There seems to be a credit card for everything — grocery purchases, travel spending, you name it. But are there cards for diehard sports fans?
As it turns out, there are. Some are cobranded cards for sports leagues; others are general rewards cards that happen to include sports benefits.
We looked for cards that offered sports-related benefits, such as bonus rewards, discounts or options for card customization. We also chose cards that we could recommend as standalone options — those that would still be effective cards without sports benefits.
The Bank of America® Cash Rewards Credit Card — on which the PGA TOUR® Cash Rewards World Mastercard® from Bank of America and MLB® Credit Card from Bank of America are modeled — now has a top cashback tier that lets you choose the bonus category.
The best sports credit cards for fans
These credit cards have unique features that will appeal to sports fans — from bonus rewards on sports tickets to discounts on merchandise. They also happen to be strong cards in their own right, useful for everyday purchases or spending in categories such as travel.
For a sports fan, the Capital One® Savor® Cash Rewards Credit Card stands out with its excellent 4% cash back on entertainment purchases. This rewards rate typically includes purchases of sporting-event tickets.
There's another perk that's easy to miss on the card application page: Until January 2022, you'll earn a stellar 8% cash back when you buy tickets at Vivid Seats with your Capital One® Savor® Cash Rewards Credit Card. Vivid Seats is a platform that gives you access to MLB, NFL, NBA and NHL events — plus many more.
Annual fee: $0 for the first card year, then $95.
APR: 15.99% to 24.99% variable on purchases and balance transfers.
4% cash back on dining and entertainment. 2% cash back at grocery stores. 1% on all other purchases.
$300 cash bonus after you make $3,000 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening.
Annual Fee
$0 intro annual fee for the first year ($95 thereafter)
Purchase APR
15.99% or 24.99% variable
Balance transfer APR
15.99% or 24.99% variable
Welcome offer
$300 after spending $3,000 in the first 3 months
Rewards
8% cash back with Vivid Seats, 5% on Uber Eats, 4% on dining and entertainment, 2% at grocery stores and 1% on all other purchases
Best for no annual fee Capital One® SavorOne® Cash Rewards Credit Card
If you're a diehard NFL fan, this card could be a smart choice. You'll earn a solid 2x points on NFL and team-pro-shop purchases. But the star feature is perhaps the 20% discount at NFLShop.com — perfect if you're big on merch. You can use your points for redemptions such as game tickets, pregame sideline passes and more. Or if you'd prefer to keep it simple, you can redeem points for cash back. Each point is worth a standard 1 cent each.
Annual fee: None.
APR: 0% promo APR for six billing cycles from transaction date on all qualifying NFL team ticket purchases.
0% intro APR for 15 months after each balance transfer that posts to your account within 45 days after account opening. Revert APR of 15.99%, 20.99% or 25.99% variable.
2x points on NFL and team-pro-shop purchases. 1x points on all other purchases.
20% off purchases at NFLShop.com.
Customize your card with the logo of your favorite NFL team.
Annual Fee
$0
Purchase APR
0% intro for the first six billing cycles (then 15.99%, 20.99% or 25.99% variable)
Balance transfer APR
0% intro for the first 15 months (then 15.99%, 20.99% or 25.99% variable)
Welcome offer
10,000 points after spending $500 in the first 90 days
Rewards
2x points on qualifying NFL purchases and 1x points on everything else
If you don't mind not having sports rewards or discounts but love baseball, try this product. The only baseball-related perk is getting your favorite MLB team's logo emblazoned on your card. That just might hit the spot — plus, you'll enjoy an excellent cashback card for everyday purchases.
Annual fee: None.
APR: 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for the first 15 statement closing dates. After that, 13.99% to 23.99% variable.
Customize your card with the logo of your favorite MLB team.
3% cash back in the eligible category of your choice, and 2% cash back at grocery stores and wholesale clubs on up to 2,500 in combined purchases each quarter. After that 1%. You'll get 1% cash back on all other purchases.
$200 cash rewards bonus after you make $1,000 in purchases within the first 90 days from account opening.
