When Is the Best Time to Buy Game Tickets?
An analysis of multiple years of data.
Going to a Raider game is an invigorating experience.
The energy and roar of the diehard crowd, the juice that flows through the corridors as you walk around, and the hope & good times that percolate through every tailgate – watching the Silver & Black take the field is an awesome thing to behold.
When Allegiant Stadium opened and we had the 1st season with fans, I was blown away by how much ticket prices had dropped for the 1st & 2nd ever home games in Allegiant Stadium. When the Ravens tickets first dropped (which was not only the first game with fans, but also the season opener), it would’ve cost you thousands of dollars to get seats. Seats that I later saw sell for barely a couple hundred bucks (≤ $250/ea) – including fees!
Blown away, I knew I had to figure out how to capture this data to help fans save their hard earned cash from greedy scalpers. And so that’s what I did. The following is the data from every game since then. With multiple seasons of data, and 1 where we went to the playoffs & another where we flopped hard, we can also see the influence that meta events have on ticket prices: like the 2021 Week 18 Chargers game with the playoffs on the line.
So everyone, let’s start saving on ticket funds and redirecting that cash to go on more vacations, enjoying more food & beverages at the games, and much more! A dollar saved is a dollar earned – now let’s put some money in your pocket.
* Among all ticket services, I’ve found Ticketmaster to have the lowest prices. Others claim lower prices, but after fees almost always end up more expensive. I’ve checked every single service ad nauseum. I have no doubt you will hear someone claim to have gotten some steal elsewhere, but for whatever it’s worth, after years of collecting and analyzing this data, I personally recommend Ticketmaster to my friends & family. Of course it doesn’t hurt to quickly check, but always be sure to compare what your final price will be after fees.
TABLE OF CONTENTS:
(tap to skip to game ticket data || then simply tap game title to return to Table of Contents once there)
2022
2021
——————————
► CLOSING WORDS ◄
¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯
2022 Season
Week 2 vs. Arizona Cardinals (2022 Season)
Entering the Game:
Raiders: 0–1, #11 Seed || Cardinals: 0–1, #16 Seed
We had just lost to the Chargers
Notable Events:
This was the 1st Game at Allegiant Stadium of the Josh McDaniels & Dave Ziegler era.
HYPE CHECK:
I’ll be providing background (Record & Seed #s) for added context to show what effect “bigger picture” happenings have on ticket prices.
Heavyweight fights can be big ticket events that start to draw big crowds.
But will even these events drop significantly? Does it make any sense at all to buy them early? Will prices drop no matter what? What stops price drops?
From –4 Wks to –2 Wks the season hadn’t started yet, so seedings were N/A yet.
After losing to LAC, from –6 Days on we were 0–1 (#11 Seed) as we rolled in to face the Cardinals who were 0–1 (#16 Seed).
Week 4 vs. Denver Broncos (2022 Season)
Entering the Game:
Raiders: 0–3, #16 Seed || Broncos: 2–1, #5 Seed
We had just lost to the Titans
Notable Events:
The team was reeling after an 0–3 start & staring a cold historical fact in the face – since 1980 only 6 times had a team ever made the playoffs after starting 0–3. The copium flowed through the Nation though, with hope that the team just needed to find its footing first before hitting the gas in a completely new scheme on both Offense & Defense. The team also had 28 new players when the season started that weren’t here prior.
HYPE CHECK:
At –4 Wks the season hadn’t started yet.
At –3 Wks we were 0–1 (#11 Seed) || Broncos were 0–1 (#14 Seed)
At –13 Days we were 0–2 (#16 Seed) || Broncos were 1–1 (#10 Seed)
–1 Wk was just before our Week 3 game kicked off (to see a better before/after effect of the 0–3 stat). Records & seedings the same as above.
After losing to TEN in Week 3, from –6 Days on we were now 0–3 (#16 Seed) as we rolled in to face the Broncos who were 2–1 (#5 Seed).
Week 7 vs. Houston Texans (2022 Season)
Entering the Game:
Raiders: 1–4, #16 Seed || Texans: 1–3–1, #15 Seed
Coming off a BYE Week.
