Tickets for concerts, sports events, and Broadway productions can be outrageously expensive. With tickets ranging from $50 – $300 for some events, purchasing tickets at these prices may not be an option for some – especially now, with the economic devastation caused by COVID-19.
But, don’t let the prices stop you… with a bit of effort, patience, and handy tricks, you’ll be able to attend any event you wish – when events start up again – while remaining within budget.
To help get you into these events, here are five tips to ensure you score the cheapest tickets on the market.
Browse Ticket Resellers Sites
Scoring cheap tickets all boils down to knowing where and when to shop. For example, you’re most likely going to pay a higher price if you buy a ticket to a popular event from the box-office the minute it goes on sale.
But, if you check out verified secondary sellers and ticket marketplaces, such as Gametime, SeatGeek, and StubHub, you can find tickets at a better price. These marketplaces offer many bargains, with many people being able to buy tickets for below face value.
Gametime specifically, provides customers with additional average savings of up to 18% on regular seat listings with their Zone Deals expansion, which involves purchasing tickets by zone – although fans won’t know the exact seats until purchasing.
When shopping on the secondary market, always be sure to look for a money-back guarantee to avoid potentially untrustworthy purchases.
Be Patient
It’s no secret that the ticketing industry can be unpredictable, so most people want to buy tickets as soon as they are released. But, on the contrary, if you have a little patience and wait until the event approaches, you have a better chance of scoring tickets at a more reasonable price.
For most events, there is no shortage of tickets. The market is filled with general admission tickets, as well as the tickets and packages held back for artists, promoters, and so on. As the event nears, if these tickets didn’t sell, they typically go back up on sale, but with reduced prices.
If you wait until a few weeks before an event, ticket prices will probably be lower than they were the previous week. And, if you’re willing to wait until a few hours before the event starts, sellers are likely to drop prices even more.
It may be a little risky and takes a lot of patience, but buying last minute tickets is the best way to score cheap deals.
Set up Price Notifications
One downside to waiting and searching for cheap last-minute tickets is the checking and rechecking that you’ll have to do. Luckily, most ticket resellers offer price notifications on their mobile app.
Instead of constantly monitoring the prices for the event you wish to attend, you can just set up price alerts on the reseller site – including your budget -, and let the site do the work for you. When the price to the event drops or becomes available at the price you set, you’ll receive a notification to your phone, and be able to snap up the tickets immediately.
In other words, price notifications are the best way to ensure you don’t miss out on an opportunity to buy tickets, in your desired price range, while helping you avoid the pain of having to search for tickets day after day.
Be the Lone Ranger
Going to an event alone is not as terrifying or embarrassing as most people imagine. In fact, it’s a great way to meet people, have an overall immersive experience, and score an incredible bargain.
Often people buy tickets in threes or fours and end up having one ticket left over when a friend can’t make it. These single tickets can be found at a reduced price, and if you’re lucky, close to the action. Solo tickets can be found for most events, and are hard for venues to get rid of, providing you with the opportunity to snag a deal. So, if you haven’t already, try it out.
Go on a Road Trip
Many times, ticket prices vary depending on the location of the event – even if you’re going to see the same artist, show, or team. Meaning, if the venue closest to you is completely unaffordable, you may be able to grab cheaper tickets if you go to a different venue in another city.
You don’t have to plan an elaborate cross-country trip, even just driving a town over can help you save some bucks. So, when browsing for tickets, take a moment to compare events in different cities – you may find a lower price that’s worth the trip.
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