Lakers tickets are among the most marked-up in American sports. A $90 face-value upper-deck seat routinely lists for $250+ on resale sites minutes after release — and courtside seats can carry five-figure premiums. But the markup isn't inevitable. With the right timing and channels, you can sit in Crypto.com Arena paying exactly what the team charges.
Here's every legitimate path to face-value Lakers tickets, ranked from most reliable to most opportunistic.
The Official Channels: Ticketmaster and the Lakers Direct
The Lakers sell tickets primarily through Ticketmaster, and the single biggest lever is timing: single-game tickets typically go on sale to the general public in mid-September for the upcoming season. Create your Ticketmaster account now, save payment details, enable notifications for the Lakers, and be online the minute sales open. High-demand games (Celtics, Warriors, Clippers, opening night) sell out in minutes; Tuesday games against rebuilding teams can linger for days.
Join the Lakers' official presale list and any free fan clubs — presale codes regularly go to email subscribers and app users before public onsale. Also check the Lakers' official ticket exchange: it's the team's authorized resale marketplace where season-ticket holders list seats, often at or near face value, with the team's fraud protection. Prices there fluctuate with demand, but it's dramatically safer and often cheaper than third-party resale.
Season Ticket Holders: The Face-Value Goldmine
Here's the open secret: many season-ticket holders can't attend all 41 home games and sell unwanted games near face value to avoid eating the cost. Find them through Lakers fan communities on Reddit (r/lakers game threads), Facebook groups, and fan forums — look for sellers with post history, not brand-new accounts. Transactions at face value (or even below for weak opponents) are common for weeknight games.
Safety rules: never pay with irreversible methods (wire transfers, gift cards, crypto) — use PayPal Goods & Services or meet in person at the arena. Ask for the Ticketmaster transfer (not screenshots, which can be duplicated) — legitimate sellers transfer tickets directly through the Ticketmaster app to your account. If a deal feels rushed or too good for a marquee game, walk away. The face-value market is real, but so are the scammers targeting it.
For the authoritative take, visit Official Lakers tickets page.
Timing Tricks: When Prices Drop
Even on resale markets, prices follow predictable patterns. The most expensive moment is the week after tickets release (peak hype); prices typically soften 2–4 weeks out, then drop sharply in the final 24–48 hours as sellers slash prices rather than eat the seats. For non-marquee games, waiting until game day can cut prices 30–50% — though you risk sellouts for big matchups.
Within the season, target strategically: weeknight games against non-contenders are the cheapest inventory all year. Upper-deck corners (sections 301–330) offer the best value sightlines per dollar. And consider the preseason — tickets are a fraction of regular-season prices, the atmosphere is still electric, and you might see the stars play limited minutes. For pure experience-per-dollar, preseason at face value is unbeatable.
What to Avoid: Markups, Fakes, and 'Deals'
Avoid buying from scalpers outside the arena — it's illegal in many jurisdictions, the tickets are frequently counterfeit or duplicated, and you'll pay the highest prices of any channel. Be skeptical of 'VIP packages' from unofficial sellers; legitimate premium experiences come through the Lakers' official premium sales team.
On resale sites, always compare the all-in price (with fees, which can add 20–30%) against face value — a '$120' ticket at $165 all-in versus $90 face isn't the deal it appears. And never buy PDF or screenshot tickets; since the Lakers went mobile-only, valid tickets live in the Ticketmaster app under the buyer's account. If someone can't transfer to your account, they don't have tickets to sell.
You can verify the details at Ticketmaster official ticket sales.
Premium Upgrades: When They're Worth It
Not every Lakers ticket needs to be upper-deck. For a once-a-year splurge, the lower-bowl sidelines (sections 1–12) deliver the experience that justifies the markup — you're close enough to hear the sneakers squeak, and the sightlines make the game legible in a way the 300s can't. Buy these at face value during the September onsale; resale premiums on premium seats are the steepest in the building.
The real premium hack is the suite and club market: groups of 6–12 can sometimes book suite inventory through the Lakers' premium office at per-person costs comparable to good lower-bowl seats, with food, private restrooms, and actual legroom. For corporate entertaining or milestone celebrations, the value proposition flips — the experience justifies the spend. And consider the Lexus Club or similar all-inclusive areas for a special occasion: the food-and-drink-included math often beats buying concessions separately. Splurge deliberately, once a season, on the game that matters most to you.
If you're buying on resale markets, set up price alerts rather than buying impulsively — platforms like Ticketmaster, SeatGeek, and Gametime all offer alert features, and patience routinely saves 20–30% as game day approaches and sellers get anxious. Gametime's last-minute deals are particularly strong for weeknight games against non-contenders. And always compare the all-in price with fees before celebrating a 'deal' — a $110 ticket with $35 in fees isn't the bargain it appears. The disciplined buyer checks three platforms, waits for the 48-hour dip, and never pays the first price they see.
One more angle worth knowing: the Lakers occasionally release additional ticket inventory closer to game day — production holds, player allocations, and league returns that never went through the initial onsale. Following the Lakers' official ticket accounts and enabling notifications catches these drops, which sell at face value. Combined with the season-ticket-holder market and strategic timing, a resourceful fan can attend multiple games per season at or near face value while others pay double on resale. The markup is a tax on impatience; refuse to pay it.
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Getting Lakers tickets at face value comes down to three moves: buy at the September Ticketmaster onsale with presale codes, tap the season-ticket-holder market for weeknight games, and time resale purchases for the 48-hour pre-game dip. Skip the scalpers, insist on Ticketmaster transfers, and target low-demand games. The markup is optional — but only if you plan ahead.
Frequently Asked Questions
When do Lakers single-game tickets go on sale?
Typically mid-September for the upcoming season via Ticketmaster. Join the Lakers' email list and enable Ticketmaster notifications for presale codes before the public onsale.
What is the cheapest way to see a Lakers game?
Preseason games at face value, or weeknight regular-season games against non-contenders bought from season-ticket holders near face value. Upper-deck corners offer the best value seats.
Is the Lakers Ticket Exchange cheaper than StubHub?
Often yes for comparable seats — it's the team's official marketplace where season-ticket holders list extras, frequently near face value, with fraud protection built in.
Are screenshot Lakers tickets valid?
No. The Lakers use mobile-only ticketing through Ticketmaster. Valid tickets must be transferred to your Ticketmaster account — screenshots and PDFs are not accepted and are a common scam.