I preempt our regular programming. I had an awesome post planned for today, but then my oldest daughter returned from college and told me something that made my mouth sweat. (You can enjoy the planned awesome post Thursday.)
Regular readers may remember I swore off commercial television decades ago, including my beloved football (not to be confused with soccer, my non-North American friends). Still, football is a massive part of the backwoods lifestyle of Phuket, Wisconsin. (Can you blame us? It’s all we have! Either that or admiring our frozen tundra.)
Now I know what you’re thinking. You like football and if you enjoy the sport you should be able to enjoy the sport. I agree. But readers around here are frugal and it takes a king’s ransom to get into the game! If you’re lucky enough to be in the 1% it’s still affordable, but if you’re in the 1% somebody else paid for those tickets or you don’t attend such extravagant events. Paying for NFL game tickets is for the 99% and chumps.
You can blame this post on procrastination. All weekend I kept promising myself I’d write Monday’s post early and get a jump-start on posts for when I was at FinCon in a few weeks. Instead, I focused my attention on YouTube videos of the Red Green Show. I think you’d agree it was a good trade-off.
Before We Get Our Free Tickets
I’m writing this late Sunday night (because I never wait until the last minute to write what needs to be published Monday). The Packers are playing the Bears in the late game. Yes, I’m missing all the action once again. But my daughter’s words echoed in my mind: free Packers tickets.
If you gave me free tickets to an NFL game I’d sell them. I have never—and never will—watch an NFL game at a stadium. If God hates me I might end up forced to watch a commercial laden television broadcast at the family Thanksgiving gathering.
One reason I’ll never watch a game at Lambeau Field is because I heard they play the commercials in the stadium to all the chumps who coughed up serious change to attend. Is there any way to avoid this garbage? You can correct me in the comments, but it;s what I’ve heard.
Deep down I secretly hope the Packers get clobbered early in the season. It is soooooo annoying listening to the nonstop football discussion as if it makes any difference. I hear it at the office, from family, clients, at the gym while lifting weights and worst of all, in the friggen steam room at the gym when I just want to do is unwind. (FYI: I can’t name the coach or a single player on the team.)
Yes, I defend your right to watch any sport you want; I just don’t want to hear about it.
And my dream came true! Due to the nugget of knowledge imbued by my daughter I was interested enough to check Yahoo Sports to see how the Packers are doing tonight and they are getting gutted 20 to nothing. Hahahahahah!
Ah, the gym will be so quiet tomorrow as the proletariat licks their wounds as I workout. (Okay, smartass! I procrastinated more than you thought. I saw the 20-0 score on Yahoo and went back to enjoying Red Green. Then I vomited a little in my mouth when I went back and saw the final score. Looks like a mass shooting is a high probability at a gym near a certain accountant’s establishment. God, how I dream of the time each year when the Packers are out of the playoffs.)
By now you’re probably wondering if I have the goods. I do. The reason I tell you all this stuff is because the information I need to impart takes all of 15 words to explain and I have column inches to fill. This is powerful information and needed dissemination. So, on to the meat of our presentation.
How to Snag Free Tickets to Any NFL Game
Once again, I don’t have insider information on any of this so you just have to trust me.
Football tickets are expensive. I’m guessing they run a hundred bucks or so per person, plus parking, program (do they charge for those things or even still have them?) and food. They probably charge to use the restroom.
This is serious ka-ching. The kids have to stay home at these prices or dad would be set back a thousand smackeroos or more!
No more procrastinating. What I discovered is more than free tickets to any NFL game; you actually get paid to go to the game!
It works like this. Game day is a messy experience. Stadiums need to keep on top of the garbage intoxicated fans keeps throwing everywhere other than the waste basket so they pay people to come to the game and tidy up.
Each team is different, I’m sure. But all teams have the same problem and need to keep things tidy on game day. And this is where my daughter came in.
The secret she told me was PTK (Heather is a smarty pants and is the VP of the Wisconsin PTK) sends people to Packer games all season to raise money for the organization. For the Packers at least, you need at least 10 people to attend during the game. I was told the group was paid ~$800 for 5 hours of time during the game and they actually get to see some of the game (always a downside).
For frugal people like you this is a monster idea! Not only can you save hundreds on an expensive habit, you actually have a very part-time side gig! Aren’t you excited?
There is a potential catch. I’m unsure if only non-profit organizations are allowed to do this. But that is a small speed bump people for folks as intelligent as the people around here. Heck, you can gather your buddies from the tavern league to get the requisite 10 people. (Hey, if you consider NFL tickets an acceptable expense you also probably spend crazy amounts of money on watered down hooch at the local tavern.)
Game Plan
Every team in every major sport probably has a similar program. If you really do love the sport, this is a good way to support your team while enjoying the game from the inside. Rather than crack open your wallet for an expensive outing, consider participating. You can attend the game for free and get paid!
Yes, you don’t get to enjoy those very comfortable seats. Instead, you can walk around as you enjoy the game. When you see trash blowing around you pick it up and put it where it belongs. As a responsible citizen you do that anyway. Right?
Regardless your sport of choice, check into this nugget of information. Check what the rules are for your favorite team. You can earn a few dollars while enjoying a great time out with friends. If it requires a non-profit, join one. Then volunteer. The organization probably keeps the money, but so what? You help a good cause while getting free entertainment. Think of all the fun.
Disclaimer
I know I was facetious in this post. It was about the only way to write it. Just because I walked away from spectator sports decades ago is no reason you can’t enjoy the game. I made my choice; you should make yours without regard to a crazy accountant’s personal decisions. The idea is short, sweet and to the point. But sporting events are expensive and this information can make game day more fun than ever, raise money for a cause (or you) and allow you free attendance.
My choices are different than yours. You can maintain a frugal lifestyle while enjoying the good things in life. I bet helping out on game day would make the game even more pleasurable. It is different than passively sitting in a chair and watching the game. You can be part of the team effort.
Honestly, I enjoy the excitement the guys at the gym express when the Packers are doing well. I don’t watch, but still cheer on the home team. I only know the name of one player. (Rogers is still the quarterback, right?)
Spending money is okay, no matter what you’ve heard. Overspending is a different story. Professional sports can set you back serious coin. Especially while you are reducing debt and building toward financial independence, you should focus on reducing spending. Now you can keep spending low as you build your wealth and enjoy the things you like in life.
And I saw the Packers eked out a close one. Must have been a nail biter. The guys at the gym will be excited. I’ll be excited for them, too. Go Packers! Even if I never see a game this year.
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Richard Crites
Friday 23rd of September 2022
Great
Tonye
Monday 5th of September 2022
Cool I like it
Jolena rohme
Monday 9th of September 2019
I'm trying to figure out how I can go about getting free or reduced tickets the NFL game which would be the saints and Tennessee Titans December 22nd. my son and a bunch of other boys play for the brook saints bullitt county churches in shepherdsville Kentucky. A lot of the boys this is the last year being a saints football player I think it would be amazing for these young boys to meet the saints. If anyone can tell me what I can do or who to email I will be greatly appreciated
Alicia Rodas
Wednesday 2nd of January 2019
Cool I like it
Kristen
Monday 10th of September 2018
I do something similar, but for our local community theater shows which I find FAR more entertaining than football. I've been a concessions volunteer for a few years so I can catch the shows for free. Most theaters and concert halls need usher volunteers, even the really big ones, so it's a great way to see all kinds of shows for free with very little work.
Keith Taxguy
Monday 10th of September 2018
Excellent! I think this idea can work in almost any venue. Thanks for the comment, Kristen.