Sports Tickets News

Editor’s note: Guest author Bobby Calise is a former US Open ball boy, lifelong tennis player and fan, and perennial US Open attendee. He is also a freelance writer.

Like any other event, fans simply want to get their money’s worth.  The crowd inside of Ashe during a night session will usually cheer heavily for the underdog in the hopes that if he or she wins the first set, it’ll simply make for a more dramatic victory when the favorite eventually comes back to win the match.  In the early rounds, favorites usually win pretty handily, which is what the crowd really wanted all along because it means they can get to bed at a decent hour.

When it doesn’t go according to plan, it’s pretty disappointing.  American star Andy Roddick, seeded #4 at the time in 2005, actually did lose in three sets in a first round evening match, leaving fans looking at each other incredulously, as if to say, “Wait…what?”

The first match in Ashe Stadium typically starts a little after 7:00 p.m., followed by a second featured match. However, if either (or both) matches run long, an evening session can last into the wee hours of the morning.  Don’t feel bad about keeping an eye the time.  The idea of seven hours of tennis sounds like good value for your US Open ticket, but for many fans Flushing Meadows is a bit of a trek and 2:00 or 3:00 a.m. is a little late to be watching tennis, especially on a weeknight.

The good news: if you do muster up the stamina to stay until the end of an evening session, the staff allows remaining fans to move as far up as there are open seats, transforming a Row Z ticket into one of the best seats in the house.

More on the 2010 US Open:

• US Open Tennis a Hot Ticket in New York
• Best Value 2010 US Open Tickets
• US Open Special: Getting to the US Open
• US Open Tennis Etiquette

Find US Open Tickets here.

Editor’s note: Guest author Bobby Calise is a former US Open ball boy, lifelong tennis player and fan, and perennial US Open attendee. He is also a freelance writer.

Even as a tennis enthusiast, I’m the first to admit that the etiquette behind tennis is a little hoity-toity.  But by following a few simple guidelines you’ll avoid getting the stink eye from your fellow spectators at the US Open.

• Whether you’re in the very last row of Ashe or 50 feet from the court, it’s customary to be silent when players are about to serve and during the point.  However on occasion the longer points will elicit oohs and ahhs from the crowd, which is OK.
• It’s considered poor form to cheer for an unforced error, even if the error it helps the player you’re rooting for.  You won’t get kicked out for doing this, but you may get a few dirty looks.
• In between points, feel free to yell out, “COME ON [first or last name of the player you’re supporting]!”  Unoriginal exclamations like these are surprisingly common in professional tennis, so go nuts!
• Cell phone usage is frowned upon and sometimes even self-policed by the crowd.  If you must have a phone conversation, start and finish it during the short changeovers.

More on the 2010 US Open:

• US Open Tennis a Hot Ticket in New York
• Best Value 2010 US Open Tickets
• US Open Special: Getting to the US Open

Find US Open Tickets here.

Coming in at number 8 on FanSnap’s NFL FanDemand rankings is the Baltimore Ravens.

The Baltimore Ravens are a real threat to win the AFC North this coming season. Third year starter Joe Flacco will look to lead an improved offense into the post season. The Ravens did a good job of bolstering the receiving core around him as well, with the signing of Anquan Boldin. He, with veteran Derrick Mason, can really stretch defenses, and this duo is one to be feared by any defense in the league. And when you one of the top running backs in the league, Ray Rice, you have a potent offense that will put up some serious points and yardage.

The fact that Baltimore Ravens tickets are ranked 8th on FanSnap’s FanDemand rankings is a testament to the overall excitement around the team and its potential to win  games this season.

The Baltimore Ravens start the season off on the road against the New York Jets, which is one of the most exciting match-ups of the opening week. Both teams are drastically improved since last year, and whoever comes out on top will be in good shape for the rest of the season. Check out some great deals on Ravens-Jets tickets at FanSnap.

For the Best Value on Baltimore Ravens tickets, remember to search with FanSnap all season long.

1 Mon, Sept. 13 at New York Jets – 7 p.m.

2 Sun, Sept. 19 at Cincinnati Bengals – 1 p.m.

3 Sun, Sept. 26 vs. Cleveland Browns – 1 p.m.

4 Sun, Oct. 3 at Pittsburgh Steelers – 1 p.m.

5 Sun, Oct. 10 vs. Denver Broncos – 1 p.m.

6 Sun, Oct. 17 at New England Patriots – 1 p.m.

7 Sun, Oct. 24 vs. Buffalo Bills – 1 p.m.

8 Bye

9 Sun, Nov. 7 vs. Miami Dolphins – 1 p.m.

10 Thu, Nov. 11 at Atlanta Falcons – 8:20 p.m.

11 Sun, Nov. 21 at Carolina Panthers – 1 p.m.

12 Sun, Nov. 28 vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – 1 p.m.

13 Sun, Dec. 5 vs. Pittsburgh Steelers – 8:20 p.m.

14 Mon, Dec. 13 at Houston Texans – 8:30 p.m.

15 Sun, Dec. 19 vs. New Orleans Saints – 1 p.m.

16 Sun, Dec. 26 at Cleveland Browns – 1 p.m.

17 Sun, Jan. 2 vs. Cincinnati Bengals – 1 p.m.

Editor’s note: Guest author Bobby Calise is a former US Open ball boy, lifelong tennis player and fan, and perennial US Open attendee. He is also a freelance writer.

