Hamilton is one of the most popular and acclaimed musicals in Broadway history. The show, which tells the story of Founding Father Alexander Hamilton through hip-hop music and a diverse cast, has received immense critical praise and has been seen as revolutionary for bringing hip-hop to the Broadway stage.
Since its off-Broadway debut in 2015 and subsequent Broadway opening later that year, Hamilton has also become an incredibly hot ticket, with demand far exceeding the supply of seats in the theater. This has led to astronomical ticket prices, especially on the secondary market, making Hamilton one of the most expensive shows to see on Broadway.
What factors contribute to Hamilton’s high ticket prices?
There are several key factors that drive up prices for Hamilton tickets:
- Extremely limited supply – The Richard Rodgers Theatre where Hamilton is performed only seats 1,319 people. There are far more people who want to see the show on any given night.
- Consistently sold-out performances – Hamilton consistently sells out every show, even years after opening, indicating off-the-charts demand.
- Celebrity and cultural status – The enormous buzz and popularity of the show as a cultural phenomenon draws intense interest.
- Critical acclaim – Hamilton has won 11 Tony Awards, a Pulitzer Prize, and a Grammy Award, making it an artistic work that many theatergoers want to see.
These factors combine to create a scenario where demand for Hamilton tickets astronomically outpaces the limited supply, enabling prices to soar to unprecedented levels for a Broadway show.
What are the average ticket prices to see Hamilton?
The average ticket price to see Hamilton varies greatly depending on whether one buys tickets at face value directly from the theater or obtains resale tickets on the secondary market:
Face value tickets
Hamilton tickets directly sold by the Richard Rodgers Theatre currently have a face value price of:
- Rear Mezzanine: $249
- Mid Mezzanine: $299
- Front Mezzanine: $399
- Rear Orchestra: $199
- Mid Orchestra: $299
- Front Orchestra: $399
This puts the average face value price at approximately $325 per ticket. However, accessible seats can be purchased for between $199 and $349.
Secondary market prices
On secondary resale sites like StubHub, prices are generally much higher:
Section | Average Price |
---|---|
Rear Mezzanine | $385 |
Mid Mezzanine | $625 |
Front Mezzanine | $925 |
Rear Orchestra | $550 |
Mid Orchestra | $975 |
Front Orchestra | $1,250 |
This puts the average resale price at approximately $775. Front row orchestra seats can easily fetch over $2,000 and sometimes over $3,000.
How do Hamilton’s ticket prices compare to other top Broadway shows?
To understand if Hamilton’s tickets are the most expensive on Broadway, it helps to compare its average ticket prices to other hugely popular Broadway musicals.
Show | Avg. Secondary Market Price |
---|---|
Hamilton | $775 |
The Lion King | $250 |
Wicked | $285 |
The Book of Mormon | $285 |
Dear Evan Hansen | $220 |
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child | $350 |
This comparison shows that by a wide margin, Hamilton has the highest average resale ticket price on Broadway. Its premium orchestra seats are in a league of their own price-wise among current Broadway shows.
Historical context
Looking beyond just current Broadway, a useful historical comparison is the previous record-holder for most expensive Broadway tickets: The Producers.
At the height of its popularity in 2001, tickets to The Producers climbed as high as $480 on the secondary market. Adjusted for inflation, that’s about $675 in today’s dollars.
While by no means cheap, that is still over $100 less on average than current Hamilton tickets. This demonstrates just how unprecedented the premium pricing of Hamilton tickets is.
What are the most expensive individual Hamilton tickets ever sold?
While the average secondary market price gives a good overall representation, the most eye-popping Hamilton ticket prices are for individual front row premium seats sold at auction or by ticket resellers.
Notable top ticket prices include:
- $849 – Center orchestra ticket for July 2016 performance
- $1,150 – Front row ticket for May 2016 performance
- $1,200 – Front row ticket for June 2016 performance
- $2,000 – Pair of front row tickets for July 2016 performance
- $3,000 – Pair of VIP front row tickets including backstage tour – July 2016
The highest verified price appears to be over $3,000 for a pair of July 2016 front row tickets bundled with a VIP experience. More recently, front row tickets tend to top out between $2,000-$2,500.
Conclusion
Based on average secondary market prices, Hamilton tickets sell for over 2-3 times higher than other top Broadway shows. Top premium seats fetch prices as high as $3,000, outpacing the most expensive tickets in Broadway history.
While the face value prices directly from the theater are more reasonable at around $325 on average, the intense demand for Hamilton makes secondary market prices skyrocket to unprecedented levels for a Broadway production.
This combination of extreme demand and very limited supply solidifies Hamilton’s status as both the hottest Broadway ticket and by far the most expensive show currently on the Great White Way.