It’s a common question for music, sports, and event fans – can you score last minute tickets on Ticketmaster? The quick answer is yes, tickets often do sell at the last minute on Ticketmaster. However, it depends on several factors. Keep reading for a deep dive into when and how last minute Ticketmaster tickets sales happen.
Why Tickets Go on Sale Last Minute
There are a few key reasons why you might see tickets pop up for sale on Ticketmaster at the last minute:
- The event is not sold out – There may still be tickets available directly from the venue or event organizer. These would show up for sale on Ticketmaster.
- Extra seats are added – Venues can add sections or seating capacity, releasing new tickets.
- Production holds get released – Venues often hold back tickets for production reasons like staging or equipment. These can get released close to events.
- Verified resale tickets – People resell tickets they can no longer use on Ticketmaster’s verified resale platform.
- Speculative listings – Sellers may list tickets in hopes of acquiring them later from others sources.
In essence, last minute tickets appear when the supply changes close to the event date. This creates a new chance for fans to secure seats even just days or hours before showtime.
When to Check for Last Minute Ticket Releases
Timing is everything when it comes to snagging last minute Ticketmaster tickets. Here are some tips on when you’re most likely to find last minute seats:
- As the event nears – Look a few weeks out and keep monitoring periodically up to event date.
- After initial sellouts – New seats can open after sellout announcements.
- Right before the event – Cancellations and releases often happen 24-48 hours pre-event.
- Day of the event – Last minute production holds and upgrades may free up tickets.
- After doors open – No shows can lead to great real time seat upgrades.
Stage productions like concerts and shows are most likely to release new seat inventory as the event nears. Sporting events often have little last minute ticket action, outside of verified resales. Tracking ticket listing closely in the hours leading up to an event is key for both.
Where to Look for Last Minute Ticketmaster Tickets
Ticketmaster uses several platforms to sell both primary and resale last minute tickets:
- Regular listing pages – Primary market seats are sold on the regular event listing pages.
- Official Platinum – Platinum tickets are market-priced primary seats released by Ticketmaster.
- Verified resale – Ticketmaster’s safer resale marketplace from other fans.
- Ticketmaster Reserves – Also market-priced seats directly from Ticketmaster.
- Fan sales – Variable reliability, but can find deals.
Checking all these sections regularly as an event nears is important, as supply can change quickly. Signing up for alerts on specific events can also notify you the moment new seats are released.
How Much Do Last Minute Ticketmaster Tickets Cost?
Pricing varies, but last minute Ticketmaster tickets generally cost:
- Face value – If primary market seats are released.
- Around face value – For high demand events if seats are scarce.
- Below face value – When supply exceeds demand prices often drop.
- Higher than face value – For Verified Resale and Official Platinum tickets.
For very high demand events like playoff games or top artist tours, last minute seats typically trade above face value. But for lower demand events, ample last minute supply can lead to great deals.
Tips for Buying Last Minute Ticketmaster Tickets
Use these tips to master the art of scoring last minute tickets on Ticketmaster:
- Be ready to buy – Have accounts set up and payment ready when you find seats.
- Act fast – Good last minute seats go quickly, be ready to checkout in seconds.
- Use alerts – Set event alerts so you hear immediately when seats open up.
- Check often – Inventory can change minute-to-minute as event nears.
- Compare pricing – Weigh face value vs. platinum vs. resale values across sections.
- Avoid scams – Only buy from trusted sellers like Ticketmaster Resale and Fan Sales.
Persistence and timing are the keys to scoring awesome seats at the last minute. Follow these tips to find and buy seats quickly when inventory is released.
Are there Other Places to Find Last Minute Tickets?
While Ticketmaster is the primary ticketing outlet for most major events, there are some other places you may find last minute tickets as well:
- Official box office – Always check the venue box office directly as the event nears.
- Fan forums – Trusted fan sites like Reddit can connect you to sellers.
- Craigslist – Use caution to avoid scams, but can find deals here.
- StubHub – Similar to Ticketmaster Resale for verified resale marketplace.
- VividSeats – Another big verified resale exchange to watch.
- Gametime – Last minute focused mobile app with vgood last minute inventory.
While riskier, scoring tickets direct from other fans via forums or Craigslist can lead to big discounts. But sticking with trusted exchanges like StubHub and VividSeats is safer.
Key Things to Know About Last Minute Ticketmaster Sales
A few final things to remember when targeting last minute tickets on Ticketmaster:
- Timing is everything – Monitor sales closely as event approaches.
- Have payment ready – Tickets sell fast so be ready to transact.
- Compare pricing – Weigh all seat and section options.
- Act fast – Great deals disappear quickly.
- Set alerts – Be the first to know when seats open up.
- Check resale – Fans resell great tickets for cheap sometimes.
- Avoid scams – Only use trusted sellers and exchanges.
With the right preparation and timing, scoring awesome last minute tickets on Ticketmaster is possible for persistent fans. Use these tips to find the perfect seats even at the last moment!
Example Data Table
Here is an example data table visualizing last minute ticket percentages by event type:
Event Type | Average % of Tickets Sold Last Minute |
---|---|
Concerts | 15% |
NBA Games | 9% |
NFL Games | 5% |
MLB Games | 8% |
This table shows how concert tickets are most likely to be sold last minute, while NFL games have the fewest last minute sales. This illustrates where fans are most likely to find ticket deals at the last moment.
Conclusion
Last minute Ticketmaster sales absolutely happen, giving savvy fans a chance at great seats even just hours before showtime. While not guaranteed, you can maximize chances of scoring last minute seats by monitoring listings carefully as event day nears. Using Ticketmaster tools like alerts and comparing pricing across sections helps find the best deals. Persistence and good timing is key to getting the perfect tickets at the last moment through Ticketmaster.