As a lifelong tennis player, a former ball boy, and all-around tennis enthusiast, I enjoy my trips each year to the US Open, and I’ve come to learn what exactly to expect each time I buy US Open tickets, pass through the gates, and walk the grounds of the National Tennis Center. I always attend one or two night sessions during the first week of the tournament because it’s cheaper, I don’t have to take a day off from work, and there are plenty of matches to see during the first three rounds of the tournament.

US Open Parking
Assuming you don’t take public transportation to the US Open, parking in the lots costs $19.  However, if you share George Costanza’s creed about paid parking (“Why should I pay for it when, if I apply myself, maybe I can get it for free?”), you can try your luck parking on the street outside the National Tennis Center.  For the last two US Opens, I found spaces for my plum-colored ’97 Altima on 111^th street near 50^th avenue, which is a 20-minute walk to the National Tennis Center.  Out-of-towners and/or people with decent cars may want to play it safe and just pony up the $19.

Once you’re inside the gates at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center
For the casual tennis fans or first time US Open attendees who want to see players they’ve actually heard of, head directly into Ashe Stadium.  Federer, Nadal, Sharapova, and Venus Williams (Serena is not playing this year due to an injury) will likely play all of their matches on Ashe.  Each day or night session includes matches featuring top male and female players.

Some of the best matches during the first three rounds are on the outer courts (i.e. any court with a number, starting with 4).  These players are not necessarily the biggest names, but are usually the ones in the middle of the bracket who are a little more evenly matched with their opponents.  Not only are the matches more competitive, but the seats are much closer to the court.  I always try to get to some of these matches before making my way into Ashe.  Doubles, if you can find it, is particularly fun to watch up close.

For the best of both worlds—a good seat and a fairly well-known player—try Louis Armstrong Stadium and Grandstand.  At Armstrong some seating is reserved and the rest is first-come, first-serve. At Grandstand, it’s all first-come, first-serve.  If you want to get a head start the day before your trip to the Open, head to USOpen.org to check out the Schedule of Play for that day so you can map out your trip.  (If you forget, the scoreboard outside of Ashe has the court listings.)

Another option is to purchase US Open Grounds admission tickets, which allow access to all matches not played at Ashe.  But remember, if you’re attending the event with people who like to see the top players, you should probably buy tickets that include the Ashe matches.

More on the 2010 US Open:

• US Open Tennis a Hot Ticket in New York
• Best Value 2010 US Open Tickets

At #9 on FanSnap’s FanDemand list is the Washington Redskins.

The ‘Skins are a much changed team since last season. The organization has made a number of important signings and trades. Among the most important is the signing of ex-Denver Bronco coach Mike Shanahan, who will undoubtedly change the nature of the team and the way it plays.

The Washington Redskins other key addition is quarterback Donovan Mcnabb, who will have to play a few games against his previous team, the Philadelphia Eagles. Rounding out the attack for the Redskins is Clinton Portis, who played a season under Shanahan in Denver in 2002-2003. Portis won a Rookie of the Year award under Shanahan’s run heavy offense, so look for him to have a killer year under his old coach.

Washington Redskins tickets are among the hottest in the country this season, and their tough schedule proves this point. The ‘Skins start with their home opener against the Dallas Cowboys, one of the most anticipated match-ups of the opening week. Check out FanSnap for some Best Value Cowboys-Redskins tickets. For example, find seats in Zone A Club Level 320 for $330, which is 61% off the average price of tickets in this section.

And don’t miss the game when McNabb’s old team, the Philadelphia Eagles come to DC on November 15. For the best possible Eagles-Redskins tickets at the greatest possible value, look no further than Fansnap.

For all Washington Redskins tickets, both home and away, FanSnap has Skins fans covered

• Sept. 12 Dallas, 8:20 p.m.
• Sept. 19 Houston, 4:15 p.m.
• Sept. 26 at St. Louis, 4:05 p.m.
• Oct. 3 at Philadelphia, 4:15 p.m.
• Oct. 10 Green Bay, 1 p.m.
• Oct. 17 Indianapolis, 8:20 p.m.
• Oct. 24 at Chicago, 1 p.m.
• Oct. 31 at Detroit, 1 p.m.
• Nov. 7 BYE
• Nov. 15 Philadelphia, 8:30 p.m.
• Nov. 21 at Tennessee, 1 p.m.
• Nov. 28 Minnesota, 1 p.m.
• Dec. 5 at N.Y. Giants, 1 p.m.
• Dec. 12 Tampa Bay, 1 p.m.
• Dec. 19 at Dallas, 1 p.m.
• Dec. 26 at Jacksonville, 1 p.m.
• Jan. 2 N.Y. Giants, 1 p.m.

