Season Ticket Best Practices — The Complete Guide

Whether you hold NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, MLS, WNBA, or NWSL season tickets, these best practices help you sell smarter, coordinate with co-owners, and keep more of every sale.

1. 1

   1. Plan Your Season Before It Starts

   Decide which games you'll attend vs. sell before the season begins — not game by game. Set co-owner preferences early so Ticketholdr can assign every game automatically.

2. 2

   2. Sell on Schedule Release Day

   Prices peak the moment schedules are announced — before injury news and before public demand shifts.

   NFL 🏈

   Schedule releases in May. Sell immediately.

   NBA 🏀

   Schedule releases in August. List rivalry games first.

   MLB ⚾

   Schedule releases in January. Opening Day sells fast.

   NHL 🏒

   Schedule releases in July. Sell playoff-atmosphere games.

   MLS ⚽

   Schedule releases in December. List derby matches first.

   WNBA 🏀

   Schedule releases in March. Marquee matchups move fast.

   NWSL ⚽

   Schedule releases in January. Rivalry games sell out.

3. 3

   3. List on Multiple Platforms Simultaneously

   Listing on one platform limits your buyer pool. Ticketholdr lists tickets on StubHub, SeatGeek, Vivid Seats, Gametime, and Ticketmaster simultaneously — with no double-selling.

4. 4

   4. Price Competitively — Know When to Go High

   Check comparable section and row listings before setting a price. These game types reliably command premium pricing:

   • •Rivalry games (derby matchups, division rivals)
   • •Sold-out or near-capacity games
   • •Holiday games (Christmas, Thanksgiving, Opening Night)
   • •Playoff contender matchups late in the season
   • •Games against star players (LeBron, Mahomes visiting teams)
5. 5

   5. Coordinate Co-Owners Early

   The biggest source of friction for season packages with multiple co-owners is last-minute game swapping via group text. Ticketholdr lets co-owners submit preferences once and assigns every game automatically.

6. 6

   6. Understand the Tax Implications

   The IRS requires resale platforms to issue 1099 forms to sellers who earn more than $600 annually from ticket sales (per the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021). Keep records of your original ticket costs — your taxable gain is the difference between purchase price and sale price, not the full sale amount.

   This is informational only and does not constitute tax advice. Consult a qualified tax professional for your situation.

7. 7

   7. Use Mobile Ticketing for Everything

   Every major league now uses digital-only ticketing. Download your team's official app and link your account manager before the season starts — never screenshot your barcode, since most teams rotate barcodes every 15 seconds.

8. 8

   8. Transfer vs. Sell — Know the Difference

   Use transfer for trusted co-owners. Use Ticketholdr to sell to the open market.

   Transfer

   • Send tickets to a friend at face value.
   • Fast, free, no fees.
   • Best for co-owners swapping games.

   Sell

   • List on resale platforms at market rate.
   • Takes a fee — 10% on Ticketholdr vs 15–30% elsewhere.
   • Earns true market value.

   Transfer is best between trusted co-owners. Sell when you want the open market to set the price.