Events like the Final Four basketball tournament present great ticket buying opportunity- buy tickets from the losing team after the first game. Strangely enough it is much more difficult to get tickets to the semi-final game of the “Big Dance” than to the actual national championship game. It makes sense when you consider that there are four fan bases vying for tickets for the semi’s and only two fan bases vying for the finals. Watch the first game at a sports bar near the stadium and the plant yourself by the exits with 10 minutes to go in the game. You can buy a ticket from a disgruntled fan who is upset for driving 22 hours from North Carolina to see the game. Usually you can get tickets for much less than face.

Note: if you use this strategy you will still need to buy another ticket in order to get into the second game of the semi-finals. The sporting venue will not let you stub into the second game but rather you need an actual ticket. Here is what to do: buy a ticket for a decent seat from a losing fan (preferably on the lower level) then find a scalper who is willing to unload a ticket to a terrible seat. Use the terrible ticket to get into the venue and then take your seat on the lower level. Mr. Thrifty has used this strategy very successfully at several Final Fours.