After what seems like the longest off-season ever, it’s finally game week! And here at FanSnap we have the scoop on all of the hottest college football tickets.

Curious exactly which games fans are flocking to? Well let’s have a look.

Number one on our list is a can’t miss Monday night game featuring Boise State-Virginia Tech. Should the Broncos win this game, many pundits are penciling them into the national title game. Of course there’s still a LONG, LONG season to go. Here’s the rest of the list. Let the games begin!

Week 1: Hottest NCAA Football Tickets (Avg. ticket price)

1. Boise State Broncos @ Virginia Tech Hokies tickets – $186

2. Oregon State Beavers @ TCU Horned Frogs tickets – $182

3. Purdue Boilermakers @ Notre Dame Fighting Irish tickets – $179

4. Marshall Thundering Herd @ Ohio State Buckeyes tickets – $155

5. Western Kentucky Hilltoppers @ Nebraska Cornhuskers tickets – $148

6. Kentucky Wildcats @ Louisville Cardinals tickets – $141

7. Illinois Fighting Illini @ Missouri Tigers tickets – $138

8. LSU Tigers @ North Carolina Tar Heels tickets – $138

9. San Jose State Spartans @ Alabama Crimson Tide tickets – $130

10. Eastern Illinois Panthers @ Iowa Hawkeyes tickets – $121

11. Colorado State Rams @ Colorado Buffaloes tickets – $117

12. Pittsburgh Panthers @ Utah Utes tickets – $114

13. UConn Huskies @ Michigan Wolverines tickets – $105

14. Wisconsin Badgers @ UNLV Rebels tickets – $102

15. USC Trojans @ Hawaii Warriors tickets – $98

16. Texas Longhorns @ Rice Owls tickets – $98

17. Utah State Aggies @ Oklahoma Sooners tickets – $95

18. Louisiana-Lafayette Ragin Cajuns @ Georgia Bulldogs tickets – $90

19. Eastern Illinois Panthers @ Iowa Hawkeyes tickets – $89

20. Utah State Aggies @ Oklahoma Sooners tickets – $86

Still looking for your week 1 college football tickets, a quick search on FanSnap should provide endless choices for each of these key match-ups!

Ohio State Buckeyes tickets are the priciest in the county. And why shouldn’t they be? The team is ranked in the top two or three in almost every poll and QB Terrelle Pryor is considered one of the top candidates for the Heisman Trophy favorite.

Ohio State claims seven national titles and Buckeye nation is looking to add to that record with a trip to the BCS. Ah yes, while Ohio State is expected to win the Big Ten, their fans want much, much more.

To accomplish that goal, twelve teams stand in their way. They can’t ask for a better start to the season. The Buckeyes play their first four games – all out of conference games at home. Then they have the Big Ten gauntlet with the toughest battle towards the end – - Ohio State-Iowa tickets should be hot ones!

Still looking for your Ohio State Buckeyes tickets? Search for Buckeyes tickets with FanSnap!

Ohio State Buckeyes 2010 Schedule

Sept. 2 Ohio State v. Marshall

Sept. 11 Ohio State v. Miami

Sept. 18 Ohio State v. Ohio

Sept. 25 Ohio State v. Eastern Michigan

Oct. 2 Ohio State at Illinois

Oct. 9 Ohio State v. Indiana

Oct. 16 Ohio State at Wisconsin

Oct. 23 Ohio State v. Purdue

Oct. 30 Ohio State at Minnesota

Nov. 13 Ohio State v. Penn State

Nov. 20 Ohio State at Iowa

Nov. 27 Ohio State v. Michigan

To kick off our NFL Ticket Preview special, we start with #10 on FanSnap’s Pre-Season Rankings, the San Diego Chargers.

The Chargers are always a well respected team coming out of the West Coast. This year, they are on the hunt for their fifth straight AFC West title, without the likes of star running back LaDainian Tomlinson. Although this puts a serious damper on the Bolts running attack, quarterback Phillip Rivers may be among the most talented in the league. With tight end Antonio Gates and wide receivers Vincent Jackson and Malcolm Floyd completely the passing game, Rivers will lead an extremely potent Chargers offense, with a keen eye towards the playoffs.

San Diego Chargers tickets are highly sought after this year, which is understandable considering the more anticipated match-ups within their schedule. The New England Patriots are due to visit Southern California on Sunday October 24th. Average prices for Patriots-Chargers tickets are $303 on the secondary ticket market: this is 12% increase over their season long average ticket price of $272.

