Official tickets
Seats together
9,3
header image

Strategies for Finding Discounted Football Tickets

Last updated: 24 February 2025

Save yourself some money by realizing key strategies for finding discounted football tickets.

If you ask any football fan, they’ll tell you there’s nothing like the thrill of being in the stadium to watch a live football match. The elements around, such as the crowd's deafening roar, fist-bumping a stranger because you guys support the same team, and cheering the players in unison, give football fans an experience no television screen can ever fully replicate.

However exciting this experience may seem, getting affordable tickets can be a challenge, especially for high-profile games for high-profile clubs. Many football fans assume that getting discounted tickets is a matter of luck, but in reality, it’s all about getting it right. Some factors affect football ticket prices, and understanding those factors can make a huge difference in how much you pay for those tickets.

Strategies for Finding Discounted Football Tickets

At Visitfootball, we’re committed to ensuring you get value for money with football tickets. We’ve put together this guide that breaks down the most effective strategies for finding discounted football tickets. From knowing the best time to buy those tickets to taking advantage of special offers and deals, we’ll walk you through every step of the process.

Best Time to Purchase Football Tickets

Finding football tickets for the right prices can be challenging. You must understand that it isn’t just about where you buy them but also about when you purchase them. The time you buy your football tickets matters because ticket prices fluctuate based on demand, availability, and fixture schedules, so it’s always crucial to know when to go in.

We’ll be exploring the best strategies for timing your football tickets. This will help you determine whether to buy early or wait for last-minute deals before putting your money to work.

Buying Early or Last-Minute Tickets - Which is Better?

It’s no longer news that football fans target these two timeframes to get the best deals. Should you purchase the tickets as soon as they’re available or wait until the last minute before buying them? Well, both methods work, depending on the match and circumstances.

  • Buying Early: As part of promotional campaigns, football clubs can offer discounts on early-bird prices, which would be ideal not to miss. They can announce the availability of these tickets months before the game and trust that many won’t pay attention to this except folks who know how to get the best deals. You may get these announcements if you’re a season ticket holder or an official club member with priority access before general sales open. If the match in question is a derby or an important game of the season, it’s always safe to get the tickets early when they’re still affordable because the prices are always going up with each day you spend hesitating.
  • Last-Minute Deals: Unlike buying tickets early, last-minute deals can be risky but can pay off massively if everything goes right. This method works mostly for midweek fixtures or low-profile games with low turnout. Ticket prices drop closer to the matchday, which leaves you with a huge chance to get an amazing deal on ticket prices. Again, it is very risky, as it doesn’t always work. However, if everything goes fine, you can get a huge discount on ticket prices.

Seasonal Trends

One thing you can be sure of as a football fan is that football tickets fluctuate throughout the season. If you always want to get good deals on ticket prices, you must understand these trends to know when prices are cheaper.

  • Pre-Season Games: Football clubs use the off-season to prepare ahead of the new campaign, and due to commercial commitments, most big clubs tour in different countries. Football tickets are usually cheaper during this period since they’re training but in a more competitive form. Demand is generally lower, so always take advantage of this to watch your team in action. On the other hand, if you’re a local and support a small club, you can always be sure of getting the best ticket deals for pre-season games.
  • Mid-Week and Cup Matches: Midweek and cup matches are another great time to get cheaper deals. Midweek games don’t always command a huge crowd because most folks are just returning from work and would rather be in the house, relax, and not go through the hassle of going to the stadium. In terms of setting ticket prices, cup matches are often less expensive than weekend Premier League clashes, so they may be a considerable option.
  • End of the Season: One factor affecting ticket prices is the team’s performance. An underperforming club may bring down ticket prices as compensation to the fans for their support, especially as the season winds down. Also, if a club is not in contention for European qualification or not in the title race, demand drops, making tickets more affordable. On the other hand, a club that is in contention for trophies toward the end of the season may price tickets higher because of the demand.

Take Advantage of Fixture Announcements

The best time to strategically plan ticket purchases is when your club releases its fixture schedules. Since most clubs now announce their fixtures list in advance, always use this opportunity to determine when you’ll buy your tickets to get the best prices.

  • Pre-Sale and Membership Access: You can never go wrong with investing in your club’s membership because it gives you access to cheaper tickets before they’re made public. As a member, you’ll always have access to purchase tickets before general sales open, and one thing is certain: those tickets are always cheaper.
  • Monitoring General Sale Openings: High-demand matches always sell out quickly as soon as general sales open. Always try to secure tickets for face-value prices before they reach the resale platforms. However, some platforms, such as Visitfootball, offer reasonable market prices, allowing you to watch your favorite team without spending a fortune.
  • Avoid Peak Book Times: A sudden surge in demand can raise ticket prices by a few bucks. This usually happens when there’s been a major transfer or a draw in the knockout rounds of a tournament, pitting two big sides against each other. Try to book before the hype inflates prices as soon as you notice a spike in interest before a specific match.

Where to Find Legitimate Discounted Football Tickets

Football tickets are an important part of the sport. Because of their importance and demand, finding legitimate discounts can be daunting. A lot of places might claim they offer cheap tickets, but not all of them are trustworthy. Buying from the wrong source can lead to several consequences, including overpriced deals, counterfeit tickets, and losing all your money altogether. To avoid these unfortunate circumstances, it’s crucial to know where to find reliable, discounted prices, which we’ve listed below.

