Season ticket
A season ticket is a ticket that grants privileges over a defined period of time.
Sport
In sports, such as football, a season ticket grants the holder access to all regular-season home games for one season without additional charges. The ticket usually offers a discounted price over purchasing a ticket for each of the home games for a season individually. In some sports, season ticket holders are usually allowed to buy tickets for other home games (such as playoff games) earlier than other fans, and may be given priority when buying tickets for their team's allocation at an away game. Seats assigned to season tickets are generally the better ones in their seating section. Season ticket holders are frequently offered preferred seating at special events or extra games. This is because only the most lucrative fans of that sports team typically are interested in season tickets due to the high cost.
Arts
A season ticket is also an option for many music venues (including Opera, Ballet, Symphony houses) and repertory theater companies. The season subscription usually offers a discounted price over purchasing a ticket for each concert or play in a series or all concerts or plays in a season. (Typically, season tickets are only offered to donors who support the institution).
Public transport
In public transport, a season ticket allows the user to travel by public transport an unlimited number of times within a period of time. The term "commuter pass" is used in some countries. Season tickets are typically sold for a week, month or year. The validity of season tickets varies. At one extreme it may only allow travel between two points (A to B) by only one operator and one route (if there are more than one competing). At the other extreme, it may allow unlimited travel within a geographic area, or even a whole country, allowing free choice of method of transportation (bus, tram, train, etc.) and free choice of operating company.
Other uses
Other examples of venues that often offer season passes include amusement parks, recreational sports venues (ski areas), and paid-admission parks (state and national parks). Some passes may also grant additional perks, such as free or prepaid parking, or coupons exclusive to pass-holders.
It can also refer to the term coined by the manufacturers of the TiVo personal video recorder for the function which allows a user to program the device to record all of the episodes of a series, even if their airings are rescheduled or pre-empted. Similar functions are available on competitive PVR systems and software packages such as ReplayTV and IceTV.
It can also refer to a special purchase available for certain video games, which typically allows the owner access to some or all future DLC for the game for a one-time fee. Access to each DLC becomes available as it is released. Some Season Passes have unique names, such as the "Rockstar Pass" for L.A. Noire (2011) and Max Payne 3 (2012).