Check FanSnap all season long for the Best Value San Diego Chargers tickets to all games, home and away

• Mon, Sep 13th, 2010 at Kansas City 10:15 PM Arrowhead Stadium
• Sun, Sep 19th, 2010 Jacksonville 04:15 PM Qualcomm Stadium
• Sun, Sep 26th, 2010 at Seattle 04:15 PM Qwest Field
• Sun, Oct 3rd, 2010 Arizona 04:15 PM Qualcomm Stadium
• Sun, Oct 10th, 2010 at Oakland 04:15 PM Oakland Coliseum
• Sun, Oct 17th, 2010 at St. Louis 01:00 PM Edward Jones Dome
• Sun, Oct 24th, 2010 New England 04:15 PM Qualcomm Stadium
• Sun, Oct 31st, 2010 Tennessee 04:05 PM Qualcomm Stadium
• Sun, Nov 7th, 2010 at Houston 01:00 PM Reliant Stadium
• Bye
• Mon, Nov 22nd, 2010 Denver 08:30 PM Qualcomm Stadium
• Sun, Nov 28th, 2010 at Indianapolis 08:20 PM Lucas Oil Stadium
• Sun, Dec 5th, 2010 Oakland 04:05 PM Qualcomm Stadium
• Sun, Dec 12th, 2010 Kansas City 04:15 PM Qualcomm Stadium
• Thu, Dec 16th, 2010 San Francisco 08:20 PM Qualcomm Stadium
• Sun, Dec 26th, 2010 at Cincinnati 08:20 PM Paul Brown Stadium
• Sun, Jan 2nd, 2011 at Denver 04:15 PM Invesco Field at Mile High

The crew here at FanSnap is getting ridiculously excited for the upcoming NFL Season. And we know that fans of the NFL and FanSnap followers alike are just as frantic about the regular season kick off as we are. FanSnap’s number one goal is to help fans find the NFL tickets they want, as we all share this same passion for the sport.

So, follow us on twitter (@FanSnap). Check out our Boston and New York specific blogs (where we will feature Patriots, Jets, and Giants specific ticket updates). Check out our main blog for FanSnap 60 Index’s of the week’s hottest NFL tickets. And, if we’re missing something, let us know how we can do better. Send an email, post a reply, track us down on Twitter: in the end, we’re here to help fans find the NFL tickets they desire.

For the next few weeks, we are going to preview the top ten hottest NFL team tickets for the upcoming 2010 season. Last month, FanSnap released their NFL 2010 Pre-Season Rankings: Average Ticket Prices for Upcoming Season. Among the top ten teams with the highest average ticket prices were a few surprises, as well as a few expected results. But this is the list we will use as our base for our NFL team-by-team ticket preview. In case you forgot:

FanSnap NFL 2010 Pre-Season Ranking: Average NFL ticket prices for upcoming season

1. New York Giants tickets (16): $468
2. New Orleans Saints tickets (2): $404
3. Pittsburgh Steelers tickets (19): $390
4. New York Jets tickets (7): $378
5. Chicago Bears tickets (21): $377
6. Philadelphia Eagles tickets (17): $374
7. Dallas Cowboys tickets (4): $327
8. Baltimore Ravens tickets (5): $316
9. Washington Redskins tickets (20): $305
10. San Diego Chargers tickets (10): $271

We’ll break the top ten down, team by team. We want to give you an idea of what the hottest match-ups, according to ticket prices, are for each teams schedule. We’ll also briefly look at the first few games of the season and point out FanSnap infamous “Best Value Tickets”. So for all for your NFL ticket needs, remember one word: FanSnap.

Once again, tennis fans from all over the word will descend on Arthur Ashe Stadium in Flushing Meadows, NY for the final of four Grand Slam events. The US Open has grown to be one of the premier events in sports. More than 700,000 fans are expected over the two weeks (721,059 watched play in 2009). It is the most attended annual sporting event in the world with center court tickets to the finals going for as much as $5,000. This year is no exception. Tickets — especially to the later rounds — are hot. That said, there are plenty of them. We’re currently seeing more than 100,000 US Open ticket listings from 15 different ticket sites on FanSnap.

Late round tickets, however, are priced higher than this time last year — with only Women’s Final tickets priced lower than last year. This is likely due to favorites Justine Henin and  Serena Williams missing the US Open this year.

• Men’s Semifinals- Average ticket prices in 2009 were $262, and in 2010 they are $288: that’s a 10% increase.
• Women’s Semifinals- Average ticket prices in 2009 were $203, and in 2010 they are $223: that’s a 10% increase.
• Men’s Finals- Average ticket prices in 2009 were $332, and in 2010 they are $344: that’s a 4% increase.
• Women’s Finals- Average ticket prices in 2009 were $269, and in 2010 they are $259: that’s a 4% decrease.

More US Open stats from Forbes:

• The US Open is big business generating $200 million in revenue each year and around $100 million in profits.
• Ticket revenue is $80 million annually
• sponsorships generate $60 million each year.
• Serena Williams is the second highest-paid female athlete in the world, earning $20 million over the past year

Read more about the the best value tickets to the 2010 US Open on FanSnap/New York.