Annual Fee
$0
Purchase APR
0% intro for the first 15 statement closing dates (then 13.99% to 23.99% variable)
Balance transfer APR
0% intro for the first 15 statement closing dates (then 13.99% to 23.99% variable)
Welcome offer
$200 after spending $1,000 in the first 90 days
Rewards
3% cash back on a chosen category and 2% at grocery stores and wholesale clubs for the first $2,500 in combined purchases each quarter, then 1% after that and on everything else
Best for golf junkies PGA TOUR® Cash Rewards World Mastercard® from Bank of America
This is the card of choice if you're a golf enthusiast. Not only does it get you special access to TPC golf courses, it also gives you amenities such as exclusive booking windows, dedicated lockers and waived hotel-stay requirements. The card can also save you money: You'll get a 20% discount at TPC stores and discounted green fees.
Annual fee: None.
APR: 0% intro on purchases and balance transfers for the first 15 statement closing dates. After that, 13.99% to 23.99% variable.
Special access to participating TPC golf courses, plus VIP membership amenities for you and three friends.
20% discount at TPC shops and discounted green fees when you use your card.
Two tickets to a PGA TOUR event after you make $95 in purchases within the first 90 days of account opening.
3% cash back in the eligible category of your choice, and 2% cash back at grocery stores and wholesale club on up to 2,500 in combined purchases each quarter. After that 1%. You'll get 1% cash back on all other purchases.
$200 cash rewards bonus after you make $1,000 in purchases on your card within the first 90 days from account opening.
Annual Fee
$0
Purchase APR
0% intro for the first 15 statement closing dates (then 13.99% to 23.99% variable)
Balance transfer APR
0% intro for the first 15 statement closing dates (then 13.99% to 23.99% variable)
Welcome offer
$200 after spending $1,000 in the first 90 days
Rewards
3% back in category of your choice and 2% at grocery stores and wholesale clubs on up to $2,500 combined each quarter, then 1% after that and on all other purchases
How to choose the best sports credit card
Sports credit cards are relatively few in number, so making the right choice comes down to a few considerations:
Do you care about design? While there are several reward cards that can earn points on sporting events, only a few come with a sports-centric card design.
Look for sports-specific perks. If you’re an avid golfer for example, the golf course access offered by the PGA TOUR® Cash Rewards World Mastercard® from Bank of America might be valuable enough to make the card worth it.
Consider the other non-sports rewards. Most “sports” credit cards will ultimately earn the most rewards on other categories such as groceries. Take a card’s earning rates and your own spending habits into consideration when making your decision.
Benefits of having a sports credit card
You may find these sports-related benefits in your next sports credit card:
Bonus rewards You may earn accelerated rewards on sports-related purchases, especially at eligible online stores.
Discounts In addition to or in place of bonus rewards, you may receive discounts on merchandise. Depending on your spending, this could be even better than receiving cash back of a few percentage points.
Card customization You may be allowed to add your favorite team’s logo to your card.
Intro APR Your card may offer an introductory interest rate on eligible sports purchases, or on purchases and balance transfers in general.
Special access to venues While this benefit is uncommon, your card may afford you access to special venues where you can enjoy your favorite sport.
Cards you can custom design with your team’s logo
NFL Extra Points Credit Card
MLB® Credit Card
Is a sports credit card right for me?
In truth, sports credit cards aren’t necessarily the most valuable credit cards out there. Most consumers will be better served by picking a general rewards card, or one that includes event tickets in the rewards program, such as the Savor One Rewards.
Still, a few sports junkies out there might find some value in the niche cards like the NFL Extra Points Credit Card or PGA TOUR® Cash Rewards World Mastercard® from Bank of America. Review your spending and weigh the benefits to see if a general rewards card is best for you.
Compare sports credit cards for fans
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Bottom line
A sports credit card may offer bonus rewards, discounts, special amenities and more. It can be a great choice if much of your spending goes toward sports tickets or merchandise. You might also enjoy a cashback credit card, which may reward you for sports purchases and everyday spending.
Frequently asked questions
Though a sports credit card might sound lucrative, you might not spend as much on sports purchases as you think. This means you could earn less in rewards than expected. Getting a solid cashback credit card lets you earn rewards on normal purchases as well as occasional sports spending.
If your card provider allows this, you can choose your team logo as you apply for the card.
You’ll earn a certain number of points per dollar spent in each category. Later, you can redeem your points for a variety of options, such as travel, gift cards or even sports tickets and events.
Kevin Joey Chen is a credit cards, banking and investments writer whose work and analysis have appeared on CNN, U.S. News & World Report, Business.com, Lifehacker and CreditCards.com. He's passionate about helping you get your finances in order by expertly navigating cutting-edge financial tools — including credit cards, apps and budgeting software.
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