When purchasing tickets online for concerts, sports events, theater shows and other live entertainment, buyers have to consider the total cost of the ticket. This includes the face value of the ticket as set by the venue or event organizer as well as any additional service fees charged by the ticket retailer. Two of the biggest players in online ticket sales are Ticketmaster and Vivid Seats, so a common question for consumers is: which site has higher fees?
The short answer
In general, Ticketmaster tends to have higher service fees compared to Vivid Seats. However, fees vary for each event and section within a venue. There are instances where Vivid Seats’ fees may be higher than Ticketmaster’s for certain tickets. The fees also fluctuate over time. So there is no universal answer to which site always has the highest fees. The only way to find out is to compare the total ticket costs (face value + fees) for the specific event and section you are interested in purchasing from each retailer.
Examining Ticketmaster’s fees
As the largest primary ticket outlet, Ticketmaster sells tickets directly on behalf of the event organizers. In addition to the face value price, they charge service fees on each ticket purchase. Ticketmaster’s fees include:
- Processing fee – This applies to every ticket purchase and ranges from $5-$20 per order.
- Service fee – Ranges from 10%-25% of the base ticket price.
- Facility charge – This goes back to the venue operator to cover facility operating expenses.
The exact fee amounts vary depending on the event, seat location, demand and other factors. Some events may have higher service fees up to 30% of the base price. For very popular high demand events like playoffs or major rock concerts, the fees could exceed $30 per ticket.
Extra Ticketmaster fees
On top of the standard processing, service and facility fees, Ticketmaster also tacks on some other charges in certain cases:
- UPS delivery – $18-25 for UPS ticket delivery
- Order processing – $5.95 for phone or non-online orders
- TicketFast delivery – $19.95-$64.95 for last minute e-ticket delivery
Tickets bought through Ticketmaster’s resale marketplace, Ticketmaster Resale, have a 15% “Buyer Service Fee” added to the resale price set by season ticket holders and other resellers. Ticketing industry watchers have criticized Ticketmaster’s fees as excessive given how much revenue they already generate from primary ticket sales.
Vivid Seats service fees
As a secondary ticket marketplace, Vivid Seats connects buyers and sellers rather than selling tickets directly on behalf of event organizers. Sellers on Vivid Seats are generally season ticket holders, brokers and speculators reselling their tickets. In addition to the ticket price set by the seller, Vivid Seats charges the buyer service fees on each order. Their fee structure is slightly more straightforward compared to Ticketmaster.
Vivid Seats fees include:
- Service fee – Ranges from 10% to 20% of the ticket price
- Order processing fee – $7-$10 per ticket order
Similar to Ticketmaster, the exact fees vary depending on the event, section and demand. Vivid Seats may also implement temporary surge pricing with higher service fees up to 30% for extremely high demand events where ticket supplies are limited.
Advantages of Vivid Seats fees
Compared to Ticketmaster, several aspects of Vivid Seats’ fee structure are more favorable to ticket buyers:
- Lower order processing fees ($7-$10 vs. Ticketmaster’s $20)
- No extra facility fees or UPS shipping charges
- All-in pricing shown upfront before purchase
- Season ticket holders pay lower seller fees (10% vs. Ticketmaster’s 15%)
Vivid Seats’ maximum 30% service fee is still substantial, but they tend to have lower overall fees for the majority of event tickets compared to Ticketmaster’s extensive fee structure.
Comparing Fees by Event
While it’s difficult to make a sweeping judgement call on Vivid Seats vs. Ticketmaster fees, we can compare them side by side for specific events. Here are some examples across different sports and music events:
NBA Basketball Tickets
Event | Section | Ticket Price | Vivid Seats Fees | Total Cost | Ticketmaster Fees | Total Cost |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Chicago Bulls vs Boston Celtics | Upper Level Sideline | $170 | $43 | $213 | $63 | $233 |
Golden State Warriors vs LA Lakers | Upper Level Corner | $125 | $32 | $157 | $49 | $174 |
For these NBA games, Vivid Seats has lower service fees compared to Ticketmaster on similar upper level seats.
NFL Football Tickets
Event | Section | Ticket Price | Vivid Seats Fees | Total Cost | Ticketmaster Fees | Total Cost |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Pittsburgh Steelers vs Cleveland Browns | Upper Endzone | $210 | $63 | $273 | $82 | $292 |
San Francisco 49ers vs Seattle Seahawks | Upper Corner | $375 | $113 | $488 | $150 | $525 |
Again for NFL tickets in the upper sections, Vivid Seats fees are lower across these examples.
Concert Tickets
Event | Section | Ticket Price | Vivid Seats Fees | Total Cost | Ticketmaster Fees | Total Cost |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Green Day Tour | Lower Level Side | $275 | $69 | $344 | $86 | $361 |
Harry Styles Tour | Floor Seats | $495 | $149 | $644 | $174 | $669 |
For these major concert tours, Vivid Seats and Ticketmaster fees are closer but Vivid Seats still comes out lower overall.
Factors impacting fees
As these examples demonstrate, Vivid Seats tends to charge lower service fees overall compared to Ticketmaster. However, there are certain factors that influence the fees charged:
1. Primary vs. secondary
Since Ticketmaster is selling directly for event organizers, they can get away with tacking on more fees like facility charges and order processing. Vivid Seats is just a marketplace, so they have fewer additional fees beyond their service charge.
2. Ticket demand
For high demand events and hot tickets, both Ticketmaster and Vivid Seats will implement “surge pricing” with inflated service fees up to 30%. Ticketmaster also adjusts fees dynamically based on projected demand.
3. Location of seats
Premium seats like lower level or floor tickets generally incur higher fees. Ticketmaster charges higher service fees for front row and VIP seats. Vivid Seats fees also scale up for better seat locations.
4. Timing of purchase
Fees tend to increase closer to the event date as remaining ticket supplies dwindle. Last minute purchases will face higher fees from both Ticketmaster and Vivid Seats.
So while Vivid Seats standard fees tend to be lower, those differences could diminish with some of these factors in play. You have to evaluate fees at the time of purchase for the specific event and section.
Tips for minimizing fees
Regardless of which site you buy from, here are some tips to help avoid high ticket fees:
- Buy early – Purchasing well in advance leads to lower fees before demand drives them up.
- Consider upper level or end zone seats – These tend to have much lower fees than lower level or floor seats.
- Check resale sites – Vivid Seats and other resale sites tend to have lower fees for secondary market tickets.
- Look for promo codes – Retailers sometimes offer promo codes to waive processing fees.
- Buy group tickets – Fees are lower when buying larger group orders.
- Buy direct at box office – Buying tickets directly at the venue box office allows you to avoid online fees.
Conclusion
Based on industry data, feedback from buyers and our own fee comparisons, Vivid Seats consistently has lower service charges overall compared to Ticketmaster. However, Ticketmaster’s fees vary so widely depending on the event, seat location and timing that it’s impossible to make a blanket statement.
The only sure way to determine which site has lower fees is to compare the final ticket costs side by side for the specific event and section you plan to buy. Be sure to account for all processing fees, service charges, delivery fees and other add-ons when making your price comparison.
To save the most on fees, look to buy from Vivid Seats or other secondary market resellers. Buy early, compare across sites, choose upper level seating, and take advantage of promos and group discounts.
Being a savvy ticket buyer online requires factoring fees into the total ticket price before making your purchase. Taking the time to understand how sites like Vivid Seats and Ticketmaster structure their fees will ensure you don’t pay more than necessary the next time you shop for event tickets online.