What Happens If You Buy World Series In Advance Tickets: Prices, Dates & Where To Buy
Okay, let's talk about a fantasy. A glorious, slightly absurd, and undeniably fun fantasy. We're diving headfirst into the thrilling, maybe a little insane, world of buying World Series tickets… in advance. Like, way in advance. Before anyone even knows if their team is going to make it. Bold move, right?
Imagine this: It’s January. Snow is still falling (or it’s just really gloomy). You’re sipping some lukewarm coffee, scrolling through your phone. Most people are thinking about New Year's resolutions they've already forgotten. But you? You’re thinking about October. You’re thinking about crack of the bat. You’re thinking about the roar of the crowd. And you’re thinking, "You know what? I bet the Atlanta Braves are going to do it again. Or maybe the Dodgers will make a comeback. Or perhaps, just perhaps, the underdog Tampa Bay Rays will surprise us all!"
So, you do it. You click. You buy. You are now the proud owner of World Series tickets for a hypothetical series that hasn't even been dreamed up by the baseball gods yet. It’s a beautiful, slightly reckless act of faith. And honestly, a little bit hilarious.
Now, let's get to the nitty-gritty. Because while our faith might be boundless, our wallets are, well, less so. What kind of prices are we talking about for this… pre-emptive baseball fiesta?
If you're buying really in advance, you're essentially playing a gamble. You're not buying tickets for a specific game, day, or even opponent. You're buying into the possibility. These are often called "speculative tickets" or "future tickets." They're not readily available on the main ticket sites because, well, the games aren't real yet.
Instead, you're looking at secondary markets. Think of them as the wild west of ticket sales. Sites like StubHub, SeatGeek, or even some specialized brokers might offer these. The prices? Oh, they are a rollercoaster.
In the early days of the off-season, when hope springs eternal and every team looks like a contender, these tickets might be surprisingly affordable. You might snag a pair for a few hundred dollars. It feels like a steal! You’re practically getting them for the price of a good dinner, just for the chance to see history. You pat yourself on the back. "Smartest person ever," you whisper to your empty living room.
But then… the season starts. Teams win. Teams lose. The playoff picture gets clearer. And suddenly, that hopeful buyer from January who bought tickets for, say, the New York Yankees to win it all, might find their hypothetical tickets are now worth a king's ransom. Or, on the flip side, if their chosen team tanks, those tickets might become worth less than the paper they’re printed on (which, let's be honest, is probably digital now).
The real fun, the truly unpopular opinion fun, comes when you actually manage to buy tickets for the exact World Series. Like, the actual schedule is set. The teams are confirmed. It's late October. You are now a hero. Or a madman. One of the two.
If you’re buying that late, the prices are… astronomical. We’re talking thousands of dollars. Per ticket. For a single game. You might be looking at seats in the nosebleeds that cost more than a used car. Forget that lukewarm coffee; you’ll be needing something a little stronger to even consider it.
For the 2023 World Series, for example, if you somehow had tickets before the teams were announced and your team made it, fantastic! If you were trying to buy during the series for popular teams like the Texas Rangers or the Arizona Diamondbacks, well, brace yourself. Prices for prime seats could easily soar past $2,000. Even less desirable seats might set you back several hundred dollars. It’s a price tag that makes you question your life choices, or at least your desire to see a baseball game that badly.
Where do you buy them then? Once the actual series is set, your go-to places are the usual suspects: Ticketmaster (the official seller), SeatGeek, StubHub, and Vivid Seats. These are the legitimate platforms where you can find verified tickets. However, be prepared for the surge pricing. It’s like Black Friday, but with more hot dogs and less yelling (usually).
The dates? That’s the biggest gamble for our early-bird buyers. The World Series typically kicks off in late October and can extend into early November. The exact dates are announced by Major League Baseball once the participating teams are confirmed. So, if you bought those January tickets, you're essentially crossing your fingers that the series aligns with your general life availability in the fall. No canceling that vacation to Fiji for a hypothetical Game 7, right?
Honestly, the sheer audacity of buying World Series tickets in advance is what makes it so charming. It’s a testament to optimism, a dash of foolishness, and a whole lot of love for the game. You might be spending a small fortune on a gamble, or you might be securing a once-in-a-lifetime experience at a relative bargain. Either way, you’re playing the game. And sometimes, that’s the most fun part.
So, next time you're feeling particularly hopeful (or just a little bit crazy), remember the allure of the advance World Series ticket. It’s a conversation starter, a test of faith, and, who knows, maybe the smartest (or funniest) financial decision you'll ever make. Just don't blame me if your team decides to take a vacation in September.