Hot August concert and sports events tickets

Joe Ticket of National Ticket Agency is excited as the Jonas Brothers, Neil Diamond, Celine Dion, American Idols Live, Coldplay, Radiohead, Bruce Springsteen, Dave Matthews, John Mayer, Rod Stewart, Nine Inch Nails and Wilco are all on the road in August and he plans to go to as many shows as possible.  Country music acts on tour include Kenny Chesney, Rascal Flatts, Brad Paisley, Carrie Underwood and Alan Jackson.  Music Festivals are in the spotlight with Lollapalooza in Chicago, Outside Lands Festival in San Francisco, Ozzfest in Texas, All Points West Music Festival in New Jersey, and the Virgin Mobile Festival in Maryland.  Touring festivals include the Warped Tour, Linkin Park’s Projekt Revolution, Disturbed headlining the Rockstar Mayhem tour and Motley Crue fronting Crufest. Your summer is not complete unless you let it all hang out at one of these awesome all day affairs.

In the sports arena The Beijing 2008 Olympic Games will draw hundreds of thousands of people from around the globe to China August 8th to the 24th.  Hot Olympic tickets include the Opening Ceremony, Basketball, Swimming, Gymnastics and Soccer. I can get you there,  can you take the time off from work?

And thank heavens it’s NFL football starting August 3rd with the Indianapolis Colts vs. the Washington Redskins in the Hall of Fame Game.  The Buffalo Bills play the Pittsburgh Steelers August 14th in Toronto, Canada.  The Bills also play the Colts at the new Lucas Oil Stadium on August 24th. By then every team will be hitting hard and you will be chomping at the bit to get in on the action. National Ticket Agency has great seats for every single NFL game home or away all season long and onto the Super Bowl. The biggest bash of the year. Maybe this year your team will be there!

 Some other hot tickets this month include the  US Open Tennis Championship in New York which begins August 25th.  NASCAR raceing circuit hits Pocono Raceway, Watkins Glen, Michigan International Speedway, Bristol Motor Speedway and the Fontana Auto Club Speedway. Wow.  UFC 87 Seek and Destroy, the UFC’s 1st event in Minnesota, is scheduled for August 9th at the Target Center in Minneapolis.  Hot Las Vegas shows this month include Cher, Elton John, and Jerry Seinfeld. Of course Broadway is always a great time, this August make it your time.

In baseball defending world champion Boston Red Sox pay their last regular season visit to old Yankees Stadium August 26th-28th.  Other great baseball matchups include the Phillies vs. the Chicago Cubs, Angels vs. the Yankees, the Red Sox vs. the White Sox and the Red Sox vs. the Baltimore Orioles. In the NL don’t miss the Brewers now with ace lefty CC Sabathia aquired from the Indians or the Cubs with hard throwing righty Rich Hardin traded by the A’s. In the AL can the Tampa don’t call me Devil Rays actually hold on to take the East. This season is sure to go down to the very end and be the most exciting in years. Of course NTA has your field box to bleacher seats for less money than anyone else. We always invite you to compare exact same seats on NTA vs Stub Hub, Tickets Now, Razer Gator, Golden Tickets or any other of the supposed big time ticket dealers…..National Ticket Agency beats them all bottomline…buy your home stretch, playoff and World Series tickets from NTA and save big.

Super Bowl Post – Mortem that is …Ouch, Pat’s get spanked!

I wasn’t quite sure what to title this post. Post mortem maybe? All I can say is that now you see why they actually have to go onto the field and play the game. You can’t be crowned the King or called the Champ based on what you did yesterday or what you did 18 straight games prior to the only game that really matters. The Super Bowl. All the clippings, headlines and record setting performances accumulated over the course of this past season didn’t and don’t mean a damn thing. The Super Bowl was won fair and square by the better team yesterday. My dear friends , The New York Football Giants earned their rings by outplaying, out hustling and out coaching the New England Patriots. Rather than break down each and every play I will just say simply that the Patriots were flat. In fact I noticed that Tom Brady over the last few weeks has been a little down. Maybe his ankle was bothering him , maybe his personal life is carrying over onto the field. I am not sure but he just didn’t play well, didn’t slide and glide in the pocket. Well of course the Giants defense especialy the line was terrific and put alot of pressure on Brady, maybe that was it. I don’t think that the Patriots were outwardly cocky but it seems that they were a bit over confident. And as a followup to last weeks post I might add that Eli Manning sure looked good. Some quarterbacks have more talent perhaps but football is in his bloodlines and he has developed into a real leader. Did you notice Payton up in the booth..hmm I wonder if he was suggesting some plays….Football is such an emotionally charged physical game and the Giants took it to the Patriots and made the big plays. Congratulations. And congratulations are in order also to the Patriots too, remember there are 32 teams and they were better than 30 of them and mark my words they will be back next year as good as ever, fully loaded as usual , and highly likely to be  back in the Super Bowl.

I also want to point out something here that noone that I am aware of has mentioned. The Giants and the Patriots played an exhibition game this year and if my memory is correct they usually run a dual camp for a week or so which gives the players a little taste of someone other than going against a teammate in practice. They also played a whale of a game to end the regular season and my conclusion is the Giants were not intimidated at all by the Patriots , that they in fact new that they were as good athletically, as well coached and prepared as could be and in fact were quite confident that they could compete and win this game. Plaxico was right!  Kudos to Tom Coughlin for finally “getting it”. Everyone learns over time and makes adjustments to their style of coaching based on the particular personnel on your team. He has a reputation for being a stickler for details and a disciplinarian. This year he seemed to be more in tune and in harmony of the inner needs of his players and how to motivate them. He displayed flexibility and showed his human side and the players responded. I have nothing but good things to say about Belichik too, he is an all-time great coach and the Patriots had an awesome season but Coughlin won the big game yesterday and he’s now the man.

So Boston you still have the Celtics leading the NBA, the Bruins on the verge of making the NHL playoffs and of course the

countdown to spring training

Red Sox pitchers and catchers report in …

9 days : 16 hrs : 23 mins : 24 secsFans get your tickets to all MLB games at www.Nationalticketagency.com

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The Daytona 500, Kentucky Derby and every other sporting event at NTA.

Here we go, on to the Super Bowl: Patriots vs Giants

  Well I was wrong. Eli Manning is better than I  thought, way better in fact. He displayed poise and threw the ball like it was just another ho hum winters day, though the reality was that it was hellishly cold if I may allow myself that literary mismatch. The Giants, affectionately known as the G men, thanks Chris Berman, opened up at 14 point underdogs but since common sense has prevailed and Tom Brady was seen with das boot the line is now an almost as ridiculous 12 points. This is the Super Bowl folks…It’s going to be a close game. These are the two best teams left standing. Granted on a dry field in warm weather the Patriots may revert back to the dominance offensively that they had displayed for most of the season. Randy Moss ought to line up 3 steps back to get a running start and avoid getting chucked at the line. (That’s my tip to Mr Bill , you saw it here first.) I just feel that the Giants are on a roll have alot of confidence with their late season streak. Hey they almost shoulda coulda beat the Patriots in the regular season finale. Of course they didn’t and the Pats are underfeated. And let’s face it the Pats are better. Better personel on both sides of the ball overall and they have that X factor , that been there before, done that before factor. They also have the Bradychick factor. No not that chick wise guy, but Belichick. The killer B’s. Two certain Hall of Famers at the two spots you need it most. So why don’t I predict that Patriots to beat the spread,  butter em up and wipe them out. Because in football you never know. There is no sure thing. The ball bounces funny sometimes. a pass gets tipped at the line. The quarterback goes down. A guy coughs it up. And oh ya these Giants are tough. Tom Coughlin demands that. You might not like him as a player but you respect him as a coach and you play 110 % or you are out on your ars. Most of the better coaches are like that. In fact that’s how Belichick can get a guy that has a spotty past to play hard, (well that and some choice words from the veterans like Bruschi in the locker room..) Parcels is like that too. You give him lip and he may give you like a few hours to pack your stuff or maybe not even. I could it break it all down for you Maroney stepping it up the last few games, looking like a little Corey Dillon putting his head down and sticking his shoulder pads in a cornerbacks gut for the extra 2 yards. Rodney Harrison just smelling out the plays etc As well Hobbs and Cobbs shaky on the corner, the line bending a little too much. And on the Giants side the reemergence of Plaxico Burresss as an absolute stud, Jacobs pounding it up the middle and Bradshaw almost making everyone forget about Tiki what’s his name, and obviously Manning coming of age etc I could go on and on and on and on    OK OK enough already I know that your over media hyped and saturated allready and you wish the game was this Sunday , me too! MY PREDICTION  drum roll Ringo…..Patriots win 33-23!

Tickets for the Super Bowl are going for record prices. The fans from the frigid northeast are shelling out outrageous prices to bask in the desert sun and soak up the essense of Americana. The Super Bowl has taken on a mythical status as the event of the year in the USA.  Average price is $4500. The cheapest seats are $3200 for upper end zone. Good sideline seats are in the $10,000 range.  A ticket broker can make a years salary on this one game alone. Of course my friends at National Ticket Agency are humble and understanding. They understand the average mans plight. They will be watching at Bru’s room in Boynton Beach. Big screen , lot’s of beer and wings..see ya all there and take care , drive safe..

And for goodness sakes bring on the baseball season..Spring training countdown as of this second  courtesy of the Boston Globe 21 days : 10 hrs : 12 mins : 11 secs

The Brady Bunch

Is Tom Brady really human. I am beginning to wonder after watching him break the All Time record regular season or playoff game record for completion percentage. And don’t snort that they were all dump offs. He hits guys perfectly with sweet spirals that have just the perfect velocity right on the numbers, right in their hands, hard enough to get it in there, but soft enough to coral. Not only is he the greatest quarterback to ever play ( now playing at the highest level ever seen) but he is a very humble guy who his teammates say studies the game plans day and night. It’s a wonder he has time to date. (He did however  find the time to mate. The lucky dog!) I guess that fact that he is so handsome makes it all seem so unreal. It’s like these girls that have unbelievable voices , can play the guitar like a rock star and happen to be gorgeous. Damn! What I want to know how come these super beings seem to have it all and a poor shmuck like me still gets zits at 39, can’t lose my love handles, and since my shoulder fell apart can’t throw overhand anymore, nor can I play the guitar or sing. Not fair.  

The New England Patriots most assuredly are clearly Brady’s team. They are Brady’s Bunch. This team is so bright that diamond sparkles fly when they smile after scoring  touchdown after touchdown. And the Belacheat scandal only makes them even more appealing , everyone likes the perfect kid to be a little bad boy sometimes, right. What can I say in a blog that hasn’t been written about a hundred million times by professional writers from here to Timbuktu. Watching the Patriots chew up everyone and spit wins is not the least bit getting old, for me anyways. Granted I am a long time Patriots fan and a Bostonian, so yes I have a bias but even you must agree Joe Football Fan that what we are witnessing is historical, entertaining and a marvel. Like I always say I am a football fan first and these guys just blow me away. Bring on the high flying San Diego Chargers . Unfortunately for them 3 of their best star players are gimpy. Gates is only 90%, Rivers may not play at all and LT is limping. While I do respect the other two backs especially little Sprowls and the offensive line, Billy Vogel just isn’t going to cut it at QB against the Patriots smart as hell secondary. Is it too late for the Chargers to summons Doug Flutie for some magic? (Yes I know he is from Boston but he did play for the Chargers too. ) The Chargers defense is pretty decent too and Meriman is a force for sure but the Patriots will lick em like a a doggie lappin up soup de jour. Patriots 35- Chargers 13.

And in the NFC sorry Eli but you ain’t the second coming. The Giants,Brandon Jacobs is a load but he can’t carry the ballgame for by himself. Armani “Brain ” Toomer been playing great but the Super Bowl is not the G Men’s fate.  The Packers are at home in the sub freezing weather on a frozen tundra with the spirit of Lombardi they will roll. And Brett Favre who is on the roll of his life has a chance to reach center stage. Packers 28- Giants 16. And we will see you in Phoenix, Arizona for some ice tea and a Super Bowl.  If you dont have your tickets left there are a handful, but they will cost you your left arm and right nut. Check out the latest ticket listing at www.nationalticketagency.com. For a mere $325,000 you can have 20 friends party in the private end zone loft suite. $325 grand for end zone , please I’ll watch it at home!

The Beginning of My Year End

I guess I am a day late and a dollar short to do a year end wrapup but I can still do a year end review for 2007 in the concert and sports ticketing arena or theatre of operations to use some sad overworn cliche’. As usual your going to get a Bostonian view cause I yam what I yam. Of course this is a total pleasure as ballgames, sports, tickets, concerts and music are not just keywords to boost the  SEO of National Ticket Agency but they are in fact my passion. Likewise since I am still drunk haha with joy over the successes of my Boston sports teams (which continue into 2008) I deam it appropriate to begin this discourse by talking baseball. The Red Sox who broke the curse of the Bambino in 2004 and ended 86 years of anguish by their fanatical fandom and of having to take crap  from the New Yorkers day in and day out. Year after year they reveled in rubbing it in our faces, the effin  Yankees. Well by golly the Sox did it again and brought the championship trophy back to Beantown once more. And I don’t blame the Boston fans for bragging, boasting, and  gloating. 86 years is a long time , eh? It was pretty obvious that the Sox had the best team in the American League this past season with deep pitching bolstered by the additional of 2 Japanese studs one called Dice K with 5 good pitches and the other Okijama a brilliant lefty setup man  and another lights out year from the leagues gutsiest closer Jonathan Papalbon. The emergence of a budding phenom, a legitamate leadoff threat and fearless centerfielder in Jacoby Ellsbury coupled with the usual clutch hitting from David Ortiz and a career year from Mike Lowell balanced off a sub par season from Manny Ramirez. Terry “Tito” Francona did a great job of keeping the team ready to play and GM Theo ” Boy Wonder” Epstein showed why he is a top gun in command of the Sox ship. The guy flat out knows how to build a farm system that is now rewarding the big league team and setting up possible  big trades to keep this club on top year after year. Latest word is the Sox are going to get Johan Santana the leagues best lefty starter! Did I hear myself say dynasty..oh maybe I am mumbling something in reagrds to the Patriots..oh lord I am giddy. Speaking of the Patriots , they finished the regular season 16-0 , broke alot of league and individual offensive records and are poised to go after their 4th championship in 7 years. That my friends is as close to a dyansty in sports as you are going to get. Tom Brady is now considered one of the greatest quartebacks ever by everyone, even you,  and just the whole organization from top to bottom is chalk full of confidence and abilty clearly light years ahead of every other club. The trade of last years # 1 to SF which was the 24th pick for this years SF #1 which is the 7th pick is typical. They also got a 4th last year and that allowed them to trade and get Randy Moss who breaks the TD record of Jerry Rice. Hello!! Then they get Wes Welker, all he does is lead the league in catches…Just brilliant. Guys want to play for them, players take pay cuts and rearrainge contracts to stay with them, it’s remarkable. Now I am not saying that they cannot be beat , they actually should have lost a couple games but hey the great teams find a way to win. Everyone knows though that on any given Sunday..so we shall see. My money is on the Patriots though. Spygate , shmygate Coach Belichek is easily the greatest coach in the game and a sure Hall of Famer. And who has more Hall of Famers than the Boston Celtics, notice how I changed the subject to basketball and the league leading Celtics there. Yes it’s been 21 years since the 16th championship banner rose up to the rafters at “the Gaaden” and the drought and talent gap we expereinced was exceptionally painful for we were spoiled rotten hoop miesters feesting on fade away jumpers from stars gone by like Havlichek and Bird and now I dare say it’s all coming back. The Big Three of Allen, Pierce and KG are surrounded with the most talented supporting cast assembled in the NBA. Danny Ainge you may take a bow. Red must be proud. The team concept of moving the ball around unselfishly and playing great D has always been the Celtics trademark and now they have reclaimed it. My crystal ball sees 60 wins maybe 65 in a my goodness how could this be season that will take them through to the Eastern finals where the Pistons and the Celts will duke it out in a dog fight, apologies to PETA, for the right to play probably the Spurs for the title.

Ok tomorrow I talk a little hockey and some music as I see it’s fast approaching my bed time here on the east coast of Florida where it’s always summer time and the girls are so fine! 

Beantown Rundown

WARNING! Do not read if you are anti Boston (or from NY. ) By now most of you know that I grew up in the burbs, South Shore, and have a bias for Beantown and even though this blog is national in scope as the official blog of National Ticket Agency, I’m going to allow myself to bask in the glory of our time for no one knows what tomorrow may bring, right now I feel like a king.

