Timing can be crucial when it comes to buying concert tickets as prices can fluctuate significantly between when tickets first go on sale to the day of the concert.
In this article, we’ll show the best time to buy concert tickets, whether to buy during pre-sale, on-sale, or waiting until day of show to purchase resale tickets.
We will also examine the factors that affect ticket prices and how to predict if concert ticket prices will drop or rise closer to the event. Hopefully this helps you save some money and get a good deal on tickets!
When Is The Best Time to Buy Concert Tickets?
Pre-Sale and On-Sale Tickets
One of the best times to buy concert tickets is during the pre-sale and on-sale period. Pre-sale and Onsale tickets are available to the public and you can usually find where tickets go on sale through the artist’s website.
During the pre-sale and onsale, the tickets are for sale at face value, and you have the most seats to choose from overall since tickets just went on sale. Generally this is where you’ll get the best price on tickets incase prices rise in the future.
Keep in mind: You want to buy presale/onsale tickets from the Primary Ticketing Site (Ticketmaster, AXS, Eventbrite, Ticketweb, Etix are examples). At this point you don’t want to purchase from the Secondary Resale Sites (Vividseats, Stubhub, Tickpick) during the presale because ticket prices are likely higher than the Primary.
Waiting Until the Day of the Show
Another option to consider is waiting until a couple of days before the concert to purchase tickets. This pays off when there is low demand for the concert since that often means ticket prices will fall as the show approaches.. If the venue has not sold out, ticket prices may drop closer to the concert date as unsold tickets are lowered in price. However, waiting until the last minute can be risky, as there is no guarantee that tickets will be available especially if the show is popular, and the seats may not be ideal.
The Factors That Impact Ticket Prices
Several factors influence the price of concert tickets. One such factor is demand. If the concert is highly anticipated, the tickets may sell out quickly, and the prices may increase. Additionally, the capacity of the venue and the number of tickets for sale can also impact the ticket price. If the venue is small, the tickets will be in high demand, and the prices may increase. On the other hand, if the venue is large, there may be more tickets available, and the prices may be lower.
Demand For Event (Popularity): The overall demand for the concert is the leading indicator for whether ticket prices will get more expensive or cheaper over time. When a concert has extremely high popularity the tickets are purchased quickly and there is limited supply remaining which often forces the prices of tickets to rise.
Venue Capacity: Conversely, when a concert does not have overwhelming demand for it (which is actually most concerts), this means there are hundreds if not thousands of tickets remaining for sale leading up to the evening of the concert. At this point the excess supply of unused tickets usually causes the get-in price for that concert to fall, as unsold tickets are lowered in price so people not attending can get some money out of their tickets.
Number of Resale Tickets: The number of tickets available for sale on the resale marketplaces (Vividseats, Stubhub, Tickpick) will be able to tell you how the demand & supply for the concert is currently looking. When there are hundreds of unsold tickets for sale, and the day of the concert is approaching, you can expect the prices to fall and people try to sell their tickets. On the other hand, if the inventory looks slim on resale sites, you can expect prices to stay elevated as the demand is outweighing the available seats available.
The Best Time To Buy Resale Tickets
Resale tickets are a common option for fans getting tickets. Just because a ticket is on a resale site does not mean the ticket is necessarily more expensive than face value. In fact, many tickets on the resale sites end up being cheaper than what they were originally sold for. This is why it’s almost always worth it to check the resale sites to see where the best price available is.
If there are lots of tickets still available for sale, the best time to buy resale tickets is a couple days before the concert or the day of the concert.
If you’re going to buy tickets on resale, we recommend checking Tickpick, Vividseats, Stubhub, and Seatgeek and comparing to find the best price. The Sametix Chrome Extension does this research for you when you are looking for tickets, and will alert you if a better price is found for tickets you are about to purchase.
How to Tell If Concert Prices May Drop Closer to the Event
There are several ways to predict if concert prices may drop closer to the event. One way is to monitor ticket prices regularly. If ticket prices are stagnant, there is a good chance that they will remain that way until the concert date. On the other hand, if prices are fluctuating, it may indicate that ticket prices will drop in the future. Another way to tell if ticket prices may drop is to check the resale marketplaces. If there are many resale tickets available, it may suggest that the original ticket prices are too high and will decrease in the future.
Our Recommendation
If you know you are interested in going to a concert, the best time to buy concert tickets on Ticketmaster is during the presale and onsale, or as early as possible. More often than not this is where you’ll find the best price, and securing tickets early gives you some peace of mind. Ticketmaster is the primary ticket seller for many venues and artists around the US so this is where you’ll find the ‘face value’ tickets.
Conclusion
Hopefully this guide helps you determine when the best time to buy concert tickets is.
The best time depends on several factors, including demand, and capacity of the venue, and depends on your specific event. Pre-sale and on-sale tickets offer the best chance of getting better seats at face value. Waiting until a couple of days before the show can be a good option when there is low demand for the concert, but is not always guaranteed to get you cheaper tickets.
Good luck getting tickets and have fun out there!