Why Concert Tickets Are So Expensive Javascript must be enabled to use this site. Please enable Javascript in your browser and try again. × Search search POPULAR SEARCHES SUGGESTED LINKS Join AARP for just $9 per year when you sign up for a 5-year term. Get instant access to members-only products and hundreds of discounts, a free second membership, and a subscription to AARP the Magazine. Leaving AARP.org Website You are now leaving AARP.org and going to a website that is not operated by AARP. A different privacy policy and terms of service will apply. Close
Why Concert Prices Are Sky-High
Tips to navigate the world of ticket sales
If you ask people sitting (or standing) next to you at a concert where they bought their tickets, there's a good chance they purchased from a different vendor or paid a different price. Getty Images Get instant access to members-only products and hundreds of discounts, a free second membership, and a subscription to AARP the Magazine. What does this mean for you, the fan, The short answer is there are more options to buy tickets than ever — face value, resale, paperless, Official Platinum Seats, Verified Fan, VIP and fan-club presales — and you have to pay attention to how to do it to come out ahead. "It can get confusing, trust me!" says Amy Howe, Ticketmaster's chief operating officer. "The world's changing quickly right now." Here are tips for navigating the world of tickets. Take a spin on the secondary market
Ticket reselling has evolved into an $8 billion business, and prices can be astronomical — orchestra seats for Springsteen's Broadway shows, for example, are going for as much as $3,000 via StubHub. Ticketmaster has jumped into the fray, reselling U2 tickets at the Forum in California through its own TM+ service for $737, while a face-value ticket in a nearby row costs less than half that. "The number-one tip is to avoid that old-school mentality that you have to buy the ticket at the on-sale [price]," says Jessica Erskine, a StubHub spokeswoman. "That's a way of the past." Look for the presales
Entertainment $3 off popcorn and soft drink combos See more Entertainment offers > Choose luxury
Touring stars figured out years ago they could offer fans expensive VIP packages so resellers couldn't possibly raise prices any higher. The Hangout Music Festival, being held this May in Gulf Shores, Ala., charges $1,700 for such a package and includes a personal oyster bar and watching headliners such as Kendrick Lamar, the Killers and the Chainsmokers from hot tubs beneath the stage. Journey's $500 arena package offers a front-row seat, a preshow reception with food and drinks, and a tote bag. "The ultimate is a meet and greet," says Jarred Arfa, general manager of Artist Group International, the agency that represents Billy Joel, Rod Stewart, Metallica and others. "The low level is, you get a T-shirt or a poster." Monitor dynamic pricing
Airlines, rental cars and ride-hailing services like Uber change their prices at any minute based on consumer activity, and concerts have started to follow suit in recent years. Artists set prices at the beginning, but sometimes they tinker as the sales go on — which might explain why an Official Platinum Seat for the Eagles in section 3, row 1, of Nashville's Bridgestone Arena costs $950, while section 3, row 7, is $685, and row 10 is $595. "They're monitoring the sales and making adjustments on the fly," Arfa says. "It's a great tool for maximizing revenue." Buy 4 and sell 2
If you're smart and lucky and monitor the StubHub and eBay price fluctuations in advance, you could wind up attending a show for free. "It offers a chance to pay for your night out, by being just a little bit entrepreneurial," StubHub's Erskine says. More on entertainment AARP NEWSLETTERS %{ newsLetterPromoText }% %{ description }% Subscribe AARP VALUE & MEMBER BENEFITS See more Health & Wellness offers > See more Flights & Vacation Packages offers > See more Finances offers > See more Health & Wellness offers > SAVE MONEY WITH THESE LIMITED-TIME OFFERS