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Top Sports and Recreation Discounts for Veterans

Whether you’re taking part or watching, there are great deals to be found


spinner image A camouflage football helmet acts as a piggy bank with a dollar sticking out of the top.
PHOTO ILLUSTRATION: PAUL SPELLA

Participating in and watching sports are great ways to unwind. They’re also extremely beneficial for veterans. Research shows that outdoor recreational activity improves the psychological health of veterans — on top of the obvious benefits to health and fitness — and being a spectator as a fan makes one’s “brain light up.”

There are great discounts and deals out there for veterans buying sports gear and event tickets. Whether you’re looking to buy a new golf club or snag a free visit to a PGA event, check out this list:

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You can subscribe here to AARP Veteran Report, a free e-newsletter published twice a month. If you have feedback or a story idea then please contact us here.

Equipment, apparel and merchandise

Moosejaw, which sells outdoor recreation gear and apparel online and in-store, offers an outstanding 20 percent off all full-price purchases to active-duty, reservists, National Guard, retired military, veterans and their spouses and dependents. Verify your military status online with ID.me to access the deal. This discount can’t be used on kayaks, canoes, stand-up paddleboards, cameras, snowboards, skateboards, bikes, skis or gift cards.

Fanatics, an online retailer of licensed sports apparel, equipment and merchandise, gives a 15 percent discount to service members, veterans and their immediate families, except on gift cards. Get the deal by verifying your military status using the ID.me widget on the checkout page.

Major U.S. sports leagues that partner with Fanatics also give this discount at their online shops. Check out MLBShop.com, NFLShop.com, NHLShop.com, NBAStore.com and MLSStore.com.

Callaway Golfan equipment and apparel retailer, gives the military community, including veterans, 15 percent off their entire order, excluding gift cards. You’ll need to verify your military status through ID.me to take advantage.

Each shopper has an annual discount limit of $1,000. The Carlsbad, California-based company also donates to military-related charities, including Bunkers in Baghdad, which sends golf equipment to deployed U.S. troops around the world.

Bass Pro Shops, an outdoor recreation retailer, and its brand, Cabela’s, both give the military community a solid 10 percent discount every day on almost all merchandise, with the exception of 5 percent on guns and ammo.

Alcohol, boats, trailers, outboard motors, ATVs/UTVs, tractors or tractor attachments, gift cards, licenses or services are excluded from the discount.

You’ll need to present proof of active duty or veteran status online or in person. 

Big 5 Sporting Goods: The retailer offers a 10 percent military discount for active-duty and reserve military personnel, retirees, veterans and spouses and dependent children. You can only get this discount in-store at all Big 5 locations, and you must show valid military ID or veteran status on your driver’s license. This discount excludes gift cards and licenses.

Champs Sports: The sporting goods retailer offers active-duty personnel, reserve members and veterans a 10 percent discount on most online and in-store purchases. The store verifies military status using the third-party service SheerID. You’ll be prompted to put in your info at checkout or show your military ID to the clerk in-store. The offer is limited to four SheerID verifications with a $100 maximum discount per verification.

FishUSA: The tackle shop offers a 10 percent discount to active-duty military members and veterans as one of its Angler Appreciation programs. Once you verify your status online, you’ll receive the discount on all orders placed at FishUSA through your account. The discount does not apply to gift cards, electronics, kayaks, downriggers and products from certain brands.

Live sports and events

The PGA Tour gives golf lovers a variety of offers and discounts for military members and veterans through its Birdies for the Brave program. Each event designs its own discount, so you’ll need to check the ones you’re interested in. In one example, the Sony Open in Hawaii gives military personnel and veterans free tickets to the event.

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WWE: World Wrestling Entertainment offers military personnel and veterans a free ticket to a professional wrestling event, either WWE Raw or SmackDown. Eligible military community members can get the ticket by going to their local box office on the day of the event with a military ID. Tickets are only available on the day and are first come, first served.

GovX is a portal to discounts for active-duty members, veterans, retired military, military reserves, spouses and dependents up to age 24. The deals include discounted tickets to sporting events such as MLB games, Major League Soccer, motorsports and more. You must create a GovX account and verify your military status via email or document upload.

NASCAR offers military members and veterans up to 15 percent off tickets to races, with discounts varying by event and reaching up to 40 percent. You’ll be prompted to fill out information for online verification when you click on the event you’re interested in. Some events also offer discounts to military and veteran families.

NFL: Not every National Football League team offers military discounts, but all teams participate in on-field recognition through the NFL Salute to Service program. The Cleveland Browns, Jacksonville Jaguars, Miami Dolphins, New York Jets, Oakland Raiders, San Diego Chargers, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Washington Commanders offer discounts.

You can subscribe here to AARP Veteran Report, a free e-newsletter published twice a month. If you have feedback or a story idea then please contact us here.

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