Prior to that we’d just lost to the Chiefs in Week 5.
Notable Events:
This game serves as an interesting insight into what a “Toilet Bowl” game yields on ticket prices. There couldn’t have been a less competitive game, with the #16 Seed facing off against the #15 Seed. The Texans were nearly void of talent across their whole team. Both teams ended up picking in the Top 7 of the NFL Draft.
__________
Game tickets actually ended up dropping to below face value, even after fees were included.
HYPE CHECK:
At –6 Wks we were 0–1 (#11 Seed) || Texans were 0–0–1 (#9 Seed)
At –5 Wks we were 0–2 (#16 Seed) || Texans were 0–1–1 (#12 Seed)
–4 Wks was just before our Week 3 game kicked off (to see a better before/after effect of the 0–3 stat). Records & seedings same as above.
At –3 Wks we were 0–3 (#16 Seed) || Texans were 0–2–1 (#15 Seed)
At –19 Days we were 1–3 (#13 Seed) || Texans were 0–3–1 (#16 Seed)
At –2 Wks we were 1–3 (#13 Seed) || Texans were 0–3–1 (#16 Seed)
Coming off our BYE Week, from –1 Wk on we were 1–4 (#16 Seed) as we rolled in to face the Texans who were 1–3–1 (#15 Seed).
Week 10 vs. Indianapolis Colts (2022 Season)
Entering the Game:
Raiders: 2–6, #14 Seed || Colts: 3–5–1, #10 Seed
We had just lost to the Jaguars, completely blowing the game.
Notable Events:
We had just blown the 3rd lead in the season of 17 or more points, against the Jaguars 7 days before this game.
At –6 Days from the game, the Colts HC Frank Reich was fired and replaced with Jeff Saturday, who’d never coached a game at any level.
At –3 Days, questions on if we were tanking came to the foreground as Blake Martinez suddenly retired out of nowhere and the team placed both Hunter Renfrow AND Darren Waller on Injured Reserve, guaranteeing we’d be without them for at least another 4 games.. two of which were against Divisional opponents.
HYPE CHECK:
At –9 Wks we were 0–1 (#11 Seed) || Colts were 0–0–1 (#9 Seed)
At –8 Wks we were 0–2 (#16 Seed) || Colts were 0–1–1 (#13 Seed)
At – 7 Wks we were 0–3 (#16 Seed) || Colts were 1–1–1 (#8 Seed)
–6 Wks was just before our Week 4 game kicked off (to see the effect a Win would have after starting 0–3). Records & seedings same as above.
At –5 Wks we were 1–3 (#13 Seed) || Colts were 1–2–1 (#12 Seed)
At –4 Wks we were 1–4 (#15 Seed) || Colts were 2–2–1 (#8 Seed)
At –3 Wks we were 2–4 (#11 Seed) || Colts were 3–3–1 (#9 Seed)
At –2 Wks we were 2–5 (#13 Seed) || Colts were 3–4–1 (#10 Seed)
After losing to weak NO (shut out 24-0), from –1 Week on we were 2–6 (#14 Seed) as we rolled in to face the Colts who were 3–5–1 (#10 Seed).
Week 13 vs. Los Angeles Chargers (2022 Season)
Entering the Game:
Raiders: 4–7, #12 Seed || Chargers: 6–5, #9 Seed
We had just beat the Seahawks, in an epic overtime finish.
Notable Events:
We had been picking up steam in recent weeks, and had just won a big shootout against the hot Seahawks, walking away with a 40-34 win in OT as Josh Jacobs blasted off a huge 86 yard run to stun the Seattle crowd.
HYPE CHECK:
At –12 Wks we were 0–1 (#11 Seed) || Chargers were 1–0 (#2 Seed)
At –11 Wks we were 0–2 (#16 Seed) || Chargers were 1–1 (#9 Seed)
At – 10 Wks we were 0–3 (#16 Seed) || Chargers were 1–2 (#14 Seed)
–9 Wks was just before our Week 4 game kicked off (to see the effect a Win would have after starting 0–3). Records & seedings same as above.