We all recall Brett Favre retiring and then unretiring and re-retiring and re-unretiring. Favre has caught flack for being indecisive in the past and has always taken it in stride. Last year, Vikings fans expected Favre to join the team for the 2009 season. When, instead Favre announced his retirement Vikings ticket prices on the ticket market dropped dramatically. Ticket prices stayed down for weeks until Brett Favre announced he would re-unretire and indeed play for Minnesota in 2009. The Favre Effect on Vikings tickets was dramatic.

This year Vikings fans suffered similarly when Favre debated returning for the 2010 season after ankle surgery. After an indecisive off-season. Favre is back with the Vikings for another Super Bowl run. Fans too are on board. Demand for Vikings tickets on the ticket market has jumped by an average of more than $50 per ticket for home games.

The hottest Vikings home games are:

1. Green Bay Packers @ Minnesota Vikings tickets average $230
2. Dallas Cowboys @ Minnesota Vikings tickets average $182
3. Chicago Bears @ Minnesota Vikings tickets average $150
4. Arizona Cardinals @ Minnesota Vikings tickets average $122
5. New York Giants @ Minnesota Vikings tickets average $121
6. Buffalo Bills @ Minnesota Vikings tickets average $98
7. Miami Dolphins @ Minnesota Vikings tickets average $98
8. Detroit Lions @ Minnesota Vikings tickets average $91

The hottest Vikings away games are:

1. Minnesota Vikings @ New Orleans Saints tickets average $587
2. Minnesota Vikings @ Green Bay Packers tickets average $466
3. Minnesota Vikings @ Chicago Bears tickets average $311

Minnesota Vikings 2010 Home Schedule

FanSnap is the most comprehensive ticket search engine in the U.S., displaying ticket data from every major ticket marketplace and every major ticket broker who sells direct online. Of the 60+ most trusted ticket sites online that FanSnap searches, we created the “FanSnap 60 Index.” FanSnap Tickets Reports are based on data gathered from the FanSnap 60.

Tennessee Volunteers tickets are the 9th hottest in the nation, showing the confidence fans have in their new coach, Derek Dooley and new quarterback Matt Simms. It’s likely to be a wild ride for the Volunteers. The team is eager to erase the memory of last year’s season-ending loss to Virginia Tech in the bowl game, not to mention an off-season filled with drama.

So what can we expect from Tennessee this year? Any way you slice it, this is a young team. Simms, while a pedigree QB, will be making his first start. Not to mention, half of the 10 players listed on the two-deep offensive line depth chart are freshmen. On the defensive side of the ball, Tennessee has to replace All-Star Eric Berry who was taken early by the Kansas City Chiefs in the draft. They’ve also already suffered some devastating injuries in camp.

The players on the field may be green, but they are hungry and its just this type of group that can rally together and pull an upset if an opponent isn’t ready. Trying to decide which games to get Tennessee Volunteers tickets to? Luckily for fans, the schedule is packed with exciting match-ups.

The Vols host Oregon and Florida in back-to-back weeks during September, followed by an October home game against the BCS national champions. Tennessee-Alabama tickets are sure to be hot, however FanSnap has you covered. We currently show more than 6,000 tickets for the game, starting at $60.

Tennessee Volunteers 2010 Schedule

Sept. 4 Tennessee v. Tenn. Martin

Sept. 11 Tennessee v. Oregon

Sept. 18 Tennessee v. Florida

Sept. 25 Tennessee v. UAB

Oct. 2 Tennessee at LSU

Oct. 9 Tennessee at Georgia

Oct. 23 Tennessee v. Alabama

Oct. 30 Tennessee at South Carolina

Nov. 6 Tennessee at Memphis

Nov. 13 Tennessee v. Mississippi

Nov. 20 Tennessee at Vanderbilt

Nov. 27 Tennessee v. Kentucky

Search for Tennessee Volunteers tickets with FanSnap!

Last week we shared the Top 25 College FanDemand Rankings, based on college football demand.Over the next couple of weeks we’ll preview each of the top 10 teams, providing everything you need to know about your favorite teams and the must-see games! Starting off, the West Virginia Mountaineers.

West Virginia Mountaineers tickets are ranked #10 on our list, however the team is ranked number #24 in both the USA Today and The Sporting News polls. They return 18 starters including speedy running back Noel Devine. But even with all that talent its going to be a battle in the Big East, with most pundits already awarding the conference title to Pittsburgh.

Since the turn of the century, the West Virginia Mountaineers have been an exciting football team to watch. They have finished in the top 25 6 times since 2000, and have won the Big East in 2003, 2004, 2005, and 2007. However, the Mountaineers have some tough match-ups on the schedule, including a Sept 25 visit to Baton Rouge. The game is slated for a 7pm start so you know the Tiger fans are going to be rowdy. West Virginia-LSU tickets are going to be hot ones.

