The best place to buy Lakers tickets depends on what you need. For face value and the least risk, start with the team's official sellers: Ticketmaster for primary sales and the NBA's authorized resale marketplace for sold-out games. For a wider choice of seats and prices, a resale marketplace with a real buyer guarantee, such as ours, is the next stop. Below, we compare the options on fees, protection and seat value, so you can pick one and buy with confidence.
TL;DR
- Official channels (the team, Ticketmaster and the NBA's authorized resale marketplace) are the safest starting point, and the NBA says its resale tickets are 100% authentic or your money back.
- Lakers home games drew 99.8% of capacity last season, so many games are sold out at face value and resale is where most fans end up.
- Compare the all-in price at checkout, not the listed price. Fees are set by each team and its ticketing partner, so they differ from site to site.
- Capital City Tickets is a strong resale option if you want a wide price range, promo codes and a 100% guarantee on authenticity and delivery.
- Upper-level and corner seats usually give the best value. Buying a week or so before tip-off can help, but the opponent and the day of the week matter more than the calendar.
Table of Contents
- The main places to buy Lakers tickets
- Option 1: Buy directly from the team and Ticketmaster
- Option 2: The NBA's authorized resale marketplace
- Option 3: Independent resale marketplaces
- How the options compare
- What affects the price of a Lakers ticket
- Where to sit for less
- How to check the real cost before you pay
- Our perspective
- Ready to look for Lakers seats?
- FAQ
- Sources
The main places to buy Lakers tickets
There are really three kinds of sellers. Knowing which is which helps you read any listing you find.
Primary sellers sell tickets at the price the team sets. For the Lakers, that means the team's own ticketing and its official partner, Ticketmaster. The NBA's ticket hub, NBATickets.com, links fans to official team ticketing partners for primary sales.
Authorized resale is the league-approved marketplace for tickets that fans, including season ticket holders, no longer want. Prices are set by sellers, so they move with demand.
Independent resale marketplaces are open platforms where brokers and fans list tickets. They offer the widest inventory, but protections differ by site, which is why the guarantee matters more than the logo.
Option 1: Buy directly from the team and Ticketmaster
If a game still has face-value inventory, this is the cleanest purchase you can make. The NBA's guidance is blunt: buy directly from the team to avoid duplicate or fraudulent tickets, according to its official FAQ.
The catch is supply. With the Lakers filling nearly every seat, popular dates, such as rivalry games and weekend games against star-led teams, tend to sell out fast. Ticketmaster and AXS are also described as the arena's official outlets for Lakers and other events at Crypto.com Arena.
The tickets are mobile-only. The team says they must be scanned from a mobile phone, and you reach them through the Lakers Mobile App or the Account Manager website. Plan for that before you buy for a group, because you will need to transfer seats to friends and family.
Best for: Marquee games you can plan far ahead, and buyers who want the lowest risk.
Watch out for: Sold-out dates, and fees added at checkout. Teams and venues negotiate fee structures with their ticketing partners, so the fee schedule is not universal.
Option 2: The NBA's authorized resale marketplace
When the primary box is empty, the league's own resale marketplace is the next safest step. The NBA states that tickets there carry a 100% authentic or your money back promise, and barcode verification applies to select events.
Season ticket holders list through the team's account manager. Other fans can choose "browse resale" on NBATickets.com and follow the prompts, which is also how you would sell tickets you can't use. Cancellation terms for purchases made there follow the Ticket Exchange policy, so read it before you commit.
Best for: Buyers who want an official guarantee and are happy to pay market prices.
Watch out for: A smaller selection than open marketplaces, and prices that rise with demand.
Option 3: Independent resale marketplaces
This is where most price shopping happens. Large names include StubHub, SeatGeek, Vivid Seats, Gametime, and Capital City Tickets. They differ on how fees show up, how seat maps are presented, and what happens if something goes wrong.
We've compared the big names in more detail in our guide to the best resale ticket sites in the U.S. and in a head-to-head on Ticketmaster vs. StubHub. If you want to widen your search beyond the biggest name, our list of StubHub alternatives covers seven sites on fees and safety.
Where Capital City Tickets fits
We have been in the ticket business for more than 20 years, and we built our platform around a simple problem: live events cost too much. You can filter by city, venue, date and category, use promo codes at checkout, and buy last-minute tickets with instant download where it's offered. Every purchase is covered by our 100% guarantee on ticket authenticity and delivery.
For Lakers games, start on our sports tickets page, filter by city and date, and compare the listings against the official sources above. Inventory changes daily, so check what is on sale for the game you want.
Best for: Buyers hunting for a price below the big-name marketplaces and who want a guarantee behind the purchase.
How the options compare
| Where to buy | Type | Protection | Best use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Team and Ticketmaster | Primary | Direct from the team; lowest fraud risk | Face-value seats when available |
| NBA authorized resale | League resale | 100% authentic or money back | Sold-out games with an official guarantee |
| Capital City Tickets | Independent resale | 100% guarantee on authenticity and delivery | Price-conscious buyers, last-minute games, promo codes |
| Other large resale sites | Independent resale | Varies by site, read the policy | Cross-checking prices |
| Social media and strangers | Peer-to-peer | Often none | Avoid |
A note on the last row. Facebook groups and Reddit threads are full of fans asking where to buy, and the replies are useful for opinions. They are a poor place to actually pay for a ticket. Our ticket scam checklist walks through the warning signs, and our explainer on verified resale tickets covers what a real guarantee should include.