At –8 Wks we were 1–3 (#13 Seed) || Chargers were 2–2 (#10 Seed)
At –7 Wks we were 1–4 (#15 Seed) || Chargers were 3–2 (#7 Seed)
At –6 Wks we were 2–4 (#11 Seed) || Chargers were 4–3 (#7 Seed)
At –5 Wks we were 2–5 (#13 Seed) || Chargers were 4–3 (#7 Seed)
At –4 Wks we were 2–6 (#14 Seed) || Chargers were 5–3 (#7 Seed)
At –3 Wks we were 2–7 (#15 Seed) || Chargers were 5–4 (#8 Seed)
At –2 Wks we were 3–7 (#12 Seed) || Chargers were 5–5 (#9 Seed)
–1 Wk was grabbed before our Week 12 game vs SEA finished, to again see what a Win could do. Records & seedings same as above.
After beating SEA, from –6 Days on we were 4–7 (#12 Seed) as we rolled in to face the Chargers who were 6–5 (#9 Seed).
Week 15 vs. New England Patriots (2022 Season)
Entering the Game:
Raiders: 5–8, #12 Seed || Patriots: 7–6, #7 Seed
We had just somehow lost to the Rams
Notable Events:
Just the week before, we’d managed to somehow lose to the Rams who’d barely picked up Baker Mayfield 2 days before playing us. By this point in the season, utterly embarrassing collapses had become way too normalized. Our Silver & Black souls had started to callus.
HYPE CHECK:
At –14 Wks we were 0–1 (#11 Seed) || Patriots were 0–1 (#12 Seed)
At –13 Wks we were 0–2 (#16 Seed) || Patriots were 1–1 (#7 Seed)
At – 12 Wks we were 0–3 (#16 Seed) || Patriots were 1–2 (#10 Seed)
–11 Wks was just before our Week 4 game kicked off (to see the effect a Win would have after starting 0–3). Records & seedings same as above.
At –10 Wks we were 1–3 (#13 Seed) || Patriots were 1–3 (#14 Seed)
At –9 Wks we were 1–4 (#15 Seed) || Patriots were 2–3 (#11 Seed)
At –8 Wks we were 2–4 (#11 Seed) || Patriots were 3–4 (#10 Seed)
At –7 Wks we were 2–5 (#13 Seed) || Patriots were 4–4 (#8 Seed)
At –6 Wks we were 2–6 (#14 Seed) || Patriots were 5–4 (#8 Seed)
At –5 Wks we were 2–7 (#15 Seed) || Patriots were 5–4 (#7 Seed)
At –4 Wks we were 3–7 (#12 Seed) || Patriots were 6–4 (#6 Seed)
At –3 Wks we were 4–7 (#12 Seed) || Patriots were 6–5 (#8 Seed)
At –2 Wks we were 5–7 (#10 Seed) || Patriots were 6–6 (#8 Seed)
After somehow losing to LAR, from –6 Days on we were 5–8 (#11 Seed) as we rolled in to face the Patriots who were 7–6 (#7 Seed).
Week 17 vs. San Francisco 49ers (2022 Season)
Entering the Game:
Raiders: 6–9, #12 Seed || 49ers: 11–4, #3 Seed
We had now just somehow lost to the Steelers.
Notable Events:
The “Battle of the Bay!”
At –4 Days we’d benched Derek Carr.
The overwhelming sentiment was we were just phoning it in now, and not even trying anymore.
HYPE CHECK:
At –16 Wks we were 0–1 (#11 Seed) || 49ers were 0–1 (#10 Seed)
At –15 Wks we were 0–2 (#16 Seed) || 49ers were 1–1 (#4 Seed)
At – 14 Wks we were 0–3 (#16 Seed) || 49ers were 1–2 (#9 Seed)
–13 Wks was just before our Week 4 game kicked off (to see the effect a Win would have after starting 0–3). Records & seedings same as above.
