Ticketmaster’s Best Seats feature aims to help customers find the optimal seats for concerts and events based on their preferences. However, some users have questioned whether the recommendations are truly the “best” seats or just a sales tactic. This article examines if Best Seats provides accurate and helpful recommendations.
What is Ticketmaster Best Seats?
Ticketmaster Best Seats is a recommendation engine that suggests seats to customers based on the event, seat location, and price filters set by the user. It launched in 2016 to provide more personalized seat recommendations.
Here’s how it works:
- Customers select a concert or event and input their preferences like price range and section.
- The Best Seats algorithm analyzes the event setup, seat locations, ticket prices and user preferences.
- It provides a list of recommended seats that aim to match the user’s criteria.
Ticketmaster claims Best Seats uses “predictive analytics and mapping technologies” to find seats similar to what the user wants. The goal is to remove guesswork and quickly find optimal seat options.
What factors does Best Seats use?
Ticketmaster has not publicly revealed the full details of how Best Seats works. However, we know some key factors the algorithm considers when making recommendations:
- Seat location – Factors like distance from stage, viewing angles, obstruction levels.
- Price – The price range set by the user.
- Event setup – Stage and seating layout, crowd energy zones.
- Historical data – Past sales data and ticket demand.
It uses these factors to score and rank seat options. Locations that closely match the user’s input criteria receive higher scores.
Beyond this, the exact workings of Best Seats are proprietary to Ticketmaster. It likely utilizes additional data points that are not publicly known.
Does Best Seats actually recommend the “best” seats?
Whether Best Seats recommends the objectively best seats is debated. There are a few key considerations when evaluating its accuracy:
Subjective definition of “best”
“Best seats” is highly subjective and depends on personal preferences. For some fans, the most important factor is being close to the stage. Others may prioritize affordability or a central location.
Best Seats aims to tailor recommendations to the user’s selected criteria. But whether those exact seats are the absolute optimal choice comes down to individual taste.
Algorithm limitations
Like any algorithm, Best Seats has limitations in what factors it can evaluate:
- It cannot account for nuances like small obstructions or quirks in a venue.
- It does not know if seats are affected by factors like flashing lights or pyrotechnics.
- Subjective qualities like crowd energy are estimated but hard to predict.
These limitations mean its recommendations may look great on paper but not match real-life experiences. The algorithm has blindspots in assessing every nuance of seat quality.
Bias towards more expensive tickets
Some analyses of Best Seats have found it favors recommending more expensive tickets, even when budget seats may also fit the user’s criteria.
There are a few potential reasons for this bias:
- Ticketmaster profits more from higher price tickets, so the algorithm scores pricier seats higher.
- The algorithm assumes higher price = better seats in many cases.
- Cheap seats tend to sell out fast, so are less likely to be available.
The bias means users need to double check that affordable options aren’t being filtered out unfairly.
What do customer reviews and third-party tests say?
Examining customer feedback and third-party testing sheds more light on how accurate Best Seats’ recommendations are:
Mixed customer reviews
Positive | Negative |
---|---|
– Found seats matching their preferences | – Recommended seats did not match preferences |
– Removed guesswork in finding the best seats | – Recommended seats had obstructions or other flaws |
– Shortened research time | – Tool favored expensive seats, overlooking budget options |
Customer experiences are split when it comes to Best Seats’ accuracy. For some, it nails their criteria and saves time researching. Others find it misses the mark on their actual preference and seat needs.
Third-party testing
When third-party testers like news sites analyze Best Seats, they find:
- It recommends logically better seat locations in many cases.
- But the exact “best” label is questionable in other cases.
- Affordable seat options are frequently overlooked.
Overall, external tests conclude Best Seats has merit in improving seat selection but has room for improvement.
Does Best Seats favor Ticketmaster’s interests?
A major criticism of Best Seats is whether it truly prioritizes customers or Ticketmaster’s own interests. Specifically:
Maximizing revenue
Some analysis indicates the algorithm favors premium seats that earn Ticketmaster the most revenue, even if cheaper seats are equally good fits.
Ticketmaster denies this, claiming seat quality is the priority. But the bias remains a suspicion for critics.
Upselling customers
There are also accusations that Best Seats nudges customers to spend more by positioning pricier tickets as “best.” It essentially upsells customers to higher price tiers.
Ticketmaster states it aims to keep recommendations aligned with user selected budget ranges. But the tendency to highlight expensive seats is seen by some as deliberate upselling.
Promoting Ticketmaster-owned seats
Another concern is that Best Seats gives priority to seats Ticketmaster owns itself over seats from third-party resellers.
Owned inventory generates more profit for Ticketmaster. Critics argue algoritms skews in favor of these seats versus equally good resale seats.
Ticketmaster claims their owned inventory goes through the same unbiased process. But this inventory likely has an advantage.
Is Best Seats more marketing than technology?
Given its limitations, some believe Best Seats is more marketing buzzword than a technological breakthrough:
- The “best seats” concept attracts customers shopping for tickets.
- In reality, it uses simple sorting algorithms rather than true machine learning.
- It aims to drive sales volume more than provide perfectly optimized seat recs.
While Best Seats utilizes technology, critics feel its real purpose is branding and driving sales. It solves a common customer problem but may be more sales tactic than revolution.
Does Best Seats have value despite limitations?
Even with its flaws, Best Seats likely still improves the ticket buying process:
- It narrows down better seat sections quickly, minimizing research time.
- Algorithms analyze data and see patterns humans cannot easily spot.
- It provides a starting point, which customers can then refine manually.
Best Seats gives useful guidance on better seat locations tailored to budgets and preferences. Customers ultimately make the final ticket choice.
It handles the basics well
The tool is strong on the basics like distance, angle and price. This eliminates many bad seats from consideration.
Algorithms see hidden patterns
The algorithms identify trends and insights humans miss, improving baseline recommendations.
Tool, not decision maker
Customers use Best Seats as a tool to streamline research but still make the final ticket selection.
Tips for getting the most from Best Seats
These tips can help customers get the most accuracy and value from Best Seats:
- Be very specific on preferences like budget, location, distance from stage.
- Review recommendations carefully rather than assuming they are perfect.
- Don’t rely solely on Best Seats. Also research seats manually.
- Adjust filters and re-run Best Seats multiple times to compare options.
- Check 3D interactive seat maps to spot issues algorithms may miss.
Best Seats is a useful starting point. But carefully researching, comparing and understanding its limitations improves results.
Conclusion
Best Seats utilizes algorithms and data to recommend ticket options tailored to customer preferences. However, its accuracy and objectivity have limitations.
In many cases, it identifies logically better seat locations and provides a helpful starting point. But the exact “best” label is debatable, and there are biases customers should be aware of.
With the right expectations and research, Best Seats can simplify ticket buying. But customers should not treat its recommendations as definitive. Understanding its purpose and limitations allows customers to benefit while avoiding pitfalls.