Other key games include West Virginia-UNLV on 10/9; West Virginia-Maryland on 9/18 and West Virginia-Pittsburgh on 11/26. FanSnap currently shows more than 3,000 tickets for the Pitt game, starting at $51.

Get your West Virginia Mountaineers tickets today so you can be in the stands for all the big games!

West Virginia Mountaineers 2010 Schedule

Sept. 4, 2010-West Virginia v Coastal Carolina

Sept. 10, 2010-West Virginia at Marshall

Sept. 18, 2010-West Virginia v Maryland

Sept. 25, 2010-West Virginia at LSU

Oct. 9, 2010-West Virginia v UNLV

Oct. 14, 2010-West Virginia v South Florida

Oct. 23, 2010-West Virginia v Syracuse

Oct. 29, 2010-West Virginia at Connecticut

Nov. 13, 2010-West Virginia v Cincinnati

Nov. 20, 2010-West Virginia at Louisville

Nov. 26, 2010-West Virginia at Pittsburgh

Dec. 4, 2010-West Virginia v Rutgers

1. Pittsburgh Steelers @ New York Giants tickets, Sat Aug 21: $113
2. Baltimore Ravens @ Washington Redskins tickets , Sat Aug 21: $111
3. Houston Texans @ New Orleans Saints tickets, Sat Aug 21: $107
4. Detroit Tigers @ Denver Broncos tickets, Sat, Aug 21: $102
5. Oakland Raides @ Chicago Bears tickets, Sat Aug 21: $92

There are a number of different underlying stories to look out for this weekend. Tim Tebow, two-time National Champion and Heisman Trophy Winning quarterback for the Denver Broncos may make his home debut at Invesco Field.  It should be interesting to see how he fits in with the new Denver Bronco’s offense.

We will also see the re-uniting of coach Mike Shanahan and Clinton Portis in Washington. The duo was once potent in Denver from 2002-2003, where Portis won a Rookie of the Year Award under Shanahan’s run heavy offense. Can this team, with the addition of star quarterback Donovan McNabb, mesh well enough in the pre-season to come out firing in September?

For NFL tickets to all games, remember to check out FanSnap.

FanSnap is the most comprehensive ticket search engine in the U.S., displaying ticket data from every major ticket marketplace and every major ticket broker who sells direct online. Of the 60+ most trusted ticket sites online that FanSnap searches, we created the “FanSnap 60 Index.” FanSnap Tickets Reports are based on data gathered from the FanSnap 60.

We noticed we were blogging a lot about live events in Boston and New York. That’s not a surprise given that the amount of events going on in both cities throughout the year. Fans in these cities have to choose what they want to do on any given night: sometimes its between a baseball game in the Bronx, a concert at PNC, or a show on Broadway. Or its sitting atop the Green Monster at Fenway versus a country music festival at Gillette Stadium. Tough life. We make it easier.

We’re creating new FanSnap blogs for Boston and New York. Each blog will be the go-to resource for all things sports, tickets, and theatre related within each respective city. We will provide you with the best possible tools to help guide you towards the events you want to see.

For example, weekly FanSnap 60 Index’s on in both Boston and New York rank the “hottest” concerts in each given metro area. We follow closely each professional sports team home and away appearances, and we can help point you to the best valued ticket available on the secondary ticket market. Each specific blog is also a great place to find any sort of breaking news on anything ticket related, as well as commentary from bloggers within each city’s home crowd.

So, for Bostonians, check out:

FanSnap Boston Blog: How to Get the Hottest Tickets

And for New Yorkers, follow:

FanSnap New York: How to Get the Hottest Tickets

In two weeks, the fourth  and final tennis Grand Slam event will hit Queens, New York. The U.S. Open brings the best tennis from around the world into two weeks of hard-court action and drama. Tennis fans from around the world will descend on Flushing Meadows tennis facilities to participate in what is always one of the most popular events in New York City every summer.

Men’s tennis is more competitive then ever, with Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer constantly duking it out for the number one spot. Although Nadal currently holds #1, Federer has won the U.S. Open five times, from 2004-2008. Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray are ready to play as well, and Murray may be one of the tournament favorites, considering his recent win at the Rogers Cup in Toronto. Americans Andy Roddick and John Isner may sit back a few spots on the ATP Rankings, but with some rowdy New York fans behind them, they may just be able to play deep into the U.S. Open and pull off some upsets.

As has been the case for many years now at Flushing Meadows, the Williams sisters are among the favorites to advance to the finals. Serena is sitting atop the World Ranking, and is most likely to hoist the US Open trophy again this year (as she won last year).

US Open tickets

The U.S. Open lasts for two weeks, and tennis fans can get a bit overwhelmed by the multitudes of US Open event tickets available for purchase. So for the weeks leading up to the tournament, FanSnap will help you sort through the different days of tennis and point you towards the best tickets possible at the highest possible value.

