I know that the conventional wisdom is that the early bird gets the worm, but data from latest survey shows that this might not always be true when it comes to buying tickets to sporting events. According to data from a survey conducted by Penn Schoen Berland, fans who waited until the day of an event to purchase tickets saved 30 percent on average than those who bought tickets one month prior. So far in 2012, the average ticket price for a concert or marquee sporting event one month from the event date was $95 on StubHub. However, just three days away from the event the average ticket price dropped to $66, and within 24 hours of the event the average ticket price was $62.

This backs up all the recommendations I’ve been trying to tell everyone. As Ray Elias, our chief marketing officer points out in this USA Today article, when it comes to the ticket industry, the longer you wait, the lower the price will usually get. Look at it this way, a ticket is an expiring item. Once the event date passes, the value of a ticket drops to $0. So as that moment approaches, sellers will try anything to unload their seats because in a short while they will soon be worth nothing!

This year’s Super Bowl is a great example. Once the Conference Championships were over, prices for the Big Game were close to $2,500. By Super Bowl Sunday, the get-in price was down to $900. This means that fans who want to purchase tickets to high-profile games, such as the NHL or NBA playoffs, can likely score the best deal by waiting until game day to purchase.

The survey also highlighted some of the other trends that are taking place in society, as more and more fans are waiting until the last minute to make plans and purchase tickets. I found this pretty fascinating, and obviously the rise of mobile devices is making it easier for friends to connect, make plans, and buy tickets all at a moment’s notice.

If you want to read all the findings of the report, which are pretty interesting, check out our full release here.

Like everyone else, I’m writing my take on the topic, especially since so many reporters have hit me up over the past week to talk trends. If you happen to have stepped away from the NBA for a week, welcome back and prepare to have your entire world flipped upside-down. By the end of January, the New York Knicks were once again floundering in the Eastern Conference and headed toward a prolonged stretch without top-scorers Carmelo Anthony and Amare Stoudemire. Things were looking bleak until they caught lightning in a bottle with point guard Jeremy Lin.

(Caption: The New York Post has declared today VaLINtine’s Day!)

I love this kid’s story! Lin, an undrafted free agent, was waived by my Golden State Warriors (not so much in love with this part) and picked up by the Rockets. The Rockets cut him the day before the season started, but he was soon signed as a backup point guard by the Knicks three days later. Lin wouldn’t get his big break until February 4^th, when he recorded 25 points, 5 rebounds, and 7 assists against the Nets. Five stellar games later, and more importantly five wins later, #Linsanity was born!

(Caption: #Linsanity isn’t just an American craze. He’s even graced the front page of today’s Toronto Star ahead of the Knicks game against the Raptors tonight.)

There may be a few things you don’t know about the Knicks’ latest sensation. Here are five facts about Jeremy Lin!

1. He’s A Local Kid

Jeremy Lin grew up in StubHub’s backyard in nearby Palo Alto, California. He led Palo Alto High School to the California Division II State Championships in 2006 when he was a Senior, and was named the Division II Player of the Year. He was also named the San Francisco Chronicle Player of the Year. The most impressive part of all of this? He had a 4.2 GPA!  

2. Harvard Isn’t A Basketball Hotbed

Despite all his high school accolades, the only Division I offer he received was from Harvard. Since Harvard is a part of the Ivy League, that “offer” did not come with any tuition scholarships. Even worse, the Crimson had never won an Ivy League title in its program’s history and was notorious for having a low emphasis on collegiate basketball. But even in the midst of this seemingly difficult situation, Lin thrived! He even got the attention of Hall of Fame UCONN coach Jim Calhoun who said Lin “really knows how to play” and could start on any team he’s coached. Although Lin had success, his NBA prospects were dim. The last Harvard player to play in the NBA? Ed Smith in 1953.