Official Club Websites

One of the safest and most reliable platforms to buy football tickets is directly from the club’s official website. Sometimes, these prices can skyrocket due to high demand. However, you’ll be sure of being in the safest hands possible. On the other hand, it’s also an opportunity to get face-value tickets and discounts on special promotions or exclusive deals for members. Buying tickets directly from club websites is great for the following reasons:

  • Guaranteed authenticity
  • Best face-value prices
  • Access to special discounts

Verified Third-Party Sellers

When club websites sell out tickets, the next best place to get them is from verified third-party sellers, particularly Visitfootball. Our company provides a safe way to buy football tickets as we sell only official, authentic tickets at competitive prices. Visitfootball is a great option for the following reasons:

  • Customer protection
  • 24/7 customer support
  • Competitive ticket rates
  • Football trip packages
  • Guaranteed ticket delivery

How to Avoid Scams When Buying Resale Tickets

Buying resale tickets may not be the best option if you can’t do your due diligence. As you may know, there are bad people out there willing to take advantage of your love for the sport, so if you’re careful, you may fall for scams posing as ticket resellers. To avoid scams when buying football tickets, do the following:

Use Platforms with Buyer Guarantees

A good third-party ticket seller will always leave the window open for refunds when things go wrong. Always watch out for this because a bad one does the opposite. If a resale platform doesn’t offer refunds, it indicates a flaw in its operations, which means you don’t have any form of protection when things go wrong.

Avoid Social Media Sellers

Scammers often pose as ticket sellers on social media platforms like X, Facebook, and Instagram. Always avoid buying football tickets on social media, especially when the seller does not have an identifiable platform, such as a website with authentic reviews.

Always Read the Reviews

Reading reviews might seem like a waste of time, but you can save yourself a lot of trouble by spending a few minutes researching the person you’re about to trade your money with. A good resale platform usually has authentic reviews, good or bad. Always check these comments out, and if the pros outweigh the cons, you can go ahead and make your purchase.

Taking Advantage of Ticket Packages and Promotions

Football tickets aren’t cheap, especially when you support a well-known football club. However, smart fans always know how to take advantage of special deals, promotions, and ticket bundles to save money. Many clubs and third-party sellers, like Visitfootball, offer discounts for groups, trips, and others that would have otherwise cost more if booked separately. Exploring these options can save you much money without compromising your matchday experience.

Group Discounts and Family Packages

Buying in bulk can save you money when buying football tickets. Many clubs offer special discounts for groups and families to encourage large attendance, so you can always take advantage of this. If you have friends supporting the same football club, buying bulk tickets can help you reduce costs.

Hospitality Deals

The craziest assumption about hospitality packages is that they’re too expensive. However, you can always enjoy VIP treatment without breaking the bank, considering how much it may cost to do those things separately. Imagine if you had to book football tickets, flight tickets, and hotels. You would spend more than combining them into a single deal, which we offer at Visitfootball.

Season Tickets

Investing in season-long tickets is another great way to get discounted football tickets. If you’re a die-hard fan who plans to watch more than 10 home games per season, a season ticket is the perfect way to save money. Dropping the lump sum may be a little tricky. However, considering how much you’ll save in the long term, you’ll realize it’s the best thing to do.

Smart Ways to Save on Matchday Costs Beyond Tickets

As a football fan who frequents the stadium, you will realize that buying a football ticket is just one part of the overall expense of attending a match. Traveling, food, and accommodation costs can quickly add up, making the entire experience more expensive than anticipated. However, with the right strategies, you can significantly reduce costs.

Invest in Football Trip Packages

Again, you can never go wrong with investing in football trip packages. With these packages, you can book tickets, flights, and hotel accommodations, some of which may also include breakfasts before heading to the stadium for the big game. This is a great way to save money if you’re a die-hard fan who loves to travel occasionally for big games.

Book Early

Don’t always wait till the last minute before you book your football trip packages. Booking ahead can help you save money because airlines and train operators often release tickets at lower prices months in advance.

Conclusion

Finding affordable football tickets can be tricky. It often requires smart planning and the right strategies, which we’ve tried to highlight in this article. You can enjoy live football without stretching your pocket by exploring discounted ticket packages, taking advantage of promotions, and investing in season tickets.

However, the most crucial part of securing a great deal is buying from a trusted ticket provider, which is where Visitfootball comes in. As Europe's leading third-party football ticket provider, Visitfootball guarantees authentic, fairly priced tickets for matches in different leagues.

If you’re looking for the best place to get football tickets for competitive prices, don’t hesitate to explore our website for matches across Europe and South America to get the chance to cheer your team on in the flesh!

Share this article:

Writing team

overlaylayer

Want a custom football trip? Get in touch with us.

Request a quote

You may also like

All About Digital Football Tickets from Visitfootball
All About Digital Football Tickets from Visitfootball

Discover everything about digital football tickets and how they're shaping up ticketing in football.

14 February 2025
How to Get Arsenal FC Tickets in 2024/2025?
How to Get Arsenal FC Tickets in 2024/2025?

We'll walk you through: Different ticket options available. Tips and tricks to help you get tickets, even for high-demand matches.

2 September 2024
Best Football Ticket Websites in the US
Best Football Ticket Websites in the US

Best websites for US fans to buy European football tickets. Why VisitFootball leads the pack for Premier League, La Liga, and Champions League access.

18 October 2024