There’s something special about seeing an event live. A concert, sporting event, comedy show. Unfortunately, it seems lots of other people have noticed this too, and prices for tickets have skyrocketed. However, there are some tricks on how to get amazing seats without breaking the bank.
Citizen’s Bank Park (Philadelphia), Rogers Stadium (Toronto), Wrigley Field (Chicago), Fenway Park (Boston)
Ticket Basics – You can either buy tickets directly from the venue, or on the secondary market. Fortunately, the days of buying from shady scalpers outside the stadium are over and there are reputable ticket resellers (Stubhub, Seatgeek, etc.). If you know it’s a hot ticket (think Taylor Swift, Super Bowl, etc.) then it’s usually best to buy directly as soon as they go on sale. Typically there will be various pre-sale options which allow you to buy tickets earlier. These can be offered by credit cards. If it’s an artist or team you really like, join the fan club, since these often offer the earliest direct ticket sales.1
Yungblud (Toronto), Macklamore (Toronto), George Watsky (Portland), Dropkick Murphys (Boston)
Navigating the Secondary market – If you are buying tickets on the secondary market, it’s almost always best to wait. Never buy tickets 1-3 months before the event, since this is when tickets are most expensive. I know this is difficult, but typically (80% of the time) the market will collapse 1-3 days before the event. This is because sellers get nervous that they won’t sell the tickets at all, so they drop prices below face value. Keep in mind, there is a risk demand will exceed supply and prices could go up, but this is rare. Likewise, if you’re selling tickets try and sell them 1-3 months out when prices peak.
Where to sit – In general you want to be as close as possible, but there are exceptions to this. For example, at a comedy show the front seats are not the best unless you want to risk being part of the show. You can also be too close to a sporting event, and end up not being able to see all the action. I like to check out my seats before buying at RateYourSeats. Also, general admission (GA) for concerts are typically the closest, but you must be willing to endure crowds in order to get close. I love it. Shawn does not. So just keep in mind GA is not for everyone.
Other random tips –
- Most tickets are virtual now, so you can buy and download the last second. Make sure your cellphone is fully charged since you’ll probably need it to enter the event.
- Also each venue has rules for entry – read these. Sometimes you can bring food and water in, but if you bring restricted items you may be forced to throw them out
- If it’s an outdoor venue be prepared for the weather. Some outdoor venues are partially covered
- Food and drinks are always expensive. Be prepared to pregame, pay, or do without.