At –12 Wks we were 1–3 (#13 Seed) || 49ers were 2–2 (#4 Seed)
At –11 Wks we were 1–4 (#15 Seed) || 49ers were 3–2 (#4 Seed)
At –10 Wks we were 2–4 (#11 Seed) || 49ers were 3–4 (#8 Seed)
At –9 Wks we were 2–5 (#13 Seed) || 49ers were 4–4 (#7 Seed)
At –8 Wks we were 2–6 (#14 Seed) || 49ers were 4–4 (#7 Seed)
At –7 Wks we were 2–7 (#15 Seed) || 49ers were 5–4 (#7 Seed)
At –6 Wks we were 3–7 (#12 Seed) || 49ers were 6–4 (#3 Seed)
At –5 Wks we were 4–7 (#12 Seed) || 49ers were 7–4 (#3 Seed)
At –4 Wks we were 5–7 (#10 Seed) || 49ers were 8–4 (#3 Seed)
At –3 Wks we were 5–8 (#11 Seed) || 49ers were 9–4 (#3 Seed)
At –2 Wks we were 6–8 (#11 Seed) || 49ers were 10–4 (#3 Seed)
After somehow losing to PIT, from –6 Days on we were 6–9 (#12 Seed) as we rolled in to face the 49ers who were 11–4 (#3 Seed).
Week 18 vs. Kansas City Chiefs (2022 Season)
Entering the Game:
Raiders: 6–10, #13 Seed || Chiefs: 13–3, #1 Seed
We had just lost to the 49ers
Notable Events:
At –10 Days we’d benched Derek Carr that morning, about 8 hrs prior.
At –5 Days our playoff hopes – which would’ve required an insane series of luck – were officially over after losing to SF.
HYPE CHECK:
At –17 Wks we were 0–1 (#11 Seed) || Chiefs were 1–0 (#6 Seed)
At –16 Wks we were 0–2 (#16 Seed) || Chiefs were 2–0 (#4 Seed)
At – 15 Wks we were 0–3 (#16 Seed) || Chiefs were 2–1 (#3 Seed)
–14 Wks was just before our Week 4 game kicked off (to see the effect a Win would have after starting 0–3). Records & seedings same as above.
At –13 Wks we were 1–3 (#13 Seed) || Chiefs were 3–1 (#2 Seed)
At –12 Wks we were 1–4 (#15 Seed) || Chiefs were 4–1 (#2 Seed)
At –11 Wks we were 2–4 (#11 Seed) || Chiefs were 5–2 (#2 Seed)
At –10 Wks we were 2–5 (#13 Seed) || Chiefs were 5–2 (#3 Seed)
At –9 Wks we were 2–6 (#14 Seed) || Chiefs were 6–2 (#2 Seed)
At –8 Wks we were 2–7 (#15 Seed) || Chiefs were 7–2 (#1 Seed)
At –7 Wks we were 3–7 (#12 Seed) || Chiefs were 8–2 (#1 Seed)
At –6 Wks we were 4–7 (#12 Seed) || Chiefs were 9–2 (#1 Seed)
At –5 Wks we were 5–7 (#10 Seed) || Chiefs were 9–3 (#2 Seed)
At –4 Wks we were 5–8 (#11 Seed) || Chiefs were 10–3 (#2 Seed)
At –3 Wks we were 6–8 (#11 Seed) || Chiefs were 11–3 (#2 Seed)
At –2 Wks we were 6–9 (#12 Seed) || Chiefs were 12–3 (#2 Seed)
At –10 Days we’d benched Carr that morning, about 8 hrs prior.
At –8 Days it’d been 48 hrs since Carr was benched. This was grabbed to see the impact emotions have on price drops, and how much (& when) prices rebound.
After losing to SF, from –5 Days on our last playoff hopes were officially over and we were 6–10 (#13 Seed) as we went to face the Chiefs (13–3, #1 Seed).
::: BONUS :::
Week 1 vs. Los Angeles Chargers AT SoFi Stadium (2022 Season)
Entering the Game:
This was the Season Opener and as such, neither team had a record nor seeding.
