How to buy tickets for the Sochi Olympics

Good tickets are still available for the Olympic Winter Games in Sochi, Feb. 7 – 23, 2014. Through CoSport, the only authorized Olympic Games reseller for the U.S. and Canada, you can purchase tickets as well as hotel and hospitality packages.

But tickets aren’t enough to get you into the games. For the first time, each spectator will need to present a spectator’s pass to enter the Olympic Park and to attend events.

Tickets

Tickets are divided into “A,” “B,” and “C” levels. Offering prime seating, “A” tickets are the priciest. For the Feb. 8, women’s hockey preliminary between Canada and Switzerland, C seats cost $21, B seats, $41 and A seats, $83. As the competition advances, ticket fees rise. Top tier seats for the Feb. 19 men’s quarter final ice hockey game cost $580.

Tip: Some popular tickets, unavailable individually, can be purchased as part of a package. For example, individual tickets to the Feb. 20 women’s ice hockey bronze medal game are sold out, but you can get a category A seat to this event as well as to the men’s ice hockey quarter finals by purchasing the T2-Ice Hockey 19 hospitality package for $2,282.

Hospitality packages gain you access to CoSport’s Hospitality Center within Olympic Park, a place to snack on food and drinks — no extra charge — and relax between events.

Spectator Passes

After purchasing a ticket, a CoSport spokesperson suggests you register online for a spectator pass. You can opt to have your non-activated pass delivered to you by mail or you can pick up your pass at one of five spectator registration centers. There are three centers in Sochi, one in Krasnodar and one in Moscow. If you don’t sign-up for a pass ahead of time, you can obtain a pass before the games at one of the spectator registration centers.

Having the pass in hand isn’t enough. You must get your pass activated, a process that can be done only in person at one of the spectator registration centers. Bring your passport and ticket order number with you.

With any CoSport ticket and hotel package, CoSport will deliver your non-validated pass to your hotel room, but you must still line-up to activate your pass.

Visas

Remember, U.S. citizens must obtain visas to enter Russia.