The holidays are nearly here, which means good food, great company, aaand the stress of gift-giving. Depending on who you are–and who you’re shopping for–buying and giving gifts often ends up being the most taxing part of the holidays. It really doesn’t have to be, though. At SeatGeek, we’re here to help. If you’re shopping for the sports fan in your life, check out our recommendations for some awesome gifts.

For the Basketball Fan

The NBA regular season will be in full effect by the time the holidays roll around, so there’s ample opportunity to get your loved one tickets to some home games for their favorite team. However, if you’re looking for an extra special excursion for your basketball-lover, we’d recommend the following…

2018 NBA All-Star Game

On February 18, 2018, the Staples Center in Los Angeles will hold the annual NBA All-Star Game, featuring a brand-new format. Ditching the East vs. West format, two captains will select teams of All-Stars in a playground-style pick-up game. For the first time in league history, the All-Star Game will see players from different conferences teaming up together. As far as gifts go, seeing the debut of this format in the warm, gorgeous LA weather would be a pretty amazing one.

2018 NCAA Tournament

If the sports fan in your life enjoys college basketball as well, you can plan a trip to some NCAA Tournament games. Chances are, you’ll be within a few hours of some of the games, as they take place all over the country (Detroit, Nashville, Charlotte, San Diego). You can check out this page for the full slate of scheduled games.

NBA Jerseys

If you’re looking for a more tangible gift, all 30 NBA teams debuted a series of four jerseys for the current season. You can find all these jerseys at your local arena, pro shop, or online at the NBA Store.

For the Football Fan

Whether you’re looking for NCAA or NFL-related gifts, you’ll have plenty of options when it comes to events.

2018 Pro Bowl

The Pro Bowl often gets a bad rap, but it’s an absolute blast when you see it in person. Sure, the game moved from the gorgeous views of Hawaii, but Orlando in late January is honestly the perfect time to go. Free from humidity, you and your loved one can enjoy some of the best athletes in the world in a fun exhibition game. Tickets are available here.

New Year’s Day NCAA Bowl Games

Okay, we’re not going to get into the College Football National Championship game. Those tickets are ridiculous. However, there’s a great slate of NCAA bowl games on New Year’s Day and a trip to one of them might be the perfect gift for any college football fan.

Chick-Fil-A Peach Bowl @ Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia (Get tickets here.)

Rose Bowl National Semifinal @ Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California (Get tickets here.)

Allstate Sugar Bowl National Semifinal @ Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana (Get tickets here.)

While tickets to these games aren’t cheap, they’re certainly a lot more reasonable than the National Championship game which takes place a week later. If you’re buying for an NCAA fan, he or she should have a fantastic time at these games, regardless of collegiate allegiance.

For the Baseball Fan

Sure, we’re wrapping up the current MLB season as we speak. However, April is just around the corner, which means it’s perfect time to get gifts to help your favorite baseball fan get prepared for Opening Day 2018.

2018 MLB Opening Day Tickets

While single-game tickets for next season haven’t gone on sale (considering we’re still wrapping up the current postseason) the 2018 schedule has been released, so you can start planning your ticket purchases right now. Keep an eye on our page here for tickets.

For the Hockey Fan

This new hockey season has brought about a multitude of fantastic gift ideas for your favorite NHL fan. From tickets to jerseys to a new team’s merchandise, there are so many fantastic options.

NHL Winter Classic

On New Year’s Day 2018, the New York Rangers will take on the Buffalo Sabres in the NHL’s yearly outdoor stadium game. At Citi Field in New York, these two in-state teams will battle it out for the honor of winning the 10th annual game. Tickets are surprisingly reasonable, making it worth the purchase even if you have to travel. Who wouldn’t want an excuse to head to New York for a couple of days?

NHL All-Star Game

If New York’s not for your sports fan, how about Tampa, Florida, site of the upcoming NHL All-Star Game? On January 28, 2018, we’ll see the third iteration of the game’s new format–a 3-on-3, tournament-style competition where teams representing each of the NHL’s four divisions will face off. You can find tickets to this exciting event, as well as the rest of the All-Star weekend festivities right here.

Adidas and Fanatics NHL Jerseys

After a lengthy partnership with Reebok, the NHL signed a new jersey contract with Adidas, rendering all Reebok hockey gear obsolete (just kidding). The new Adidas authentic jerseys are gorgeous and definitely worth a purchase for your favorite hockey fan. If you’re looking for a more inexpensive option, Fanatics has created a line of flexible, lightweight jerseys meant for the fans. Dubbed the “Breakaway Jersey,” these can be found at Shop.NHL.com.

Happy shopping and happy holidays!

 

(Image courtesy of Freepik.)