TIP:
In researching Chargers tickets for SoFi Stadium, I discovered a pricing loophole that some fans are aware of. For whatever reason, if you visit Ticketmaster through the link on the Chargers website, the prices on tickets are lower.
On investigating this, I resolved that there are 2 specific URL parameters that are needed to trigger the price drop:
you need the “&brand=” parameter, and the “&artistid=” parameter.
The “&artistid=” needs set equal to the Chargers’ ID (806013 when I investigated)
The “&brand=” field appears to affect the styling of the page, but for some reason is required to ‘lock in’ the lower prices.
While the artistid field has to be set to the Chargers’, the brand field for whatever reason does not – but it does need to be in the URL.
None of the other 7+ fields in the URL are needed.
HYPE CHECK:
As this was the Season Opener, every single check occurred before either team had any record or seeding.
2021 Season
Week 5 vs. Chicago Bears (2021 Season)
Entering the Game:
Raiders: 3–1, #5 Seed || Bears: 2–2, #8 Seed
Had just lost to the Chargers
Notable Events:
Entering the game, the Gruden emails had just come to light. We were looking very hot, having already knocked off 3 teams that’d been in the playoffs the year before. Not long after this game, Gruden resigned. Questions abound on how distracted the team & coaches were.
HYPE CHECK:
At –8 Days we were the #1 Seed. After losing to LAC, from –5 Days on we were the #5 Seed.
Week 7 vs. Philadelphia Eagles (2021 Season)
Entering the Game:
Raiders: 4–2, #6 Seed || Eagles: 2–4, #13 Seed
We had just beat the Broncos
Notable Events:
This ended up being the last game Henry Ruggs played as a Raider.
At –12 Days, Gruden had resigned the night before.
HYPE CHECK:
At –22 Days we were 3–0 (#1 Seed) || Eagles were 1–2 (#10 Seed)
At –19 Days we were 3–1 (#5 Seed) || Eagles were 1–3 (#13 Seed)
At –12 Days we were 3–2 (#6 Seed) || Eagles were 2–3 (#11 Seed)
After beating DEN, from –6 Days on we were 4–2 (#6 Seed) as we rolled in to face the Eagles who were 2–4 (#13 Seed).
Week 10 vs. Kansas City Chiefs (2021 Season)
Entering the Game:
Raiders: 5–3, #5 Seed || Chiefs: 5–4, #8 Seed
Coming off a BYE Week.
Prior to that we’d lost to the Giants. Patrick Graham’s defense had stifled us, though we were now in a freefall without Ruggs.
Notable Events:
At –33 Days, Gruden had resigned the night before.
At –11 Days, Henry Ruggs was no longer part of the team (released the day before).
At –5 Days, Damon Arnette was also no longer part of the team (released the day before).
HYPE CHECK:
At –43 Days we were 3–0 (#1 Seed) || Chiefs were 1–2 (#11 Seed)
At –40 Days we were 3–1 (#5 Seed) || Chiefs were 2–2 (#9 Seed)
At –33 Days we were 3–2 (#6 Seed) || Chiefs were 2–3 (#11 Seed)
At –27 Days we were 4–2 (#6 Seed) || Chiefs were 3–3 (#9 Seed)
At –20 Days we were 5–2 (#2 Seed) || Chiefs were 3–4 (#11 Seed)
At –11 Days we were 5–2 (#2 Seed) || Chiefs were 4–4 (#9 Seed)
After losing to NYG, from –5 Days on we were 5–3 (#5 Seed) as we rolled in to face the Chiefs who were 5–4 (#8 Seed).
Week 11 vs. Cincinnati Bengals (2021 Season)
Entering the Game:
Raiders: 5–4, #8 Seed || Bengals: 5–4, #9 Seed
Had just lost to the Chiefs.
Notable Events:
At –40 Days, Gruden had resigned the night before.
At –18 Days, Henry Ruggs was no longer on the team (released day before).
At –6 Days, Damon Arnette was also no longer on the team (released week before).