What affects the price of a Lakers ticket
Lakers tickets are not priced like a typical NBA game. A few forces drive the number you see.
Demand. The team played to 99.8% of capacity in the previous season. The same report says the team's incoming ownership group is pitching investors on cutting out ticket brokers to gain more control over pricing and increase ticket values. If that happens, expect face-value prices to rise over time.
Market factors. An academic study of the 2021-22 NBA season found that secondary-market prices were associated with income, population, team quality, home-team All-Stars, arena age and weekend games. For you, that translates into a simple rule: a Saturday game against a contender with star players costs more than a Tuesday game against a weak road team.
Timing. That study looked at prices one week before game day. It doesn't prove that prices always fall at the last minute, so treat waiting as a gamble. If you have a firm date and a hard budget, buying earlier removes the risk. If you are flexible, track a few games and buy the one that dips.
Playoffs. Prices behave differently in the postseason. Our look at NBA playoff ticket prices shows how far playoff medians can climb.
Where to sit for less
Seat choice often saves more than site choice. Crypto.com Arena has standard seating on the 100, 200 and 300 levels.
- Upper level (300s): The cheapest seats. One 2023 guide put upper-level seats at around $75 each at the low end, though prices have likely moved since, so check current listings.
- 100-level corners and ends: Often better value than sidelines in the lower bowl, with a good angle on the court.
- Rear rows of 100-level sections: Cheaper than the front rows and still close.
- 200 level: A middle ground between price and view, and the level fans on Reddit often recommend when asked about value.
When you compare listings, look at the row and the section, not just the price. Filtering by section, then sorting by price, is the quickest way to spot a bargain. We recommend looking at two or three adjacent sections, because a seat a few rows over can be hundreds of dollars cheaper for almost the same view.
How to check the real cost before you pay
A low listed price can turn into a high final price. Use the same routine on every site.
- Choose your game and the number of seats.
- Go as far as the final checkout screen without entering payment details.
- Compare the all-in total, including fees, across at least two sites.
- Confirm how the tickets are delivered (mobile transfer or instant download) and whether the seller guarantees delivery.
- Read the refund and cancellation policy. On the official resale marketplace, it follows the Ticket Exchange policy.
- Pay by credit card, so you have a dispute option if something goes wrong.
If you plan to give tickets to a friend, our guide to transferable tickets explains how transfers work with seller guarantees.
Our perspective
After more than 20 years in this business, we see the same mistake every season. Fans pick a site by habit, not by comparing, and they pay for it at checkout. The best place to buy Lakers tickets is rarely one single site. Check the official sources first, then check at least one resale marketplace with a real guarantee, and buy from whichever gives you the lowest all-in price with protection behind it.
We built Capital City Tickets for fans who want live entertainment without the financial strain. That is why we stand behind every order with a 100% guarantee on authenticity and delivery, and why we support promo codes and last-minute purchases. For a team as popular as the Lakers, a guarantee is not a bonus. It is the thing that lets you buy a resale ticket without worrying.
— Capital City Tickets
Ready to look for Lakers seats?
Browse live listings on our sports tickets page, filter by city, venue and date, and apply a promo code at checkout if you have one. If you're also planning a night out around the game, our concert and theatre pages work the same way, and the same guarantee applies.
FAQ
Is it safe to buy Lakers tickets from resale sites?
It can be, if the site backs the purchase. The NBA says tickets bought on its authorized resale marketplace are 100% authentic or your money back. On independent sites, look for a written guarantee on authenticity and delivery, like the one we offer, and avoid paying strangers directly.
Do Lakers tickets get cheaper closer to game day?
Sometimes, but not reliably. Research on NBA secondary-market prices a week before games found that opponent quality, star players and weekend dates were associated with price. With demand as high as it is for the Lakers, waiting can backfire on big games.
Why do prices differ between sites for the same seat?
Fees and seller pricing both vary. Teams and venues negotiate fee structures with their ticketing partners, so what you pay on top of the ticket differs by seller. Always compare the total at the final checkout step.
How do I get my Lakers tickets after buying?
Official Lakers tickets are mobile-only and are scanned from your phone, accessed through the Lakers Mobile App or Account Manager. Resale sites typically deliver by transfer or download, so confirm the method before you pay.
Can I resell Lakers tickets if I can't go?
Yes. Season ticket holders list through the team's account manager, and other fans can select "browse resale" on NBATickets.com and follow the instructions to sell on the resale marketplace.
Sources
- FAQ – NBATickets.com
- Lakers International Ticketing – NBA.com
- Lakers ticket costs could soar under Dodgers-like pricing – Los Angeles Times
- Determinants of ticket prices in the secondary ticket market – Emerald
- Crypto.com Arena: Tickets, Parking and Seating Guide – Thrillzing
- Where to Buy Cheap LA Lakers Game Tickets – Travelmag