How to Buy Tickets for an NBA Game in Miami

Miami is a wonderful city. Thousands of tourists choose it for its fine sandy beaches and warm climate. It has a wide range of leisure activities and a large part of that is due to its sports teams. The NBA has a franchise in the city and it would be a shame to return home without seeing the greats of the sport.

In Florida's most famous city, professional basketball arrived only in 1988 with the emergence of the Miami Heat. Despite the short history, it didn 't take long for them to win their first title. From 1996 to 2000 they triumphed in the Atlantic Division and in 2006 they took home their first ring.

The first NBA triumph was the work of the duo Shaquille O'Neal and Dwayne Wade. These two American giants were not the only ones. Between 2010 and 2014, the star of LeBron James shone in Miami. After four seasons, the record is clear: four Finals, two NBA titles and two regular season and Finals MVPs.

Now that the Miami Heat are among the world's basketball elite, they are well worth watching live. The "Magic City" team plays its home games at FTX Arena, a stone's throw from the ocean.

Look no further. Official tickets are on sale at Hellotickets. There are dozens of things to see and do in Miami and it is preferable to book your NBA tickets in advance to avoid wasting precious time during your holidays. You will have the security of purchasing official tickets by receiving them conveniently on your smartphone.

The FTX Arena box office is only open on game day from 3 hours before kick-off. It gets pretty hot in Miami and I'm sure you don't want to wait in line outside the arena.

The United States is not a cheap country and to watch a live sporting event you will have to get used to putting your hand on your wallet. However, prices are not as high as you might think. A seat with a good position (and visibility on the court) is usually around €90.

A holiday in the USA does not come cheap and therefore it is useful to know some tips on how to save on Miami Heats tickets:

• The seats in the corners are slightly cheaper than those in the middle section
• Prices are very affordable in the far end of the arena in the upper part of the arena (from section 401 to section 420)
• If the opponent is not in the NBA Gotha, you can find deals around 30 € per ticket (sometimes even less!).)
• The NBA preseason is much less expensive than the regular season. As usual, the big name players stay on the bench and this is reflected in the ticket prices. In addition, it can be an opportunity to see the young talents who will be on the rise in the future.

Otherwise, the same advice as for the other teams applies: choose the games during the week and buy your tickets well in advance.

The most loyal fans have no doubt: the best seats are in sections 106/107 and 118/119. To be more specific, in sections 106 and 118, the higher seats are more desirable while in sections 107 and 119, the lower seats guarantee a better view.

The Dewars Club deserves an honourable mention. Specifically, they are on the second level, between the lower and upper sections. The first 10 rows in sections 101 to 124 guarantee access to this area of the stadium. If you can, reserve a seat near the front railing, you will have the best view of the court.

Sorry, this is not possible. The FXT Arena does not organise guided tours. When there are no events taking place, the Arena staff maintains the facilities. If you are passionate about basketball, you can console yourself by visiting or doing the following attractions/activities:

• Miami Heat Store, the official team shop. Ideal if you want to buy jerseys, caps, sweatshirts and much more. Located on the ground floor of the arena (601 Biscayne Boulevard)
• Grails, in case you can't compare tickets for FXT Arena. This bar/restaurant broadcasts all NBA games and is known for its good atmosphere. It's also known for the Sneaker Cocktail, a drink you drink straight from a shoe. (2800 N Miami Avenue)
• Play basketball with the locals. There are a few courts in the city where you can play this exciting sport. The best are at Margaret Pace Park, Coconut Grove (2845 Brickell Avenue) and Palm Island Park (159 Palm Avenue, Miami Beach).

The NBA season stops only during the summer - games are still played even on holidays like Christmas! In any case, the short list below summarises the playing seasons:

• Pre-season - takes place between the end of September and the beginning of October. It serves to prepare for the championship and can be a good option, especially if the team, in this case the Miami Heats, has interesting youngsters and wants to rescue itself after a season below expectations
• Regular Season - 82 games (half away and half at home). Usually starts in early October and ends in late April
• All Star Game - an event that keeps millions of Americans glued to the television. It is a weekend of three-point shooting, slam dunks and a challenge between two teams made up of the best players from the Eastern and Western Conferences. Held every year during the month of February
• Playoff - 8 teams from each conference compete for access to the finals. They follow the structure of a small tournament
• Final - the game that delivers the ring. To win it you have to win four games (out of seven).

