Beyoncé’s On the Run Tour with Jay-Z in 2014 was a massive stadium tour that spanned multiple legs across North America and Europe. It was one of the hottest tours of the year and tickets were in high demand. Prices for On the Run tour tickets varied depending on the city, venue, seat location and date. Here’s a quick overview of the On the Run ticket prices:
Average Ticket Prices
According to secondary market ticket sales data, the average price paid for On the Run tour tickets across all dates was $260. However, prices ranged widely depending on the specific show. Some shows commanded ticket averages over $500 while others were closer to $100. Here’s a breakdown of the average ticket prices in different cities:
City | Average Ticket Price |
---|---|
Miami, FL | $430 |
Los Angeles, CA | $385 |
Chicago, IL | $315 |
Toronto, ON | $260 |
Foxborough, MA | $225 |
San Francisco, CA | $215 |
Cincinnati, OH | $165 |
Winnipeg, MB | $140 |
As you can see, the most expensive average ticket prices were in major cities like Miami, Los Angeles and Chicago. The most affordable averages were in smaller markets like Cincinnati and Winnipeg.
Ticket Price Factors
What drove the variation in On the Run ticket prices between markets? Here are some of the key factors:
Venue Size
Smaller venues drove prices up. The On the Run tour played major stadiums but also booked some basketball arenas and other smaller venues, especially early on. The supply-demand dynamic kicked in, with fans competing for fewer seats in markets like Miami and Los Angeles. Staples Center holds about 20,000 seats compared to over 50,000 at most stadiums.
Market Demand
Beyoncé and Jay-Z have huge superstar status but their hometown markets were especially frenzied for On the Run. Miami and Los Angeles were among the top-priced cities. Jay-Z’s hometown market of New York City also saw very expensive tickets near $500 on average.
Tour Routing
The On the Run tour hit many cities just once instead of booking multiple shows. Scarcer supply in a market meant hotter demand. Cities like Chicago and Toronto saw prices soar relative to markets where Beyoncé and Jay-Z stayed for 2-3 shows.
Timing
As with any tour, demand was highest at the beginning. Early tour openers in Miami and Los Angeles saw the most expensive ticket prices. Prices moderated later on as initial frenzy subsided.
Face Value Ticket Prices
What about the original face value prices before the secondary market took over? Here’s a sampling of initial ticket prices directly from the venues:
Venue | Cheapest Price | Highest Price |
---|---|---|
Hard Rock Stadium, Miami | $40.50 | $251 |
Soldier Field, Chicago | $40.50 | $251 |
Gillette Stadium, Boston | $35 | $155 |
Rogers Centre, Toronto | $30.50 | $250.50 |
M&T Bank Stadium, Baltimore | $40.50 | $155 |
AT&T Park, San Francisco | $49.50 | $150.50 |
Naturally, the face values set by the artist and promoter were more affordable than the secondary market prices. But tickets still ranged from economy seats under $50 to premium seats over $250, even at face value. Overall, the above data gives a sense of the original box office pricing intentions before resellers took control.
Most Expensive Tickets
While average prices help summarize the overall market, some extreme outliers existed. Here are some of the most expensive On the Run tickets actually sold:
- $2,780 – Floor seats in Miami, FL
- $1,959 – Lower level seats in Los Angeles, CA
- $1,789 – Floor seats in Chicago, IL
- $1,565 – Lower level seats in New York, NY
- $1,337 – Lower level seats in Toronto, ON
The top-priced tickets approached a staggering $3,000 for premium floor seats in hottest markets like Miami. Even the cheapest nosebleed seats in some venues still exceeded $100. Clearly, fans were willing to pay a huge premium to experience the massive On the Run tour.
Differences from Other Tours
How did On the Run Tour prices stack up against other major concert tours in 2014?
- More expensive than Justin Timberlake’s 20/20 Experience Tour average of $185
- More expensive than Bruno Mars’ Moonshine Jungle Tour average of $210
- Comparable to One Direction’s Where We Are Tour average of $260
- Slightly less expensive than Lady Gaga’s ArtRave Tour average of $275
- Significantly less expensive than Rolling Stones 50th Anniversary Tour average of $455
Other pop superstars like Justin Timberlake and Bruno Mars saw strong ticket demand, but their average prices couldn’t quite match Beyoncé and Jay-Z. The cult-like followings of One Direction and Lady Gaga produced average prices closest to On the Run. Classic rock icons The Rolling Stones played mostly stadiums and still out-priced Beyoncé and Jay-Z by a wide margin.
Aftermarket Price Recap
In summary, here’s an overview of the secondary market price range for On the Run tickets across all dates:
- Average Price: $260
- Lowest Price: $50
- Highest Price: $2,780
The huge gap between lowest and highest ticket prices demonstrates just how variable the market value became. While deals could be found, huge premiums were required for the best seats in major cities on hot dates. Unique local demand factors, opponent matchups, and inventory drove large fluctuations.
Conclusion
Beyoncé and Jay-Z’s stadium spectacle On the Run tour produced some of the hottest ticketing demand of 2014. While face value prices started between $30-$250 in most venues, secondary market prices soared much higher. The average resale ticket went for $260. But premium seats approached an astonishing $3,000 in Miami and other major markets. Compared to other major pop tours, On the Run delivered more expensive average pricing – evidence of insane fan enthusiasm to catch music’s top power couple live in concert.