games in football and pre-conference basketball matchups are often undervalued. NCAA.com frequently highlights availability for these matchups at a fraction of rivalry game prices.
March Madness, of course, is a different story. According to CBS Sports, postseason demand can drive prices into the stratosphere.
Best time to buy: Early-season football games vs. non-ranked teams, January basketball before conference play heats up.
When to avoid: Bowl games, rivalry weeks, and March Madness.
MLB: Midweek Bargains in Long Seasons
With 162 games per team, MLB is built for bargains. Ticketmaster and VividSeats both report midweek games in April, May, and September as prime discount opportunities. Demand softens for weekday matchups without playoff implications.
Best time to buy: April weekday games, midseason weekday matchups vs. non-rivals.
When to avoid: Summer weekends, rivalry series, and September playoff races.
NHL: Cold Months Bring Hot Deals
The NHL season offers clear price patterns. Early fall games (October/November) tend to be cheaper before playoff races heat up. According to SeatGeek, winter weekday games — especially in December and January — often drop 20–30% below average.
Demand spikes in the spring as playoff implications grow. NHL.com ticket data shows prices for April games and the postseason surge rapidly, especially in hockey-first cities like Toronto, Boston, and Chicago.
Best time to buy: December and January weekday games against non-rival teams.
When to avoid: April games with playoff implications and the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
The Role of Holidays and Special Events
Ticket prices often spike around holidays (Thanksgiving NFL, Christmas NBA, Winter Classic in the NHL) because demand soars. The Wall Street Journal has covered how holiday matchups are consistently among the priciest of the season.
Best time to buy: Standard regular-season games not tied to holiday dates.
When to avoid: Christmas Day NBA, Thanksgiving NFL, NHL Winter Classic, rivalry weekends.
How Pingseat Helps You Navigate Seasonality
The challenge with seasonal price swings is staying on top of them. Most fans don’t have time to analyze dozens of schedules across leagues. That’s where Pingseat comes in. Our alerts let you set targets for specific games, sections, and budgets — and we notify you the moment prices align.
That means you don’t have to guess whether early-season NBA or midseason NHL is your best bet. Pingseat automates the process, so you always buy at the right time.
Pairing Seasonality With Timing and Alerts
Seasonality works best when combined with the strategies from When Ticket Prices Drop and How to Use Alerts to Snatch Bargains Without Settling for Bad Seats. For example:
- NBA tickets in November + Tuesday mid-morning search = steep discounts.
- NHL weekday in January + Pingseat alert = best chance for under-market seats.
- NCAA January basketball + weak opponent = cheap but quality seats.
Key Takeaways
- Each sport has seasonal rhythms that affect ticket prices.
- Early-season NBA and midseason NHL games are typically cheaper.
- Holiday games, rivalry weeks, and playoffs are almost always premium-priced.
- Pingseat automates alerts so you buy at the cheapest point of the season without constant monitoring.
Next Steps
Ready to stop guessing and start saving? Join Pingseat today and let our system track seasonal dips for you. Then continue your journey with the full Ticket Buying Playbook, including: