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The Points Guy believes that credit cards can transform lives, helping you leverage everyday spending for cash back or travel experiences that might otherwise be out of reach. That's why we publish a variety of editorial content and card comparisons: to help you find a great card to turn your goals into reality.
Our site may earn compensation when a customer clicks on a link, when an application is approved, or when an account is opened with our partners, and this may impact how or where these products appear. While we don't cover all available credit cards, our editorial team creates and maintains all of the analysis of these cards, and our content is not influenced nor subject to review by any credit card company, bank or partner prior to (or after) publication. Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information.
Credit card writer Danyal Ahmed is an avid traveler, averaging about 100,000 aeronautical miles per year. He regularly applies that knowledge and his expertise in credit cards to his role as a credit card writer at TPG.
also contributed to this story
February 21, 2025 • 9 min read
The cards we feature here are from partners who compensate us when you are approved through our site, and this may impact how or where these products appear. We don't cover all available credit cards, but our analysis, reviews, and opinions are entirely from our editorial team. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information.
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By commenting, you agree to our Community Guidelines to help create a positive space for conversation. The responses below are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser, our partners, or The Points Guy (“TPG”). They have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of these parties. All responses are submitted by individual contributors, and neither the bank advertiser, our partners, nor TPG are responsible for ensuring that all posts and/or questions are answered.
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Quick summary
The article explores top credit cards and strategies for sports fans seeking rewards and perks tied to sporting events.
Some cards offer bonus rewards for event ticket purchases through select platforms, while others provide exclusive VIP access or unique experiences at games.
Cobranded options exist for major leagues, allowing fans to show team loyalty and access special redemptions like merchandise or game-day experiences.
General rewards cards and flat-rate options may offer broader value for everyday spending, but may lack sports-specific perks.
What to consider
Eligibility for certain perks or bonus rewards may depend on where tickets are purchased or if you enroll in quarterly categories.
Some cards provide access to VIP experiences or concierge services for hard-to-find event tickets, but benefits can be location-specific or require enrollment.
Cobranded cards often deliver the most value for league or team-specific purchases, but may offer lower rewards for other spending.
What you'll miss from the article
Detailed tactics for maximizing rewards on sporting event tickets and a comparison of sports-focused versus general rewards cards.
Generated by AI with support from our editorial team.
TPG contributor Juan Ruiz is a sports fanatic who used travel rewards credit cards as the focal point of his strategy to visit all 30 Major League Baseball (MLB) ballparks and save considerably on flights and hotels.
He accomplished this in 2017, and if you ask him, he'd tell you it wouldn't have been possible without the points and miles he earned from some top credit cards.
Most rewards cards aren’t tailor-made for sports fans. That said, several major sports leagues offer cobranded credit cards for fans to show off their team loyalty — and potentially earn extra rewards on ticket purchases. Plus, some cards — particularly premium travel rewards cards — will even offer exclusive VIP access for select cardholders at sporting events.
Let’s take a look at the top cards for sports fanatics in more detail.
Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card
Welcome offer: Earn a $200 cash bonus after spending $500 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
Annual fee: None.
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Rewards rate: Cardholders can earn 8% cash back when purchasing event tickets through the Capital One Entertainment ticketing platform, powered by Vivid Seats — including the NFL, the NBA, the NHL and Major League Baseball. Also, earn unlimited 3% cash back on dining, entertainment, popular streaming services and grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart® and Target®), 5% Cash Back on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel (terms apply), and 1% on other eligible purchases.
Welcome offer: Earn $750 cash back after spending $6,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
Annual fee: None.
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Rewards rate: The Ink Business Cash® Credit Card earns 5% cash back on the first $25,000 you spend on combined purchases each account anniversary year at office supply stores and on internet, cable and phone services (1% thereafter). Plus, you’ll earn 2% cash back on the first $25,000 you make in combined purchases at gas stations and restaurants each account anniversary year (1% thereafter on eligible purchases).
Keep in mind: Office supply stores such as OfficeMax, Office Depot and Staples usually carry gift cards from StubHub — the world’s largest ticket marketplace. That means you can earn 5% cash back by purchasing StubHub gift cards at an office supply store. You can then use the gift cards on StubHub to book your sporting event tickets.
Welcome offer: Earn $100 cash back after spending $500 on purchases in the first 90 days of account opening.
Annual fee: None.
NFLSHOP.COM
Rewards rate: Earn 3% back on qualifying NFL purchases and NFL Team purchases, 2% on grocery store, food delivery, restaurant, gyms and sporting goods store purchases and 1% cash back on everything else.
Keep in mind: While this card may be a niche choice for some, the NFL dominates as the most-watched sport in the U.S. If you’re a die-hard fan of an NFL team and are tuned in on Sundays (and Thursdays and Mondays), the NFL Extra Points Credit Card rewards you for your fandom.
Cardholders can redeem points for cash back or a statement credit, NFL gift cards, or even unique NFL and team experiences like meet and greet with NFL players, pre-game sideline passes, and even Super Bowl tickets. Other perks include a 20% discount at NFLShop.com as well as financing for eligible NFL tickets. While rates outside of NFL and team purchases earn a paltry 1 point per dollar, the redemptions you can unlock with NFL Extra Points can be worth thousands, in addition to a lifetime of memories.
The information for the NFL Extra Points Credit Card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
NHL Discover It Credit Card
Welcome offer: Discover will automatically match all your cash back earned during your first 12 months of card membership.
The information for the NHL Discover it card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
The Platinum Card from American Express
Welcome bonus: Find out your offer and see if you are eligible for as high as 175,000 Membership Rewards Points after spending $12,000 on purchases within the first six months of card membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.
Keep in mind: While you’ll only earn 1 point per dollar on event tickets and stadium/arena purchases with the Amex Platinum, the card comes with a plethora of valuable benefits for the sports enthusiast that can help offset the hefty annual fee.
In addition to up to $200 in annual Uber Cash, an up to $120 annual statement credit for Uber One membership (subject to auto-renewal) and up to $200 in annual airline fee statement credits per calendar year, cardholders have a designated American Express Concierge team that can help you score that hard-to-find, big-game ticket.
Enrollment is required for select credits and benefits. Uber Cash will only be deposited into one Uber account when you add the Amex Platinum as a payment method and redeem with any Amex card.
Amex Platinum cardmembers can also gain access to VIP experiences, such as experiencing the Amex Centurion Suite at the US Open and the ability to purchase tickets to By Invitation Only events in key lifestyle areas like travel, dining, wellness, retail and entertainment.
Furthermore, Amex cardholders who double as NBA fans can get a replacement jersey within 90 days for free if their favorite player changes teams. Just use your American Express card to buy your favorite player’s jersey from the NBA Store and submit a Jersey Assurance claim form if that player leaves your team. This benefit is available to all Amex card members.
Los Angeles and New York Amex Platinum cardholders can enjoy extra sporting-event benefits, including the use of an exclusive entrance, concession discounts and access to a hospitality suite.
There are also plenty of other fixed-rate cards on the market, ranging from top cash back cards and valuable travel rewards cards to those catering to small-business owners. If cash back is more your style, a card like the Citi Double Cash® Card (see rates and fees) or Chase Freedom Unlimited® (see rates and fees) is also a viable option.
ROB LEWINE/GETTY IMAGES
The Citi Double Cash earns 2% on every purchase (1% when you buy and 1% when you pay your bill), while the Chase Freedom Unlimited earns 1.5% back on all nonbonus categories. Both are no-annual-fee cards, and you can pair them with others within their issuer lineups to maximize your redemption options and value.
Visa Signature/Mastercard Priceless benefits
All Mastercard cardholders (regardless of what type of card they have) receive access to the treasured Mastercard Priceless Program. Sports fans get amenities and members-only privileges at over 1,000 golf courses worldwide, plus discounts, use of private club facilities, and access to priority tee times.
Bottom line
A lucrative points-earning card customized for sports fans may not exist yet, but plenty of credit cards feature solid rewards and extra perks for sports fanatics.
If you love sports, a card that earns bonus points on event tickets and entertainment purchases (through Vivid or StubHub via gift cards purchased at office supply stores) may be for you.
If you’re a huge fan of a particular team or league, a valuable cobranded card can help you display your fandom proudly. However, you should know that other reward cards on the market offer more points or cash back per dollar spent in popular everyday categories.
For rates and fees of the Amex Platinum card, click here.
By commenting, you agree to our Community Guidelines to help create a positive space for conversation. The responses below are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser, our partners, or The Points Guy (“TPG”). They have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of these parties. All responses are submitted by individual contributors, and neither the bank advertiser, our partners, nor TPG are responsible for ensuring that all posts and/or questions are answered.