3. First Taiwanese-American in the NBA

As expected, Lin went undrafted in the 2010 NBA Draft, but was eventually signed by the Warriors. I remember he had somewhat of a cult-following around the Bay Area and was immensely popular. He got his first moment of playing time in a memorable season-opening game of the 2010-2011 season when they finally put Lin in to a standing ovation. By making the Warriors, he became the first NBA player born in America of Chinese or Taiwanese decent.

4. He Was Almost Cut

Reports showed that Lin was on his last leg with the Knicks. With several players due to come back from injury and a Feb. 7 date looming which guaranteed Lin’s $788,000 contract for the entire year, Knicks head coach Mike D’Antoni was planning on waiving Lin. The Knicks were 8-15 before their game with the Nets and a loss would have dropped them behind their New Jersey brethren in the standings. It was in this small window that Lin made the most of his opportunity! After that huge game, he followed it up with impressive performances and wins over Utah, Washington, the Los Angeles Lakers, and Minnesota. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, no other player in NBA history has ever scored 20 points and recorded 7 assists in each of his first four starts. I think the Knicks will guarantee that contract now.

And, a story that is now legend: after he was signed by the Knicks to a 10-day contract on Dec. 27, Lin spent his time in New York crashing on his brother’s couch! Teammate Landry Fields tweeted this picture of that infamous couch and said “Let the bidding begin!” He should put that couch up for sale on eBay.

5. Probably Couldn’t Happen Anywhere But the NBA

We’ve had some pretty crazy sports stories recently, but I haven’t seen anything quite like Linsanity. Of course, the fact that Lin plays in the media capital of New York probably helps spur this hype, but it reminds me a little of Tebowmania. Even then, we all knew Tebow from his days winning National Championships at Florida. Jeremy Lin came out of nowhere! There was an interesting article that ran yesterday in the Chicago Tribune that argued Linsanity would never happen in MLB. The position is because of the recent steroid issues in the MLB, any meteoric rise would instantly be met with heightened scrutiny. They make an interesting point. I’m sure all baseball fans remember fondly the Fernandomania craze of 1981, when Dodgers’ pitcher Fernando Valenzuela burst on the scene, but when Jose Bautista came out of nowhere and belted a league-leading 54 home runs with the Blue Jays in 2010, he was instantly met with cries of “What are you taking!?!” and failed to generate much buzz.

I’m sure many of you are thinking, “Oh no, tomorrow is Valentine’s Day and I have yet to plan the perfect evening for my Valentine!” No need to break a sweat quite yet. StubHub still has many last-minute tickets that are sure to impress your guy or gal so they never have to know that you almost forgot about the holiday. Below I’m highlighting just a few of the great options we still have available for events across the country.

Ladies, your man is sure to love you forever if you take him to see the NBA’s hottest sensation, the New York Knicks’ Jeremy Lin. Lin is attempting to continue his remarkable playing streak as they take on the Toronto Raptors in Toronto. Be a part of the Linsanity without breaking the bank with tickets starting at $52. You don’t have to take your man to Canada either; there are great deals to be had stateside as well. Tickets to the Bulls vs. Kings game in Chicago are another affordable gift option. What better reason to brave the chilly Chicago weather than a trip to see this fun match-up.

Is your man a hockey fan? Then how about tickets to see the Tampa Bay Lightning take on the Ottawa Senators in Tampa? Be there to find out if the Lightning can fight their way back into the playoffs. And if you aren’t into hockey, don’t worry, I love the stadium’s new lightning bolt contraptions that fire up as the team takes the ice.

Now guys, don’t expect her to do all the work. Get your country on with Martina McBride for as little as $54 at the Nokia Theater in Los Angeles. And if theater is your lady’s thing, then I would recommend taking her to see the buzz-worthy Broadway hit, which stars my favorite little Harry Potter, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying playing at the Hirschfield Theater in New York City. Don’t be scared, the Chicago Tribune calls this smash, “great fun for everyone.”

So, don’t fret over last-minute Valentine’s Day plans. StubHub will make it quick and simple, and we’ll even let you take all the credit. Drop me a line if you use StubHub to set-up your perfect date!