So what are U.S. Open ticket prices looking like compared to last year? As of August 16, 2009, tickets to Session 1 (first day on August 31st) were averaging $148. As of August 16, this year, US Open Session 1 tickets are averaging $127 dollars.

For Session 1, there are a lot of great tickets still available. Check out CourtSide Corner 43 tickets for $317 dollars, which is 31% below the average price of similar tickets on the secondary market.

Less than three weeks to go until the 2010-2011 college football season. Tailgaters are ready. Players are ready. Coaches are ready. Not to mention fans who are eagerly scooping up their college football tickets. While we can’t tell you who will win the BCS Championship, we’ve got something almost as good. Ah yes, we’re bringing back the Top 25 College FanDemand Rankings!

Like most of last year, Ohio State Buckeye tickets are once again at the top of the list, with the reigning BCS Champions, Alabama not far behind. Notre Dame tickets and USC Trojans tickets rank 3rd and 4th. Both teams had big coaching changes and should be fun to watch. The biggest surprise – Texas Longhorn tickets - despite coming off a BCS appearance and being ranked in the top 5 in many polls, the Longhorns sit at the bottom of our list.

Slicing and dicing the data in other ways, we get an interesting glimpse into conference demand. With 3 of the top 6, and 7 teams total, its clear SEC games are the most sought after. Other conferences with multiple teams on our list include the Big 12 (5 teams), Big 10 (4 teams), ACC (3 teams) and Sun Belt (2 teams). The Big East, Conference-USA, and Pac-10 all have one team. Notre Dame is the only independent.

Oh and in the battle of the Tigers – Auburn Tigers tickets, rank slightly ahead of LSU Tigers tickets with Clemson Tigers tickets much further down the list. So without further ado, here it is!

Top 25 College FanDemand Rankings for 8-16-2010 (Average Ticket Price for Home Games)

1. Ohio State Buckeye tickets – $523.67
2. Alabama Crimson Tide tickets – $504.00
3. Notre Dame Fighting Irish tickets – $478.33
4. USC Trojans tickets – $424.50
5. Georgia Bulldogs tickets – $369.40
6. Florida Gators tickets – $338.50
7. Auburn Tigers tickets – $292.33
8. LSU Tigers tickets – $284.20
9. Tennessee Volunteers tickets – $222.11
10. West Virginia Mountaineers tickets – $220.75
11. Oklahoma Sooners tickets – $214.26
12. Penn State Nittany Lions tickets – $209.11
13. North Carolina Tar Heels tickets – $208.03
14. Iowa Hawkeyes tickets – $206.75
15. Texas A&M Aggies tickets – $184.00
16. Florida Atlantic Owls tickets – $182.00
17. Michigan Wolverines tickets – $177.78
18. Nebraska Cornhuskers tickets – $165.00
19. South Carolina Gamecocks tickets – $159.88
20. Virginia Tech Hokies tickets – $148.75
21. Clemson Tigers tickets – $139.14
22. UAB Blazers tickets – $138.60
23. Colorado Buffaloes tickets – $138.29
24. Louisiana-Lafayette Ragin Cajuns tickets – $138.00
25. Texas Longhorns tickets – $132.14

No question this is going to be a great football season. A search on FanSnap finds plenty of tickets available for every one of these teams. Do you have your tickets yet? You can even find your favorite team’s tickets on our new iPhone Application. We may be biased, but we think it’s the best iPhone tickets app out there!

FanSnap is the most comprehensive ticket search engine in the U.S., displaying ticket data from every major ticket marketplace and every major ticket broker who sells direct online. Of the 60+ most trusted ticket sites online that FanSnap searches, we created the “FanSnap 60 Index.” FanSnap Tickets Reports are based on data gathered from the FanSnap 60.



Although it feels late in the season to be talking about a player returning to visit his former team’s home stadium, that will be the narrative in the Bronx later this evening. Because of MLB’s strange scheduling, those with Yankees tickets for tonight’s game against the Tigers will have the opportunity to enjoy Johnny Damon’s first visit to Yankee Stadium in 2010.

Johnny Damon signed a four year deal with the Yankees after the 2005 season as a Red Sox hero. Just a year removed from bringing Boston their first championship in 86 years, it was hard to fathom Damon ever becoming a Yankees fan favorite. In four years with the club, however, he did just that.  He not only helped to change a clubhouse culture in dire need of change, but he also performed on the field.  In fact, many Yankees fans are hard-pressed to recall a more successful signing by long time General Manager, Brian Cashman.

From 2006-2009, Damon only finished in the top 20 in MVP voting once (in 2006), didn’t make any All-Star appearances, and slowly declined in the field (going from noodle-armed center fielder to noodle-armed left fielder/DH). However, he was as solid as a rock offensively, compiling an OPS+ of 113 (an on base plus slugging average 13% better than the rest of MLB). He saved his best season for his last in pinstripes, defying age with a .282/.365/.482, short-porch aided triple slash line. He topped it all off with a heroic two-base steal in the pivotal game five of the World Series, helping to lead the Yankees to their 27th World Championship.