HYPE CHECK:
At –50 Days we were 3–0 (#1 Seed) || Bengals were 2–1 (#2 Seed)
At –47 Days we were 3–1 (#5 Seed) || Bengals were 3–1 (#2 Seed)
At –40 Days we were 3–2 (#6 Seed) || Bengals were 3–2 (#5 Seed)
At –34 Days we were 4–2 (#6 Seed) || Bengals were 4–2 (#5 Seed)
At –27 Days we were 5–2 (#2 Seed) || Bengals were 5–2 (#1 Seed)
At –18 Days we were 5–2 (#2 Seed) || Bengals were 5–3 (#5 Seed)
After losing to KC, from –6 Days on we were 5–4 (#8 Seed) as we rolled in to face the Bengals who were 5–4 (#9 Seed).
Week 13 vs. Washington Commanders (2021 Season)
Entering the Game:
Raiders: 6–5, #8 Seed || Commanders: 5–6, #7 Seed
Had just beat the Cowboys on Thanksgiving.
Notable Events:
At –54 Days, Gruden had resigned the night before.
At –32 Days, Henry Ruggs was no longer on the team (released day before).
At –20 Days, Damon Arnette was also no longer on the team (released week before).
HYPE CHECK:
At –64 Days we were 3–0 (#1 Seed) || Commanders were 1–2 (#9 Seed)
At –61 Days we were 3–1 (#5 Seed) || Commanders were 2–2 (#7 Seed)
At –54 Days we were 3–2 (#6 Seed) || Commanders were 2–3 (#9 Seed)
At –48 Days we were 4–2 (#6 Seed) || Commanders were 2–4 (#12 Seed)
At –41 Days we were 5–2 (#2 Seed) || Commanders were 2–5 (#12 Seed)
At –32 Days we were 5–2 (#2 Seed) || Commanders were 2–6 (#14 Seed)
At –20 Days we were 5–4 (#8 Seed) || Commanders were 3–6 (#12 Seed)
At –10 Days we were 5–5 (#11 Seed) || Commanders were 4–6 (#11 Seed)
After beating DAL, from –3 Days on we were 6–5 (#8 Seed) as we rolled in to face the Commanders who were 5–6 (#7 Seed).
Week 16 vs. Denver Broncos (2021 Season)
Entering the Game:
Raiders: 7–7, #10 Seed || Broncos: 7–7, #13 Seed
Sentiment was we’d blown our playoff chances. But… we’d just beat the Browns.
Notable Events:
At –75 Days, Gruden had resigned the night before.
At –53 Days, Henry Ruggs was no longer on the team (released day before).
At –41 Days, Damon Arnette was also no longer on the team (released week before).
HYPE CHECK:
At –85 Days we were 3–0 (#1 Seed) || Broncos were 3–0 (#5 Seed)
At –82 Days we were 3–1 (#5 Seed) || Broncos were 3–1 (#7 Seed)
At –75 Days we were 3–2 (#6 Seed) || Broncos were 3–2 (#7 Seed)
At –69 Days we were 4–2 (#6 Seed) || Broncos were 3–3 (#8 Seed)
At –62 Days we were 5–2 (#2 Seed) || Broncos were 3–4 (#12 Seed)
At –53 Days we were 5–2 (#2 Seed) || Broncos were 4–4 (#11 Seed)
At –41 Days we were 5–4 (#8 Seed) || Broncos were 5–5 (#12 Seed)
At –31 Days we were 5–5 (#11 Seed) || Broncos were 5–5 (#12 Seed)
At –24 Days we were 6–5 (#8 Seed) || Broncos were 6–5 (#9 Seed)
At –10 Days we were 6–7 (#12 Seed) || Broncos were 7–6 (#10 Seed)
After beating CLE, from –4 Days on we were 7–7 (#10 Seed) as we rolled in to face the Broncos who were 7–7 (#13 Seed).
Week 18 vs. Los Angeles Chargers (2021 Season)
Entering the Game:
Raiders: 9–7, #8 Seed || Chargers: 9–7, #7 Seed
HOLY SMOKES if we win this game, we’re in the Playoffs!!
Notable Events:
3 weeks before, the sentiment was we’d likely blown the playoffs as we stood at 6–7 & the #12 Seed.
