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    National League Championship Series Tickets

    Games 1–4 always played · Games 5–7 only if the series runs long

    Four wins take the National League pennant each October, and the seat you pick decides how much of that pressure you see up close.

    By the Reserved Seat editorial teamUpdated How we research

    Upcoming National League Championship Series dates

    Dates and live ticket listings appear here as soon as they are on sale. The guide below covers what to know before you buy.

    Picking an NLCS seat: the short answer

    For a National League Championship Series game, the lower-level infield between the dugouts is the seat to want, and the upper-deck infield is the smartest value. The NLCS is the best-of-seven series that decides the National League pennant (the league title) each October, so every pitch matters, and the infield is where you read every pitch best.

    • First choice: lower-level infield, home plate to the corners of the dugouts.
    • Best value: upper-level infield, with a full view of the defense and the field.
    • Loudest: outfield seats and bleachers, at the cost of a poor angle on balls and strikes.
    • Check first: seats near the foul poles, which can face the outfield instead of the plate.

    October seating trade-offs, section by section

    The ballpark changes with the matchup, but the decision works the same way in every park.

    Behind the dugouts

    The home dugout side puts you among home fans and close to the field if the home team clinches in front of its own crowd. The visitor side is usually quieter and can suit traveling fans.

    Upper deck behind home plate

    Height shows you how the defense shifts and where each ball is going. It is the view scouts like, and in October it is often the easiest infield seat to find.

    Outfield and bleachers

    These sections carry the most noise in many parks. Depth makes it hard to judge a pitch, so they suit fans who want the crowd more than the strike zone.

    Weather

    Many NLCS games are night games, and October nights in northern cities turn cold. Seats under an upper deck or overhang give some cover from wind and rain. In a ballpark with a roof, weather stops being a factor. For a day game, the shaded side of a park cools quickly in the fall, so bring a layer.

    The 2-3-2 schedule and if-necessary games

    The higher-seeded team opens at home for Games 1 and 2. The lower seed hosts Games 3, 4 and 5. The series goes back to the higher seed for Games 6 and 7.

    • Certain to happen: Games 1, 2, 3 and 4.
    • Only if needed: Games 5, 6 and 7. The 2025 series ended in four, so none of them were played.
    • Home games per park: the higher seed hosts two to four, the lower seed two or three.

    A Game 6 or Game 7 ticket is a wager on a long series. Before you buy one, read how the listing treats a game that never takes place.

    How playoff tickets reach the market

    The window is short. The matchup is set only when the Division Series finish, and Game 1 can follow within days. Teams write their own postseason rules and generally offer playoff seats to season ticket holders first, which thins out any public sale. Most fans end up buying resale, where listings appear as soon as a team's path to the NLCS is mathematically open.

    What pushes demand up:

    • A possible clincher at home, where fans can watch their team win the pennant in person. Game 7 is the scarcest ticket of the round.
    • A long pennant drought or a rival on the other side.
    • Weekend dates and big ballparks, which bring large crowds either way.

    Crowds stay large in any building. In 2025, the two games at American Family Field in Milwaukee drew 41,737 and 41,427, and the two at Dodger Stadium drew 51,251 and 52,883. Reserved Seat backs every order with a 100% guarantee.

    Getting to the NLCS: the 12-team bracket

    Since 2022, Major League Baseball has run a 12-team postseason with six teams per league: three division winners and three wild cards. The two best division winners receive byes past the best-of-three Wild Card Series, then everyone left plays a best-of-five Division Series. The two National League survivors meet in the NLCS, and the winner faces the American League champion in the World Series.

    The pennant winner also receives the Warren C. Giles Trophy, named for a former National League president. For the bracket and schedule in the current postseason, see MLB's postseason page.

    Pennant history from 1969 to the Dodgers' run

    The NLCS began in 1969, when each league split into East and West divisions. It was a best-of-five series through 1984 and became best-of-seven in 1985. Home-field advantage rotated between divisions until 1998; since then it has followed regular-season record and seeding. A series MVP has been named since 1977, and two players won it on losing teams: Mike Scott in 1986 and Jeffrey Leonard in 1987. The Colorado Rockies (2007) and the Miami Marlins (1997 and 2003, as the Florida Marlins) have never lost an NLCS.

    • 2016: the Chicago Cubs beat the Dodgers four games to two, clinching at Wrigley Field on October 22 for their first pennant since 1945, then won the World Series eleven days later.
    • 2020: a neutral-site series at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas, during the pandemic. The Dodgers beat the Atlanta Braves in seven before crowds averaging 10,835.
    • 2023: the Arizona Diamondbacks beat the Philadelphia Phillies in seven.
    • 2024: the Dodgers beat the New York Mets in six.
    • 2025: the Dodgers swept the Milwaukee Brewers from October 13 to October 17. Shohei Ohtani took MVP after three home runs and six scoreless innings with 10 strikeouts in the Game 4 clincher, and the Brewers hit .118 for the series.

    Los Angeles won the World Series in both 2024 and 2025.

    Frequently asked questions

    What are the best seats for an NLCS game?

    Lower-level infield seats between the dugouts give the clearest view of every pitch. Upper-deck infield seats are often the best value, with a full view of the field.

    Which NLCS games are guaranteed to be played?

    Games 1 through 4. Games 5, 6 and 7 happen only if neither team has won four games yet.

    Who hosts Game 7 of the NLCS?

    The higher-seeded team, which also hosts Games 1, 2 and 6. The lower seed hosts Games 3, 4 and 5.

    When do NLCS tickets become available?

    Resale listings appear once a team can still reach the series, and the matchup is set when the Division Series end. Season ticket holders usually get first access from the teams.

    Should I worry about cold weather at an NLCS game?

    In open-air northern ballparks, yes, since many games start at night in October. Seats under an overhang or upper deck help, and a roofed ballpark removes the issue.

    Which teams have never lost an NLCS?

    The Colorado Rockies, who won in 2007, and the Miami Marlins, who won in 1997 and 2003 as the Florida Marlins.

    Sources