When browsing tickets on the Ticketmaster website or app, you may notice that some seats are highlighted in light blue. This color coding is used to indicate different types of seats that come with additional benefits or options. Light blue specifically denotes that these are “Official Platinum” seats.
What are Official Platinum Seats?
Official Platinum seats are premium seats that are priced dynamically based on demand. This means that the prices can adjust over time based on how many people are trying to buy tickets for a particular event.
Some key things to know about Official Platinum seats:
- They are located throughout the venue, not just limited to front rows or VIP sections. They may be scattered among regular price seats.
- Prices fluctuate leading up to the event based on demand. They may start low and increase in price, or sometimes decrease in price later on.
- Even if listed for resale, Official Platinum seats are different from resale tickets posted by other fans or third party brokers.
- Ticketmaster states these tickets can provide fans fair and safe access to more high-demand events.
Why Does Ticketmaster Have Official Platinum Seats?
Ticketmaster utilizes Official Platinum seats as a way to dynamically price tickets for high demand events. Many popular concerts, games, and shows sell out quickly, and tickets end up being resold at very high markups by third parties. Official Platinum seats aim to keep some tickets directly available through Ticketmaster at adjusted prices based on current demand.
Some of the key reasons Ticketmaster cites for using Official Platinum seats include:
- Helping ensure fans have fair and safe access to in-demand tickets.
- Reducing incidences of tickets being bought then resold at very high prices.
- Giving the market a chance to determine what prices people are willing to pay for hot tickets.
- Providing an option directly through Ticketmaster instead of only highly marked up third party resellers.
- Potentially reducing instances of fake or fraudulent tickets being sold.
The goal is to try and make the ticket buying process more transparent, fair, and safe for fans while also giving access to premium seats at popular events.
How Are Official Platinum Seats Priced?
Official Platinum seats are priced according to real-time demand using market-based pricing adjusted by algorithms. Some of the factors that go into determining the current price include:
- How many people are currently looking for tickets.
- Which specific seats are most in demand based on traffic and sales data.
- The number of tickets still available as the event approaches.
- Pricing of tickets being resold on secondary markets.
- The initial prices and any price caps set by the event organizer.
Prices will adjust over time based on these variables. In general, prices tend to be at their lowest when first released, then go up based on demand spikes as the event date gets closer. However, prices can sometimes also decrease leading up to event date.
Are Official Platinum Seats Worth the Price?
Whether or not Official Platinum seats are “worth” the price depends a lot on the specific event, seat location, and your budget. Here are some things to consider when deciding:
- How popular is the event? Extremely high demand may drive up prices more.
- Where exactly are the seats located? Center floor seats may command more value.
- How limited is supply? Less availability can increase prices.
- Are you flexible on seating quality? You may pay less for upper deck seats.
- Does this price still fit your budget? If not, you may have to forgo these seats.
Ultimately it comes down to how much getting into that specific event is worth for you. The market-driven pricing aims to meet what people are willing to pay. But you still have to decide if it delivers enough value and remains affordable given your own situation.
Pros of Buying Official Platinum Seats
Some potential advantages of choosing Official Platinum seats include:
- Guaranteed Valid Tickets: Since they are directly offered through Ticketmaster, these seats come with a guarantee of valid official event tickets.
- Wider Availability: More seat options across the venue, not just limited premium areas.
- Fair Pricing: Prices are set by real supply/demand data, not arbitrary inflated markups.
- Purchase Security: Official Platinum tickets have protections against fraud and counterfeits.
- Flexible Pricing: Seat prices can adjust down as well as up based on changing demand.
Cons of Buying Official Platinum Seats
Potential disadvantages or issues to note about Official Platinum seats:
- Higher Costs: These seats are often more expensive than traditional listed prices.
- Unpredictable Changes: Pricing can swing rapidly in response to demand shifts.
- Less Control: You don’t choose the exact seat location like when buying a standard ticket.
- Strict Refund Policy: Refunds are more restricted compared to traditional ticket purchases.
- Less Recourse: Have less options if issues come up versus dealing with a reseller.
Tips for Buying Official Platinum Seats
Here are some helpful tips for navigating the purchase of Official Platinum seats successfully:
- Sign up for Ticketmaster Verified Fan when available to get early ticket access for popular events.
- Consider waiting a few days after initial seat release to let demand stabilize first.
- Check seating maps to understand seat locations – floor seats often cost more.
- Be ready to move fast if prices start dropping to get the best deal.
- Compare to resale sites, but watch for counterfeit tickets.
- Only buy from official sources for guaranteed valid tickets.
- For very high demand events, you may need to be flexible on seat quality.
- Set a firm budget for yourself beforehand of maximum price.
How Are Official Platinum Seats Different from Regular Tickets?
Official Platinum seats differ from standard “fixed price” tickets in a few key ways:
Official Platinum Seats | Regular Price Tickets |
---|---|
Prices adjust based on demand | Fixed original list prices |
Located throughout venue | Set specific seat locations |
Limited availability | Larger quantity available |
Refunds restricted | Standard refund policies |
Offered directly via Ticketmaster | Also available on primary + resale markets |
Frequently Asked Questions
Are Official Platinum seats the same as resale or secondary market tickets?
No, Official Platinum seats are different from resale tickets. They are a form of primary market ticket still sold officially through Ticketmaster. Resale tickets are those posted for sale by other fans or brokers after initially purchased.
Why do Official Platinum prices change so much?
Prices change based on real-time supply and demand data. As more people try to buy tickets, prices will dynamically adjust upwards. Similarly, lack of demand can make prices go down to encourage more sales.
When are Official Platinum tickets available?
They are typically released at the same time as standard price tickets when the event goes on sale to the general public. Additional seats may open up over time as well.
Can you choose specific seats with Official Platinum tickets?
No, seat locations are assigned based on availability since they are spread throughout the venue. You do not get to pick exact seat numbers or sections.
How do I know I’m not overpaying for Official Platinum seats?
Check the evolving price history and location quality to determine current fair value. Also compare against resale sites, accounting for much higher fees on those platforms.
What if Official Platinum prices go down after I already bought tickets?
Unfortunately, there are no refunds or price adjustments if the price decreases after you already purchased. You are locked into the original price paid.
Are there hidden fees added to Official Platinum purchases?
There should not be any hidden fees beyond the displayed ticket prices and stated service fees shown upfront in the transaction.
The Bottom Line
Official Platinum seats allow fans fair access to premium tickets for high demand events through Ticketmaster’s dynamic pricing model. The value depends on your budget and how badly you want guaranteed seats. While more expensive, Official Platinum tickets provide valid entry to sought-after events from an official source, with pricing aimed at a reasonable market-driven level.