Harry Styles, the former One Direction member turned solo artist, has been touring across the United States in support of his album Fine Line. His recent stops included shows at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois. Fans were eager to see the pop superstar live, but just how much did it cost them to attend?
What were the ticket prices for Harry Styles in Chicago?
Ticket prices for Harry Styles’ shows at the United Center in Chicago varied based on the seat location. Generally speaking, prices ranged from around $50 USD on the upper levels to over $300 USD for floor seats closest to the stage. There were also some VIP packages available that included extra perks like pre-show receptions, exclusive merchandise, and more.
Section | Price Range |
---|---|
Floor A-E | $250 – $370 |
Lower Level Sidelines | $170 – $250 |
Lower Level Corners | $90 – $170 |
300 Level | $50 – $90 |
As you can see, buying floor seats closest to the main stage was the most expensive option, while 300 level seats higher up in the arena were the most affordable. There was a wide range in between depending on the exact location.
How did Chicago prices compare to other tour stops?
The ticket prices for Harry Styles in Chicago were very similar to other major metro areas on his tour. For example, floor seats ranged from $250-$400 in cities like New York, Los Angeles, Houston, and Miami. Smaller venues had slightly lower prices, but Chicago was on par with most arenas Styles performed at.
Some factors that influenced the ticket pricing included:
- The population size of the metropolitan area – Larger cities like Chicago could sustain higher prices due to demand.
- Venue size – Harry played larger arenas in big cities, allowing more (and more expensive) floor seat tickets.
- Day of week – Weekend shows were generally more expensive than weeknights.
But overall, the set list of ticket price tiers was fairly consistent across his North American tour dates in similarly sized venues.
What was the process for getting tickets?
There were a few ways fans could get tickets to see Harry Styles in Chicago or other tour stops:
Direct ticket sales
Tickets first went on sale to the general public through Ticketmaster. There were pre-sale opportunities for fans who had access to special presale codes as well. These presales allowed fans to purchase tickets a few days or weeks early before the general on-sale date.
Reseller markets
Tickets also ended up on secondary reseller sites like StubHub and VividSeats. Resellers could charge well above face value, sometimes several times higher for floor seats or VIP packages.
Box office sales
Fans could sometimes purchase tickets directly at the United Center box office on the day of show if tickets were still available at that point. This was an option for last-minute purchases.
VIP packages
Some exclusive and more expensive ticket packages were sold through VIP Nation, offering amenities like pre-show parties, signed merchandise, and more. These came at a premium cost over regular tickets.
So in summary, getting tickets required monitoring pre-sales, general on-sales through Ticketmaster, and reseller sites. Planning ahead and being ready to purchase right away was key for the best deal and preferred seats.
When did tickets go on sale and how quickly did they sell out?
Harry Styles announced his 2020 tour dates in late 2019. Tickets first went on sale to the general public starting in November 2019. Additional dates were added and went on sale over the following months as demand remained high in many cities.
In Chicago specifically, the initial dates in June 2020 went on sale on November 22, 2019. Additional shows were added for July after the first block of tickets sold out very quickly – most within minutes or hours. Fans reported waiting in online Ticketmaster queues for up to 3+ hours to try and purchase tickets.
A glance at resale sites showed just how fast the prime tickets were snatched up. Floor seats were going for $800+ just hours after tickets went live, indicating extremely high demand.
The 2020 dates eventually were postponed to 2021, then finally to 2022 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Additional dates were added over time, giving more opportunities for fans to get tickets. But the initial on-sales were frantic, demonstrating how popular Harry Styles remained even years after his boyband days.
Key Harry Styles ticket on-sale dates for Chicago shows:
- November 22, 2019 – First June 2020 dates
- December 13, 2019 – Additional June 2020 dates
- February 28, 2020 – Rescheduled June 2021 dates
- May 21, 2021 – Rescheduled July 2022 dates
Who opened for Harry Styles on the Chicago tour stops?
Harry Styles brought along indie pop singer Mitski as the opening act on his 2022 North American tour, including the Chicago shows at United Center.
Mitski Miyawaki is an American musician originally from Japan. She has released five solo studio albums to date. Her music style combines indie pop and rock elements.
Some of Mitski’s most popular songs include:
- “Your Best American Girl”
- “Nobody”
- “Washing Machine Heart”
- “A Pearl”
Mitski performed an opening set around 30-45 minutes long before Harry Styles took the stage in Chicago. Her inclusion offered an opportunity for fans to discover an acclaimed up-and-coming artist they may not have been familiar with previously.
In reviews, Mitski received strong praise for her opening sets during Harry Styles’ larger arena shows. Her music and performance style complemented his well, getting the crowd excited for the main event.
Conclusion
Seeing Harry Styles live in concert was a dream come true for many fans in Chicago. While tickets on the floor or closest to the stage were very pricey, seats further back in the arena remained affordable options. Given Styles’ overwhelming popularity, it took planning, perseverance, and a bit of luck for fans to secure tickets during the initial on-sales. The effort and cost was well worth it for those able to attend one of pop music’s biggest current acts back at the height of his fame.