When purchasing tickets on Ticketmaster, the start times for events are displayed according to the local time zone of the venue. This means that if you are looking at tickets for an event in a different time zone than where you are located, the start time listed will be in the local time of the venue, not your own time zone.
Why does Ticketmaster use local time for events?
There are a few key reasons why Ticketmaster displays event times in the local time zone of the venue:
- It avoids confusion – Having all times listed in local venue time makes it clear when the event starts in the location it is happening. If times were listed in the ticket purchaser’s time zone, it could be unclear or confusing when the event actually begins.
- It matches the venue’s listings – Venues promote and market events in their own local time zone. Displaying the start times in the venue’s local time matches the same times being advertised elsewhere for the event.
- It factors in Daylight Saving Time – When an area shifts to Daylight Saving Time or back to Standard Time, it can cause discrepancies if the event time is not displayed in local venue time. Showing the times in local venue time means Daylight Saving is already factored into the start times.
By keeping all of the start times in the local time zones of the various venues, it reduces the risk of confusion and discrepancy. Ticketmaster aims to list the times exactly as the venue does to provide clear and consistent information.
Examples of Ticketmaster using local time
Here are some examples that demonstrate how Ticketmaster displays event times in local venue time:
An event in New York when you are in California
If you live in California and are looking at tickets for an event taking place in New York City, the start time would be listed in Eastern Time. For example, if you saw a start time of 8:00pm for an event in New York, that means the event begins at 8:00pm Eastern Time. You would need to factor in the time zone difference to know that the event starts at 5:00pm Pacific Time in your own time zone.
An event in London when you are in New York
Similarly, if you were in New York viewing tickets for a concert in London, England, the start time would be listed in British Summer Time. So if the London concert lists a start time of 19:00, that is 7pm in your Eastern Time zone. Again, Ticketmaster displays the local London start time, not your own New York time zone.
An event in your own time zone
When looking at tickets for events in your own time zone, the start times will match your own local time. If you live in Miami and are seeing a concert in Orlando, the start time will be in Eastern Time. So there is no time zone math required in this case.
How to check if an event time is in your local time or venue time
Because Ticketmaster displays times in venue local time, you’ll need to pay attention to where the event is taking place to know if the times match your own time zone. Here are some tips:
- Look at the venue location – The venue name and location details are typically prominently displayed at the top of the Ticketmaster event page. This can clue you into whether the times match your time zone or if you need to convert.
- Check the time zone – Some event pages may also explicitly list the time zone abbreviation after the displayed times, such as “8:00pm EDT” or “3:00pm GMT.” This makes it clear when the times are not in your own time zone.
- Be aware of your own time zone – Familiarize yourself with abbreviations and names for your own time zone so you can quickly discern if an event is in your time zone or another one.
- Confirm with online time zone converters – If you are unsure, copy the start time and location and run it through an online time zone converter. This will tell you what the time would be in your own zone.
Taking quick stock of the event’s location and time zone can help reveal if the listed time matches your own local time. When in doubt, use a converter or do the math yourself based on time zone differences.
How to convert the event time to your local time
If an event is in a different time zone than your own location, you’ll need to convert the listed start time to determine when it begins in your own local time. Here are some tips for converting the times:
- Pay attention to Daylight Saving Time – If either location observes DST, make sure to factor it into your time conversion calculations.
- Note if times are AM or PM – Make sure to pay attention to AM or PM designations in both the listed time and your own time zone.
- Use time zone difference – Subtract or add the hour difference between the time zones. For example, Pacific is 3 hours behind Eastern, so add 3 hours to convert Eastern to Pacific time.
- Use time zone converter tools – The easiest option is to use an online time zone converter tool or app and input the event location and time. It will automatically convert to your time zone.
Converting time zones can seem complicated, but once you know some basic facts about your own time zone relative to others, it becomes easier. Online converters also simplify the process and avoid math errors.
Add reminders and alerts for events in other time zones
For events happening in other time zones, it’s a good idea to set reminders, alerts, or calendar entries so you don’t forget the actual local start time. Here are some tips:
- Set phone alerts for the converted time – Input the converted event time into your smartphone’s calendar app and allow it to send you alerts.
- Use calendar invites – Convert the time and input it into a calendar invite for the event that you can share and access.
- Set email reminders – Schedule an email reminder through an online service to be sent to yourself at the actual local start time.
- Write the local time down – Hand write the converted local time onto your physical calendar or planner so you can reference it.
Having alerts and reminders ready for the actual start times is useful, especially if purchasing tickets very far in advance. They help prevent confusion about when to show up or tune in.
Allow extra time when converting time zones
It’s always smart to give yourself a little extra lead time when attending events in other time zones you’ve had to convert. Here are some reasons why:
- Avoid issues from mixer-ups converting – Giving extra lead time helps make up for any errors in your time zone math and reduces the chance you are late.
- Account for travel time – Traveling through different time zones can be disorienting. Extra lead time helps overcome Jet lag and confusion.
