Hi All,

My boyfriend and I will be in LA on Jan 17 and Jan 21. We're looking to get Lakers tickets for either of these evenings. Ticketmaster doesn't have any available. Just wondering if we'd have luck buying from Scalpers. Will be pay above face value? If we wait til the 1st quarter starts, will they give us a deal?

Thanks!

Have you tried ebay? If the opponents are not popular you can often get better prices there than from the on-line brokers. If the opponents are popular its often a wash. either way you pay above face value - often way above - depending on popularity of this particular game.

The trouble with scalpers in the street is that they sometime have fake tickets - and unless you can tell the difference you can be out of luck.

If Kobe is to be believed, I'd say your best bet might be to get friendly with Karl Malone.

Try www.craigslist.com. Also, the classified ad's in the LA Times have lots of ticket listings.

Other than Xmas day's game between "the Corvette and the brick wall", I don't think that the Lakers are very enjoyable to watch this year, so you may have good luck finding tickets.

Please print out a seating chart of the Staples Center before you start your quest. Because of the 2 rows of luxury boxes, the seats in the 300 section are waaay up there, and not worth it IMO. On the SC web site, there is a function that lets you view the court from your seat. Frankly, I think the view they show from the 300 section is from a zoom lens of the camera.

Doesn't someone have to die for tickets to become available?

Seriously, do you know anyone in LA? Networking always helps. By shear accident one year my girlfriends and I ended up with Atlanta Braves tickets in Ted Turner's Box at the old Atlanta Fulton County Stadium. My girlfriend, who lives in Atlanta had just bought a new car and started dating the guy who sold her the car. Turns out his mom was Ted Turners exec Secretary/Assistant.

My point is, you just never know.

Get them on Ebay.

E Bay will have what you need but be careful that you don't overpay and that you are buying from a reputable seller.

OK - those two games are Utah and Golden State. Definitely not what you could call big draws, especially GS. (And games LA should be able to pull out)

I wouldn't do e-bay for those caliber of games. Just hang around Staples and you should easily get tix for face value, or a little above. And IF you are nervy enough to wait until about 5 mins after tip off, possibly below face value.

Now the game between those two is the T-Wolves - you'd have a MUCH harder time getting tix to that one.

Thanks for your suggestions. We kept watching Ticketmaster and scored some tickets today to the Jan. 17th game. Nosebleed section, but that's fine.