Should You Buy Season Tickets?

There’s nothing like the fresh start of a Seattle football or hockey season to make you ask the question, “Should I buy season tickets?” As a high-earning tech employee, you likely have the funds. Some advisors might even say “Go for it.” 

But season tickets are a bigger commitment than simple dollars. Below, we explore the pros, cons, and alternatives to buying season tickets from a financial advisor who has learned this one the hard way.

What Can I Get Season Tickets for in Seattle?

At Northern Lights Advisors, we’re all for expensive hobbies, so long as they bring you joy. You work hard and deserve to play hard, after all. So, if you want your hobby to be going to a venue or stadium for an event multiple times per year, you may consider season tickets. 

In Seattle, you can find season tickets (or “memberships”) for many different sports teams and performing arts organizations. 

A few local sports teams include:

• Seattle Kraken
• Seattle Mariners
• Seattle Sounders
• Seattle Reign
• Seattle Seahawks (Often sold out but you can join a waitlist)
• Seattle Storm

Some performing arts organizations include

• 5th Avenue Theater
• Seattle Opera
• Seattle Symphony at Benoyra Hall
• STG (membership packages)

In addition to sports and performing arts, many nonprofits organizations offer membership packages including museums, zoos, and the aquarium. (Which can be well worth it for families with small children, though that’s a topic for a future article). 

How Much Do Sports Season Tickets Cost?

Depending on your focus — we’re talking anything from hockey, baseball, or football  — costs vary widely. In Seattle, seasonal tickets for sports can run you anywhere from slightly more than $300 a season for basic MLS tickets to over $8,000 for hockey. But that’s just the amount for the seat.

On top of ticket price, there are a ton of other little costs that add up, including:

• Parking/rideshare
• Refreshments (have you seen stadium prices recently?)
• Childcare (if applicable)
• Team paraphernalia
• Additional expense for playoff tickets

And there are things which might not exactly have a dollar amount attached, but should be considered. For example, you might need to use PTO for day games. 

Example Calculation for Season Tickets

This math is purely for example. Let’s say your basic sports season ticket package costs $4,500, and you are able to make it to 20 games. We’ll (quite modestly) budget $100 per event for concessions and $50 for transportation (also a conservative figure). And we’ll add in 40$ per event for another, unexpected cost. 

Add it up:

• $100 for food/bev x 20 games = $2,000
• $50 for transportation x 20 = $1,000
• $40 for misc. X 20 = $800
• = $3,800 other costs + $4,500 ticket price = $8,300 

$8,300 for season tickets! 

You might be able to afford it. The question is, are you sure that’s where you want to put your money? Especially if the cost of attending is nearly double the price of your initial ticket purchase. 

Five Benefits of Purchasing Season Tickets

There are some benefits to holding season tickets. Before we launch into the cons, let’s take a minute to think about some of the perks that come along with it:

• First crack at playoff tickets. Though they are typically not included in the initial purchase price, should your team make it to the postseason most season tickets offer the opportunity to purchase before tickets are released to the general public.

• Priority access to tickets for other events for some ticket holders. While not all season tickets mean you will have first dibs for the next touring musical act, many premium packages do offer some kind of advantage for purchasing.

• Savings on merchandise or food and beverages. Some venues offer special discounts for some concessions or merchandise. 

• Exclusive experiences. Season ticket holders may be invited to private meet-and-greets such as Q&A sessions or autograph days with players and coaches. Members might also get access to behind-the-scenes perks like stadium tours, postgame field photos, or VIP entry to exclusive stadium clubs and lounges.
• Plans, whether you like it or not. Wondering how you’ll spend your free time for the next season? Going to games. For sports like hockey and baseball, there are likely a lot more home games than you realize. 

The main benefit of season tickets (at least for sports fans) is knowing that you have a seat or two reserved for your favorite team for all the home games.

What is the Biggest Thing People Don’t Realize About Buying Season Tickets?

We’ve already covered the incidental costs on top of ticket price, but it’s time to talk about the reality of season tickets: the time commitment. 

Do you know what you’re doing on a random Thursday in three months? If you’re a ticket holder, the answer is likely going to a sports event. Initially, you might feel jazzed to know you’ll get to see your favorite team in-person for every match. But here’s one tidbit learned from actual experience. Sports seasons — especially hockey and baseball — are long, and the home games are many. For hockey, that number is 42. Baseball is a whopping 81. 

When you factor in the logistics of attending (or dealing with giving your tickets away to anyone who will take them), there’s a huge amount of mental load that you’ll have to add to your already busy life. 

Are There Good Alternatives to Season Tickets?

Yes! We’re not saying don’t go to sporting events. We’re saying evaluate how discretionary spending fits into your overall financial picture.

We suggest:

• Picking a few choice games and splurging on the really good seats. You’ll gain control over the opponent, day of the week, and whether or not you really want to go out on a random school night in October.
  
• Plan a trip to see your favorite team in another city. If you enjoy travel, one neat idea is to catch a game in a place that’s been on your bucket list. Instead of spending ~$8,300 using season tickets, you might be able to use that money to fly first class, stay in a nice hotel, eat great food, and see your favorite team in a different city.
• Partial season ticket packages. If you are set on getting season tickets, consider trying a partial package for your first season. Thank us later.

Talk to Your Financial Advisor Before Purchasing Season Tickets

If you have season tickets on your mind, your financial advisor is a great place to start. Not only can they help you examine your cash flow to make sure it fits within your wider financial planning, they just may have experienced first-hand all the joys that come along with it.

At Northern Lights Advisors, we’re fans of our local sports teams. And we can offer personal insight about the pros and cons of holding season tickets. If you’d like to talk it through before you reply to that ticket rep, schedule a wealth strategy assessment today.  

Frequently Asked Questions About Should One Buy Season (Sports) Tickets?

Are sports season tickets considered a good financial investment?
Season tickets should generally be viewed as a personal discretionary lifestyle expense rather than a financial investment. While they offer access, priority seating, and potential perks, they rarely generate a monetary return and involve ongoing incidental costs like parking, concessions, and time commitments.

How do incidental costs impact the true price of season tickets?
The initial price of a ticket package is often only a fraction of the total expense. Concessions, transportation, venue parking, team merchandise, and potential playoff tickets can substantially increase your total annual outlay.

What are alternative ways to enjoy local sports without committing to season tickets?
Alternatives include purchasing single-game tickets for high-priority matchups, exploring partial season packages, or allocating discretionary funds toward a travel trip to see your team in an away venue.

How can my financial advisor help with personal discretionary spending decisions?
A financial advisor can help you evaluate how major discretionary purchases, like season tickets or expensive hobbies, impact your broader cash flow, tax positioning, and long-term financial goals. Northern Lights Advisors works with high-earning professionals and families to incorporate lifestyle spending into a comprehensive financial plan.