After the 2009 season, the path seemed to be paved for Damon to return to New York and finish his career in pinstripes.  Hideki Matsui quickly saw the writing on the wall and bolted to Anaheim, leaving an open DH slot.  Unfortunately, Damon was represented by super agent Scott Boras, who refused to budge on multi-year contract demands.  There was a lot of he-said/she-said back and forth between the Yankees, Johnny Damon and Scott Boras, but the end result was Johnny Damon signing a one year, 8 million dollar deal with the Detroit Tigers, significantly less than what the Yankees supposedly had offered initially.

In the eyes of some Yankees fans, this forever sealed Johnny Damon’s legacy as a mercenary. Back in 2006, it had seemed to be a bit of an overreaction by Red Sox fans to boo Damon so vociferously in his return to Fenway park, four years later, Yankees fans were finally able to understand their frustration. There was no better of a fit for Johnny Damon than the Yankees heading into the 2010 season. They had a spot for him, they wanted him back, he was a well-liked teammate and the fans loved him. Unfortunately, he wasted that opportunity by being a puppet to a money-first, happiness second agent.

All of that leads us to tonight in the Bronx. Johnny Damon will likely receive his 2009 World Series ring, but what will the reaction from fans holding Yankees tickets be? Will they remember him as the fun-loving winner with the unorthodox but wildly successful swing, or will they remember him as the former Red Sox mercenary who spurned the team because they didn’t want to overpay him?

If you want to be there to witness the reaction to Johnny Damon’s return to Yankee Stadium firsthand, FanSnap has you covered. There are 8/16 Yankees vs. Tigers tickets available all over the stadium, and the best value tool is zeroing in on some great deals.

Ross Sheingold is a Yankees season ticket holder, the creator of the Yankee Stadium blog NYY Stadium Insider and a contributing writer at FanSnap’s blog.  You can find him on Twitter @StadiumInsider

The NFL Regular Season is fast approaching, and for football fans anxious to get to the start of the action, they can wet their football palettes in the next few weeks with pre-season football. This weekend, pre-season match-ups will give fans a glimpse into the potential of their team for the upcoming season.

FanSnap collected data from out “FanSnap 60″ in order to look what preseason match-up is most sought after by the fans, according to average ticket price on the secondary market.

1. Detroit Lions @ Pittsburgh Steelers: $94
2. Oakland Raiders @ Dallas Cowboys: $91
3. New Orleans Saints @ New England Patriots: $90
4. Carolina Panthers @ Baltimore Orioles: $81
5. Cleveland Browns @ Green Bay Packers: $78

Pittsburgh Steelers tickets this weekend are drawing the highest average price, which isn’t  at all surprising, considering the Steelers often have some of the hottest tickets in the league.

Although the Cincinnati Bengals are not on this list, an interesting number to note: Before Terrell Owens signed with the Bengals on July 27, ticket prices for this weekend’s preseason game were only $36. As of today, August 12, they are averaging $59, a 58% percent increase.

For NFL tickets to all pre-season and regular season games, check out FanSnap for the highest possible values on the best tickets.

Need great tickets to a hot live event?  There’s now an app for that.

We are excited to announce the launch of the FanSnap Application for iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad.  Our live-event tickets iPhone application is free in the iTunes app store [link] just in time for the NFL and NCAA football seasons, the approaching MLB playoffs, the concert and Broadway seasons, and the announcement of the new NBA schedule.

Perfect for fans who are looking for hot, even sold out, events, while they are on the go, the FanSnap tickets app puts 15 million sports, theater and concert tickets in your pocket!  With the FanSnap app, fans who want to catch a nearby game, concert, or show – even the same day – can find and buy tickets from their iPhone.

With the FanSnap tickets app, you can:

• See a list of the hottest live events nearby using the iPhone’s built-in location finder.
• Access local sports teams, concert and theater events via one-touch icons that the app automatically generates.
• Refer to FanSnap’s detailed venue maps, including row level labeling.
• See photos of the view from sections of the venue (available for many venues).
• Access previous saved searches for their favorite teams, performing artists, or shows.
• Click through to buy online, or even call to buy tickets with quick one-touch dialing.

No matter where you are,  you can find the best sports, theater, and concert tickets for less with the FanSnap app. The mobile ‘web app’ version of FanSnap.com was recently named one of Boston Globe Magazine’s ‘15 Must-Have Local Apps.’  We have improved upon that with the addition of the maps and venue photos with the goal of making the FanSnap app an indispensable resource for fans.

The FanSnap app is particularly useful for spur of the moment ticket buying, business travelers, and vacationing fans.  FanSnap search results include tickets from dozens of the most trusted ticket companies in the U.S., so a search, for example, for tickets behind home plate to tonight’s game, or for concerts playing locally this weekend for less than $50 a ticket, is a snap.

Here are a few screenshots: