Hamilton the musical has been a huge hit ever since it debuted on Broadway in 2015. With music, lyrics, and book by Lin-Manuel Miranda, this rap musical follows the life of Founding Father Alexander Hamilton. Hamilton premiered at the Richard Rodgers Theatre and has gone on to win multiple Tony Awards, a Pulitzer Prize for Drama, and a Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album.
Due to its immense popularity, Hamilton has expanded with touring productions across the U.S. and internationally. One of the cities lucky enough to host the smash hit musical is Minneapolis, Minnesota. The touring production is scheduled for a limited engagement at the Orpheum Theatre in downtown Minneapolis starting March 10, 2023.
With overwhelming demand to see Hamilton live on stage, it’s no surprise the show’s Minneapolis run is in high demand. But just how hard are tickets to get? Let’s investigate if Hamilton is sold out for its Minneapolis stop.
Checking Ticket Availability on Primary Sites
To determine if Hamilton is sold out in Minneapolis, the first step is checking primary ticket retailer sites. These are the official and authorized sellers of verified tickets, either directly through the venue or producers.
For the Orpheum Theatre run, primary ticket sites include:
– The Hennepin Theatre Trust website – this nonprofit owns and operates the Orpheum Theatre.
– Ticketmaster – the official ticketing partner for the Orpheum Theatre.
– Broadway Across America – the producers and presenters of Hamilton’s touring production.
A review of these primary ticket sources shows that while tickets are very limited, there is still some availability left. However, these remaining seats are likely the most expensive premium ticket options. There also appear to be some scattered single seats left, rather than pairs of seats together.
For example, on the Hennepin Theatre Trust site, there are only 6 seats left over the course of the 4 week run. These seats range from $199 to $569 in price. Most dates are completely sold out.
Meanwhile, Ticketmaster shows a bit more availability but the cheapest ticket currently available starts at $249. Most dates only have premium tickets left that are over $400 each.
So in essence, while not completely sold out, Hamilton only has extremely limited and expensive single seats remaining directly through primary ticket sellers. It would be incredibly difficult to still get good tickets together at a reasonable price point.
Checking Reseller Marketplaces
Beyond primary ticket sites, the next place to check for ticket availability is on reseller marketplaces. Sites like StubHub and Vivid Seats are platforms where people repost and resell event tickets they have already purchased.
A search of these reseller platforms shows there are still a decent number of Hamilton Minneapolis tickets available:
– On StubHub, there are 200+ tickets still available over the course of the run. However, prices start at $245 for rear balcony single seats. Lower level seats are $500 and up.
– VividSeats has 100+ tickets still available, also starting around $250 for upper level seats. Front orchestra seats are priced from $500 to as high as $970 per ticket.
So while the reseller route does open up more availability, it comes at a steep premium price. And there’s also greater risk buying resale versus directly from primary sources.
In summary, the total Hamilton Minneapolis ticket availability from both primary and reseller sites combined is:
Ticket Source | Tickets Available | Cheapest Price |
---|---|---|
Hennepin Theatre Trust | 6 tickets | $199 |
Ticketmaster | Around 20 tickets | $249 |
StubHub | 200+ tickets | $245 |
VividSeats | 100+ tickets | $250 |
Factors Impacting Limited Availability
Why is securing Hamilton tickets so competitive in Minneapolis? There are a few key factors at play:
High Demand
As a wildly popular, record-breaking musical, demand to see Hamilton live is incredibly high across the country. The show grosses over $3 million per week, which speaks to its incredible demand.
Minneapolis is no exception. Ever since the Minneapolis dates were announced, buzz and enthusiasm to see Hamilton has been off the charts locally. With a metro population of 3.6 million, and Hamilton’s widespread appeal, demand is extreme.
Limited Run
Unlike Broadway where shows run for years, touring productions typically have short 1-2 week engagements in each city.
For Minneapolis, Hamilton is only scheduled for a 4 week run from March 10 to April 2, 2023. With only 32 performances, seating capacity at the 2,700 seat Orpheum Theatre is limited.
At most, only about 87,000 tickets are available in total across the run. With demand likely exceeding this by 10x or more, it’s no wonder tickets are scarce.
Orpheum Theatre Schedule
While the Orpheum Theatre has substantial seating capacity at 2,700, its availability is also restricted due to a busy event calendar.
For example, in the months preceding Hamilton’s run:
– Wicked will take the stage for 3 weeks.
– Several concerts and comedy shows are scheduled intermittently.
Following Hamilton will be a 1 week run of To Kill a Mockingbird. This busy slate of events limits the Orpheum’s availability to extend Hamilton’s engage if desired.
Pricing and Bots
Initially tickets were likely obtainable for Minneapolis. However, the combination of dynamic pricing and ticket bot activity has shifted availability.
Producer use dynamic pricing meaning prices can fluctuate based on demand. As demand spiked, so have prices limiting affordability.
Bots that automate ticket purchases have also eaten up inventory. While anti-bot measures are in place, bots still impact availability.
These factors have shifted availability from ordinary fans towards high-paying premium buyers over time.
When is the Best Time to Purchase?
Given the lack of availability, when is the optimal time to purchase Hamilton Minneapolis tickets? Some tips:
As Early as Possible
Buying tickets early in the on-sale period gives access to the most affordable inventory before it sells out. Set calendar alerts for the on-sale date and purchase immediately.
While now past, tickets initially went on sale in mid-2022. Prices started as low as $59 before rising.
Days Leading Up to Show
While risky, more tickets tend to become available in the last week as brokers unload inventory. Last minute cancellations also open seats.
Constantly check back for newly released seats that pop up based on these factors. But be prepared to pay higher last minute pricing.
Lottery and Rush
Many Broadway shows offer lottery and rush ticket programs. However, Hamilton Minneapolis unfortunately does NOT offer these discounted ticket options.
This removes the option of scoring more affordably priced last minute seats. You’ll have to rely solely on primary and resale sites.
Follow Social Media Accounts
Sometimes venues will announce new ticket releases on their social media channels first. So be sure to follow the Orpheum Theatre and Hennepin Theatre Trust accounts for any alerts. Turn on notifications so you don’t miss any messages about new ticket batches.
Conclusion
In summary, while not completely impossible to still secure tickets, Hamilton is effectively sold out for its Minneapolis run at the Orpheum Theatre.
A few single scattered seats remain through primary channels, though availability is extremely minimal unless willing to pay steep premiums of $500 and up.
The reseller market does open more availability, but also at inflated pricing. And continues to pose risks of fraud and scams.
Given the tiny ticket pool still available, huge demand locally, and short engagement, the odds of scoring affordable tickets is next to zero.
Hamilton fans may need to consider traveling to a nearby city if deadset on seeing the show live on stage. Or otherwise wait and hope the tour returns to Minneapolis in the future.