I must admit that I have been so caught up in the Beantown mania that it’s effecting my work , my marriage , my lawn etc. It’s the greatest of times for all who hail from New England. The Sox, Pats, Celts , Bruins and BC Eagles are all riding high at once. I have incredible satsfaction in the Boston College Eagles success, being currently solidly entrenched (well at least till next saturday, lol) in the number 2 slot in all the national rankings for NCAA Division 1A football. They have always been good and do indeed  produce great offensive lineman like Penn State produces linebackers but now they are great. We all remember the magic of Flutie and it looks more and more especially after Thursday’s  come from behind win at VT that Matt Ryan has an inside shot now at the Heisman trophy and that if the Eagles run the ACC table they could be in line for a National Championship. WOW! My next source of elation is the Boston Red Sox, who after drubbing the Colorado Rockies last night in Colorado are but one game away from sweeping their way to a  second World Championship in 4 years. As a longtime sufferer, someone who took the green line to Kenmore on those days of twi-night doubleheaders to be able to sit behind the Sox dugout for 5 or 6 innings, hoping to get a glance from Hawk Harrelson or Yaz or Rico,  I am so proud to be a member of Red Sox Nation. See baseball is special to New England kids who stare out the window at the snow and dreamed of the green grass of early spring and first days we could play catch without a heavy jacket on. Praise and glory to Theo Epstein the boy wonder from Brookline who learned his math well and knows that to work a count deep gives you the chance to see a good fat pitch to hit and also runs up the pitch count getting you into the opponents bullpen earlier in the game. Theo couldn’t hit a lick but he knows his sh_ t and he  took the heat when Pedroia didn’t hit and Lugo didn’t hit and Drew looked like a bust and Manny a clown and Lowell past his prime. He rolled the dice with Matsuzaka effectionatly know as Dice K and stay chill with Schill who pitches now on guts alone , had faith in Lester who battled cancer, and Ellsbury who injected speed. And my thanks to Coco for being cool, Big Papi for raking the yaaad with creaky knees and to Varitek the captain who steers the ship. Lest we forget the Okie from Muskogee , Japan Okijima who was practically perfect and to Papilbon for putting out the lights and putting the opposition to sleep. This isn’t quite the impossible dream but this is truly a great team. Ok so get out the brooms it looks like a sweep and if not then it will be a street paarty when they wrap it up in Kenmore square.

Let’s give some credit here to the Boston Bruins whom I have lambasted with regularity for many years I mean how to you bring a kid ( Joe Thornton) up at 17, wait for him to mature into an AllStar center and then just trade him and about 10 other screwups but heck Tim Thomas has been lights out in the net and Phil Kessel is a snifty as it gets. Keep up the good job boy’s and maybe someday another flag will fly from the rafters. i should live to see the day!

Not to forget the New England Patriots, I mean how could we that’s all anyone anywhere is talking about. Today the try and mow down the Washington Redskins. The Pats have firepower the Redskins have toy bow and arrows Patriots 28- Skins 10, they beat the spread yet again.

Finally we get to the Celtics, the new and improved Boston Celtics that is with the big 3,  of Allen, Pierce and KG. Garnet is showing why he is a perenial all star of the finest magnitude, he’s a monster on the boards and a natural shot blocker and possibly the finest passing big man in the game with 20 foot jumper range. Last week I said they would win 60 and I was scoffed at but I stick to that as I see now that Glen Davis aka Big Baby is a valuable board banging inside scorer and Posey looks goods and Rondo is kicking it around. This team has depth and plays team ball like the Celtics we all remember. The season starts this week and I need to give you the rest of the league briefs but thats on hold till tomorrow as I must run to ABC’s and grab a bottle of champaign glee to pop the top on that baby when Paps sets them down tonight 1, 2, 3.

Don’t forget to support your favorite ticket supplier Joe Ticket the man behind the goalie mask at National Ticket Agency who promises you personal service and vows to get you the best seats at the best price. Let me do all the dirty work of sorting the seats and compairing the prices as I am an All Pro at this. (Or is that Old Pro.) Call me at 877-222-3940 and I’ll hook you up with good seats and hot tickets to every concert and sporting event in the country. And folks if your not from New England, don’t sweat it, your day will come too – I don’t know when but heck we’re all friends and we all love live music and watching sporting events in person because that’s the best! Remember , National Ticket Agency has you covered!