The 3 weeks that followed were a symbolic, epic roar for the season, as we steadily knocked teams out of the playoffs to give us a shot.
At –89 Days, Gruden had resigned the night before.
At –67 Days, Henry Ruggs was no longer on the team (released day before).
At –55 Days, Damon Arnette was also no longer on the team (released week before).
This game’s data gives unique insight into scalpers’ minds.
You’ll note two entries for –7 Days:
–7 Days (pre-) = ticket costs 15 mins before kickoff to the prior week’s game (where if we won, this game became a playoff game).
–7 Days (after) = ticket costs 8 hrs after winning that prior week’s game (where now, this game has become a playoff game).
The prices shot up BIG time!
HYPE CHECK:
At –99 Days we were 3–0 (#1 Seed) || Chargers were 2–1 (#6 Seed)
At –96 Days we were 3–1 (#5 Seed) || Chargers were 3–1 (#1 Seed)
At –89 Days we were 3–2 (#6 Seed) || Chargers were 4–1 (#1 Seed)
At –83 Days we were 4–2 (#6 Seed) || Chargers were 4–2 (#2 Seed)
At –76 Days we were 5–2 (#2 Seed) || Chargers were 4–2 (#6 Seed)
At –67 Days we were 5–2 (#2 Seed) || Chargers were 4–3 (#7 Seed)
At –55 Days we were 5–4 (#8 Seed) || Chargers were 5–4 (#7 Seed)
At –45 Days we were 5–5 (#11 Seed) || Chargers were 6–4 (#6 Seed)
At –38 Days we were 6–5 (#8 Seed) || Chargers were 6–5 (#7 Seed)
At –24 Days we were 6–7 (#12 Seed) || Chargers were 8–5 (#5 Seed)
At –18 Days we were 7–7 (#10 Seed) || Chargers were 8–6 (#6 Seed)
At –8 Days and –7 Days (pre-) we were 8–7 (#10 Seed) || Chargers were 8–7 (#9 Seed)
After beating IND, from “–7 Days (after)” on we were 9–7 (#8 Seed) as we rolled in to face the Chargers who were 9–7 (#7 Seed).
PLAYOFFS ON THE LINE!!
CLOSING WORDS:
It appears that Thursdays are where the real sweet spot begins.
Under NO circumstances should you ever buy your tickets to a game far ahead of the game.
Instead, book your flight & hotel and then simply purchase your game ticket as you enter the “sweet spot” period for game tickets.
There are literally hundreds upon hundreds of pairs of tickets available even just hours before a game starts.
I’ve personally done this for every game I’ve attended, and precisely 100% of the time, I end up sitting next to people that paid more for just 1 of their tickets than I did for my entire party. In 2021 for example, when I went to the Week 3 MIA game, I sat next to a pair of friends who’d unfortunately spent more on each of their tickets than I could’ve bought 5 of mine for – why? Because they bought their tickets way too early, acting on emotion & paranoia that they wouldn’t be available.
When the Ravens tickets in 2021 first became available when the season schedule was released, there were people that spent literally thousands of dollars on their tickets. Tickets that later ended up selling for only ~$200 – a huge difference in cost. The fans that were smarter with their money had thousands leftover to freely spend on vacations, flights, cruises, or just good times with friends & family. That cash savings could host some pretty epic barbecues on game day.
Don’t be afraid of people buying these out. As I’ve seen, there are simply way too many scalpers and pseudo-fans that have no interest in actually attending games. And out-of-town ticketholders may only intend to attend 2-4 games a season, meaning they’re selling 5-7 games every season. And each of these individuals picks different games to attend & sell. Even if only 1% of ticketholders were selling their seats as game week arrives, that’d still be 650 seats available to purchase.
Even if we look at the price drop from weeks out to days out, we can see in the data above price drops that routinely hit up to 60% decreases in cost. And that’s only from within the season. The further you zoom out – such as to many months out – and the cost decreases are staggering.
Be patient, don’t worry, and let the benefits of the practices revealed in this breakdown let the good times come, and let the good times roll.