- Beat lines – Long lines at venues often form leading up to the start time. Having extra lead time ensures you aren’t left out.
- Deal with parking – Finding parking near venues can take extra time, especially in dense urban areas. Extra lead time gives you a buffer.
Even if you are confident in your time zone conversion, build in a buffer of at least 30 minutes to account for any factors that could delay your arrival and make sure you get there before the event begins.
Use 24-hour time to avoid AM/PM confusion
When converting between time zones, it can be easy to make a mistake on AM or PM designations, especially if the zones are on opposite sides of the day. To avoid this, use 24-hour or “military” time instead of AM/PM. For example:
- 01:00 indicates 1 AM
- 13:00 indicates 1 PM
- 20:00 indicates 8 PM
24-hour time avoids any doubt about whether an event is in the morning or evening. When juggling multiple time zones, it’s one less opportunity for error. Some tickets may also already list times in 24-hour format.
Examples of converting Ticketmaster times between time zones
Here are examples of converting Ticketmaster event times from other time zones to your local time zone:
New York to Los Angeles
- Event in New York is listed at 19:00 EDT
- Eastern Time is 3 hours ahead of Pacific Time
- Subtract 3 hours from the New York time
- The local Los Angeles time would be 16:00 PDT
London to Chicago
- Event in London is listed at 20:00 BST
- British Summer Time is 5 hours ahead of Central Time
- Subtract 5 hours from the London time
- The local Chicago time would be 15:00 CDT
Tokyo to Sydney
- Event in Tokyo is listed at 18:00 JST
- Japan Standard Time is 2 hours behind Australian Eastern Time
- Add 2 hours to the Tokyo time
- The local Sydney time would be 20:00 AEST
These examples demonstrate how to apply the time zone differences to convert the event times. Having a general sense of how your time zone relates to other major ones helps make these conversions go smoothly.
Set your Ticketmaster account preferences to your time zone
To make Ticketmaster’s event times match your own time zone by default, you can update your account settings:
- Go to your Ticketmaster account and log in
- Click on your name or account icon in the top right and select “Settings”
- On the Settings page, find the “Local Time Zone” setting
- Select your time zone from the drop down menu
- Click “Save” at the bottom of the page
With your local time zone set in your account, Ticketmaster will now automatically convert event times to match your time zone. This prevents you having to manually convert each time.
Contact Ticketmaster customer support for assistance
If you are ever unsure about a start time listed on Ticketmaster or need help converting a time, you can contact their customer support team:
- By phone at +1 800-653-8000 (toll free in USA and Canada)
- Using their online contact form
- Via their Twitter or Facebook social media accounts
Their support team can confirm event times in local venue time zones and assist with any time zone conversion issues. They are available 7 days a week.
Third party ticket seller times may differ
When purchasing tickets from a third party ticket resale site, double check that listed times match what is on Ticketmaster. Third party sellers may use different time zone conventions.
Ticketmaster aims to eliminate confusion by always listing the official local start times for events. But other third party resellers may handle times differently, so extra diligence is required.
Use time conversion tools before scheduling travel
When scheduling flights, hotels, and other travel for an event, be sure to convert the start times to your local time zone first. This ensures you properly account for time differences when booking and avoid issues like missing flights.
Plug the event details into online scheduling tools like Google Calendar or TripIt which will handle the time zone conversions automatically. This takes the math and guesswork out of travel planning.
Adjust sleep schedules when traveling for events
When attending events in distant time zones, begin adjusting your sleep schedule in advance if possible. Switching sleeping patterns several days prior to travel can help overcome jet lag.
If you will be flying red-eye overnight flights, try to sleep when it matches night time in your destination. Avoid large meals and caffeine before sleeping. Melatonin and eye masks can also help you rest.
Upon arrival, getting outside in sunlight and exercising can shift your circadian rhythms. Follow the local meal times and sleep hours to get your body clock realigned faster.
Compare times across multiple devices
To confirm you have converted times correctly, check Ticketmaster on both your mobile device and desktop computer. This allows you to compare the start times in more than one place to be sure the math adds up.
Viewing on just one device could mean you have misinterpreted information. But if the times match across multiple platforms, it’s a good verification you have the right local event time.
Call the venue directly to verify
If a start time seems unusual or unclear even after checking Ticketmaster, calling the venue box office directly can provide definitive clarification. The venue staff obviously has the most accurate knowledge of the local start time.
Venue phone numbers can usually be found on the individual venue website. This extra step may be worthwhile to avoid problems for important events.
Conclusion
Ticketmaster lists event times in the local time zone of the venue, not necessarily your own time zone. This requires converting times to your own zone when events are in other locations. While the extra step of time zone conversion is required, Ticketmaster’s adherence to local venue time prevents confusion and mismatch with other event listings.
Using time zone converters, allowing extra lead time, and setting reminders can make these conversions go smoothly. With some planning, Ticketmaster’s use of local time zone should not cause issues attending events across time zones.