Buying tickets the day before a game

[premium1981]

I have a question that maybe someone will be able to answer. I have always bought my baseball tickets a week or more in advance. My family has tickets to see the Red Sox vs Braves on Monday afternoon already. I am thinking about going down the day before to catch the evening game vs the Pirates. Only 1 of my kids will be going though, so that puts us at 3 tickets. All of the good tickets are in pairs of 2 or 4.

So here is my actual question now that I have laid the foundation. How soon before a game does buying tickets on Stubhub or Vividseats before risky? I don't want to drop $300 or so the morning before and end up with tickets that didn't transfer or something like that. I am holding out hope that someone lists a better set of 3 seats before the game. But I don't know how often people list that soon before games either. Anyone have any advice for this type of situation?

Hoping to get there early enough to let my 5 year old get a few autographs.

[teosdesserts]

I buy my tickets an hour before I’m at the stadium and have never had a problem.

[premium1981]

I buy my tickets an hour before I’m at the stadium and have never had a problem.

Through a second-hand site or ticketmaster? I don't want nosebleed seats and ticketmaster is out of the good seats.

[Firerunner4]

When I was at the Brewers series this past weekend, on Sunday during the bobblehead giveaway there was guy who would go through the line, bring his bobbleheads in and stack them, go on his phone and buy cheap tickets on stubhub, go back outside, come in with the new tickets, he kept doing that over and over.

So as long as they're electronic on stubhub (it will say on there if they are), they're available almost immediately

[Master Shake]

I like waiting to as close as possible before game time before buying seats on StubHub. I find that sellers get desperate to sell their seats and you can score good seats at a great price.

[morningrushnc]

"Badges? We ain't got no badges! We don't need no badges! I don't have to show you any stinking badges!"

[CMpunk13]

When I was at the Brewers series this past weekend, on Sunday during the bobblehead giveaway there was guy who would go through the line, bring his bobbleheads in and stack them, go on his phone and buy cheap tickets on stubhub, go back outside, come in with the new tickets, he kept doing that over and over.

So as long as they're electronic on stubhub (it will say on there if they are), they're available almost immediately

This, when I lived closer to Angel Stadium, I would look at stubhub like 10 mins before the game. Actually once the game started and was still able to buy.

[premium1981]

So you're going to the Sunday night game, but not Monday? Keep an eye on Ticketmaster, the Braves release some great seats the day of the game or the day before. They price to the secondary, so Sunday's tickets should be reasonable. Monday would be much more expensive though. And if you do buy off Stubhub, they're instant download so you don't have to worry about transfers.

^That works too if you can hold out (and there's not a shortage on the secondary). I've used a $6 ticket to go in and watch BP, then buy my seat after the game's actually started.

I've been to about a dozen games at Suntrust this year and this has worked each time.

EDIT: If you're trying to get autos, you'll need tickets in 15 or 16. They'll let you down there the first half hour or so, but once the players start to come out and stretch, they send everyone back to their seats.

I'm going to both games. But I have had my Labor Day tickets since spring time. The Sunday evening game will just be a bonus game. Thanks for the tips on the autos. Any tips for getting autographs for my boy? He is a Braves fanatic. I have never been an autograph seeker at games.

[morningrushnc]

"Today, I consider myself the luckiest man on the face of the earth."

[premium1981]

Just be there when the gates open and get a front row spot by the dugout. The Braves usually have a pitcher or two who will go down the line and sign when they finish their warm ups (this is before the ushers kick everyone out). When the players come out, Dansby usually signs a few, Culberson will sign for almost everyone, and you might get a couple bench players. Freeman, Acuna, Albies, rarely, if ever sign though.

His favorite player is actually Culberson. We say his walk off HR on Memorial Day against the Mets. He has loved him ever since. Thanks for the tips. We have been to 3 so far this year but I wanted to try to get him an auto or two this time.

[premium1981]

Also, do they still open the gates 90 minutes before first pitch? We usually get there an hour before, but I want to better his odds.

[diamondthief6]

I got tickets today (Stubhub) for the Nats game tonight at a quarter of face value with no issue

[premium1981]

I got tickets today (Stubhub) for the Nats game tonight at a quarter of face value with no issue

How long before the game did you buy them?

[MOONBASE1]

Some years ago we bought tix's to a Red Sox game 2 hrs. before game time at the stadium box office. Got great 3rd base side seats about 20 rows from the field. Agent said season ticket holders weren't coming so they wanted their tickets released for sale.

[shrevecity]

I like waiting to as close as possible before game time before buying seats on StubHub. I find that sellers get desperate to sell their seats and you can score good seats at a great price.

I do that for concerts as well, have found some really good tickets at desperation prices.

[OC22]

As long as you're on a reputable site (i.e. StubHub), you'll be fine. If the tix don't work for whatever reason, you get your money back. If you buy day before/day of, your tickets are generally available immediately.

[diamondthief6]

How long before the game did you buy them?

Game at 7. I got them at about 3.

[morningrushnc]

"If you build it, he will come."