Rivalries

The games that set fans' hearts aflame are those with the Orlando Magic. It's a true derby as only 230 miles divide the two cities, a short distance when you consider the size of the United States. The record of the meetings rewards the Miami side, although they also suffered some important defeats.

As is often the case, this sporting clash has earned a nickname: "The Sunshine State rivalry". On these occasions, the FTX Arena vibrates like never before. However, Miami Heats have other "enemies":

• Indiana Pacers. Florida is a loved and hated state in the United States. Miami gets a lot of media attention while Indiana goes unnoticed. The Pacers don't like this disparity and the games tend to be very "lively". Only for strong hearts
• Boston Celtics, it is a recent development but when players of the calibre of LeBron James and Ray Allen are involved, it is hard to remain indifferent
• New York Knicks, two teams with a very similar track record. Most wins (or losses) are decided by very few points. It's a story that has been the same since the first meeting!
• Dallas Mavericks. Mark Cuban, owner of the Texans, went so far as to say that hate wasn't a big enough word to describe his dislike for the Miami Heat. With an owner like that, there's no need to add to it.

NBA games are played in four halves, with a 15-minute break between the second and third halves. Unlike in European leagues, each half consists of 12 minutes (instead of 10). For this reason, the actual playing time is 48 minutes, but counting foul breaks and time-outs, it can easily exceed one and a half hours.

For all home games, children under the age of two are admitted free of charge. Children must be accompanied by an adult (with a valid ticket) and must share a seat with a parent or chaperone. To avoid problems, it is advisable to bring a document such as a birth certificate.

Yes, there are still games in December. What's more, the schedule tends to be quite busy and this means that you are more likely to find a good ticket. If you are travelling to Florida at this time of the year, I recommend you to read the post about the 10 things to see and do in Miami at Christmas.

When the time comes, don't get caught off guard! Here are some useful tips to help you organise your day.

Where to eat

If you don't want to waste any time, I recommend you opt for the restaurants in the stadium. If you're in the mood for fast food, you can grab a hot dog at Downtown/Uptown Dog (sections 112 and 407) or a chicken burger at Chicken Ciao (sections 108 and 309). Got a craving for Mexican food? Then the destination is Bodega (sections 108, 124 and 303).

If you don't want to wait inside the FTX Arena, you can have lunch or dinner at the following establishments:

• Esotico Miami, a corner of Hawaii in Florida. Actually, its cuisine is more eclectic and fuses the classics of the archipelago with Asian and Latin American specialties (1600 NE 1st Avenue #102)
• Eleventh Street Pizza, New York-style pizza a stone's throw from the FTX Arena. At the restaurant you also have the option of trying a slice (or more) instead of a whole pizza (1035 N Miami Avenue)
• Black Market, an establishment with a varied menu. Here you can sample a crispy chicken sandwich, pulled pork, nachos, mac n' cheese and more (401 Biscayne Blvd Unit 225-N)
• Jaguar Sun, an elegant restaurant famous for both oysters and pasta dishes. It also has a good cocktail menu. In my opinion, it's a good place to go after the game
• Lost Boy, known for happy hours and drinks (157 E Flagler Street).

Where to park

Have you booked a rental car, are you staying outside of Miami and can't use public transport? In this case, you can leave your car at the following car parks:

• Bayside Marketplace. On the occasion of certain special events, a valet parking service is also available. You can find more information on the official website (401 Biscayne Boulevard)
• Ultra Park LLC, the closest car park to the FTX Arena. Once dropped off, it's less than a five-minute walk (700 Biscayne Boulevard).

When to go to the stadium?

To avoid queues and enjoy the game, it is advisable to arrive well in advance. If you have a little time, you can take a short walk to Spanish Navy Plaza, a public square in downtown Miami, or the Giant Head Statue, a large sculpture representing a face.

Wi-Fi connection

The FTX Arena is the most important sports venue in South Florida. Therefore, a good and secure connection is a must inside the arena. This way, fans can replay outgoing action and check live stats. Just select the network from the available ones and proceed to the identification.

The home of the Miami Heats is located within walking distance of the marina and Freedom Tower. To get there you can opt for a free option: the monorail. In the Florida metropolis, this means of transport goes by the name of Metromover. The line that comes closest to the stadium is the Inner loop. From downtown, just get off at the Freedom Tower stop.

Alternatively, there are two other Metromover lines: the Brickell Loop and the Inner Loop. In both cases, just get off at the College North stop and walk for less than 10 minutes.