There are many reasons NOT to buy tickets in advance to any game and show up outside the stadium to buy tickets. First, tickets will be cheaper outside of the stadium than buying in advance (even buying tickets for face value from the team most of the time). Second, if you have a change of plans you do not have to sell your tickets (most likely at less than what you paid for them). Third, sometimes, at the last minute, a friend may have an extra ticket for the same game you want to attend. Thus, 1) you can attend the game with your buddy and 2) that ticket may be better than the seat you would buy.

Case in point was tonight’s Chicago Blackhawks game. Even though the Blackhawks are a hot ticket this year, I have not bought any tickets in advance. And, I have not paid over face value for any game I have attended. I was always planning to attend tonight’s Blackhawks game unless the wife had other plans that took priority (my second reason above not to buy tickets ahead of time).

My plan tonight was to buy a SRO ticket from the Blackhawks box office. The price difference between SRO prices and “day-of-game” prices for Blackhawks tickets can be big this year depending on what seats you end up buying. Note this was a “regular” priced game – meaning tickets are slightly cheaper than premium games. SRO costs $25 while the cheapest upper deck seats costs $25 in advance and $30 on game day. However, those are generally the first tickets sold and upper deck seats increase to $45 or $60 in advance. For example, last Sunday I paid $70 for the upper deck. When I can find an empty seat anywhere in the upper deck, it does not make sense for me to pay extra for an actual seat unless I must. Plus two weeks ago, I received an actual “seat” as I entered the arena.

Tonight Blackhawks Jim (who has taken me to three Blackhawks games this season) texted me that he had an extra ticket for tonight’s game. Since I was already planning to attend but had not purchased a ticket meant I was available to go (and, who is kidding who, I probably would have attended even if I was not planning to go) – my third reason not to buy tickets ahead of time.

Phoenix Coyotes at Chicago Blackhawks
Antti Niemi recorded his sixth shutout of the season as the Blackhawks defeated the Coyotes 2-0 in a battle of the top teams in the Western Conference. The Coyotes had taken over the top spot in the conference by winning nine games in a row but lost the top spot as the San Jose Sharks also won tonight.