ARE YOU READY FOR SOME FOOTBALL! PRESEASON NFL RUNDOWN

Forgive me for giving you all the NFL team links to tickets right off the bat but the 2007 football  season is right around the corner and I don’t want you to turn 3 shades of blue holding your breathe any longer. This weekend being the final exhibition game, I want to give you the chance to score seasons tickets or tickets to your desired games before they are all scooped up and you end up outside the stadium holding a sign ” I need two”. Of course you can buy choice seats all season long but honestly the best deals for NFL tickets are to be had right about now. So scroll down to your teams logo , click the link to be taken to the game list for games  home and away. Then scour the amzing list of available tickets we have and call me Joe Ticket at National Ticket Agency 1-877-222-3940 to place your order (and informally chat) or buy them online 24-7. If you want me to do all the work and find the best seat locations for the best price well  I can do that too, just drop me a line or call because NTA has you covered!

Over the next week or so I’ll break the division down team by team and let you know which tickets are the toughest to find and which teams are going to play well and why. But right now at the end of this post,  I Joe “Nostradamos” Ticket, will tell you who will win each division and which teams will contend for the wildcard slots.  And I will predict who will advance in the playoffs and ultimately who will win the Super Bowl and you can take that to the bank, withdraw all your money and go to Vegas on it.

AFC EAST

 New England Patriots  The Brady bunch easily go 13-3.

 New York Jets Penningtons troops fly high at 10-6

 Buffalo Bills Losman loosens up, Bills go 7-9

 Miami Dolphins Green is really blue at 6-10

AFC NORTH

 Baltimore Ravens Air McNair rises high to  9-7

 Cincinnati Bengals Palmers tigers claw out a 7-9

 Pittsburgh Steelers Roethlisberger rolls to 11-5

 Cleveland Browns Quinn wins quite a few 7-9

AFC SOUTH

 Indianapolis Colts Manning’s Mustangs gallop to 13-3

 Tennesee Titans Young’s a stud Titans are 8-8

 Jacksonville Jaguars Leftwich right on at 9-7

 Houston Texans Shaub or whoever scramble to 5-11

AFC WEST

 San Diego Chargers Rivers flows Chargers go 12-4

 Kansas City Chiefs Croyle’s chiefs overmatched its 7-9

 Denver Broncos Cultler rides the Broncos to 9-7

 Oakland Raiders Russell or Culpepper’s Raiders steal a few 5-11

NFC EAST

 Philadelphia Eagles McNab’s Eagles soar to 10-6

 Dallas Cowboys Romo’s Cowboys shoot em up at 9-7

 New York Giants Manning lite comes in at 8-8

 Washington Redskins Campbell’s in the soup at 6-10

NFC NORTH

 Chicago Bears Grossman’s a bear at 11-5

 Green Bay Packers Favre still has it the Pack are 7-9

 Minnesota Vikings Jackson’s team, Vikings sink to 5-11

 Detriot Lions Kitna crumples Lions tumble to 4-12

NFC SOUTH

 New Orleans Saints Brees Saints come marching in at 10-6

 Carolina Panthers  Delhomme’s Panthers roam to 9-7

 Atlanta Falcons Harringtons team dips to 6-10

 Tampa Bay Buccaneers Garcia is still good Bucs 9-7

NFC WEST

 Seattle Seahawks Hassleback is soaring high at 10-6

 St Louis Rams Bulger’s boys plow to 7-9

 San Francisco 49ers Smiths the man but 49ers lost at 5-11

 Arizona Cardinals Leinart a leader Cardinals take off to 9-7

 Ok you can exhale. The Patriots, Steelers, Colts and Chargers in the AFC with the Jets and Broncos or Ravens in the wildcard. The Pats roll all the way to the big show. Brady has too many weapons. Belicheck does indeed keep everyone in check. Moss comes through. Maroney is a stud. The defense is loaded again with Samuel back in the fold. Best team in football by far.

In the NFC I see the Cowboys, Bears, Saints, and Seahawks with the Giants, Panthers and Cardinals all contending but this division is not as strong as the AFC and these picks are fragile at best. The Bears seem to still have have the brawn Grossman another year under his belt and Hester is electric for sure, and they whip the Seahawks to face the Patriots and well… the Patriots take the prize once again.