Being on the Ticketmaster waitlist means you have a chance to purchase tickets for an event that is currently sold out or in high demand. When tickets are released for a popular event, they often sell out very quickly. But Ticketmaster keeps a waitlist of fans still hoping to get tickets.
How does the Ticketmaster waitlist work?
When an event sells out, Ticketmaster gives fans the option to join the waitlist. This puts you in a virtual line for any tickets that may become available. Tickets are frequently released in the days and weeks leading up to an event as the venue and artist release holds, production tickets, etc. By joining the waitlist, you have a chance to buy these newly available tickets.
There are a few key things to know about the Ticketmaster waitlist:
- It’s free to join the waitlist.
- You can only waitlist tickets for yourself, you cannot waitlist tickets for a group.
- You can waitlist for multiple ticket quantities (1 ticket, 2 tickets, etc).
- Your place in line is determined by when you joined the waitlist.
- You will be notified via email if tickets become available for purchase.
- You typically have between 1-24 hours to purchase waitlist tickets before your spot is released.
- There is no purchase obligation if notified of available tickets.
So joining the waitlist gives you a chance, but does not guarantee tickets. It’s essentially a way to get in a virtual line in case more tickets are released down the road.
When should you join the Ticketmaster waitlist?
As soon as the event you want tickets for sells out, join the waitlist! This will give you the best chance at getting newly released tickets. Don’t delay joining as waitlist spots are first come, first served. The earlier you join, the higher up the waitlist you will be.
Many major concerts and sporting events will have thousands join the waitlist. So joining quickly when tickets initially sell out is key to improving your chances.
How do you join the Ticketmaster waitlist?
Joining the Ticketmaster waitlist is simple and only takes a few steps:
- Search for the event on Ticketmaster and click on the event page.
- You will see the event is marked “Tickets Unavailable” if it is sold out.
- Click “Join Waitlist” and enter the number of tickets you need (1-8).
- Enter your email address and click submit.
- You will see a confirmation that you are now on the waitlist.
Be sure when joining the waitlist that the quantity you select matches the number of tickets you want to potentially buy. If notified of a chance to buy 2 tickets, and you only want 1, your spot will be forfeited.
What information do you need to join the waitlist?
You only need two pieces of information to join the Ticketmaster waitlist:
- Your email address – This is how you will be notified if tickets become available
- Number of tickets wanted – Select 1-8 tickets to match what you want to purchase
No payment or credit card information is required when joining the waitlist. You only need to provide that once notified of available tickets.
How will I be notified if tickets become available?
If tickets are released while you are on the waitlist, you will be notified via email. The email will come from Ticketmaster and include a link to purchase the newly available tickets.
You typically have a short window of 1-24 hours to follow the link and complete your ticket purchase. The exact time window may vary by event. But once notified, you will want to act fast so as not to lose your chance.
What if I don’t act in time when notified?
If you fail to purchase tickets within the allotted window after being notified, your waitlist spot will be released to the next person in line. So it’s crucial to monitor your email closely if you are high up on the waitlist.
Be sure to check your email spam folder too. Sometimes the Ticketmaster emails end up routed there by mistake.
Can I increase my waitlist ticket quantity?
Unfortunately, you cannot increase your ticket quantity from the original amount you joined the waitlist for. If you joined for 2 tickets and now want 4 tickets, you will have to join the back of the waitlist line again for the new quantity.
Your best bet is to join the waitlist for the maximum number of tickets you may want. That way if a smaller number becomes available, you have flexibility in your purchase amount without losing your place in line.
What are the chances I actually get tickets from the waitlist?
Your chances of getting tickets from the waitlist depends on many factors:
- The overall demand for the event
- How quickly you joined the waitlist
- If and how many new tickets get released
- If those ahead of you pass on purchasing newly available tickets
For extremely popular concerts that have tens of thousands join the waitlist within minutes of tickets selling out, the chances are very low. But it still may be worth joining just in case.
For less popular events or if you join the waitlist right away, your chances improve dramatically. It’s not uncommon for 5-10% of waitlisters to eventually get offered tickets.
Can I improve my waitlist position?
Unfortunately, there is no way to improve your waitlist position once you join. Your place is set based on when you join.
Some things like frequent Ticketmaster purchases or being a Verified Fan may help if you are waitlisting tickets during the initial onsale. But for already sold out events, order of joining the waitlist is the only factor.
How long should I stay on the waitlist?
You can stay on the Ticketmaster waitlist right up until the event occurs. There is no downside to remaining on the list unless you are no longer interested or able to attend.
Many tickets are released in the final hours or day before an event. So you generally will want to wait until the last minute before removing yourself from the waitlist.
Ticketmaster will automatically remove you from the waitlist if you are offered tickets and don’t purchase within the allotted window.
Can I waitlist for multiple events at once?
Absolutely. You can join the waitlist for as many Ticketmaster events as you’d like. There is no limit.
Just keep in mind that if you are notified of available tickets for multiple events around the same time, you will have to choose which one you want to actually purchase tickets for.
Are there any fees to join the waitlist?
Nope, there are no fees whatsoever to join the Ticketmaster waitlist. It is totally free. Fees only come into play if you are actually offered and purchase waitlist tickets down the road.
Can I sell waitlist tickets if I get them?
You can resell waitlist tickets you purchase, but there are some restrictions. Many major event tickets can only be resold on Ticketmaster’s verified resale platform.
This means you cannot list them on a general marketplace like Stubhub or Craigslist. There are also minimum resale price limits in place for most major event tickets.
So while you can technically resell waitlist tickets, there may be tighter restrictions compared to normally purchased tickets.
Conclusion
Joining the Ticketmaster waitlist gives you a chance to purchase highly coveted tickets, even when events initially show sold out. There is no downside other than having to monitor your email closely. Waitlisting early when tickets sell out is critical to improving your chances.
While nothing is guaranteed, the waitlist has come through for many persistent fans. So if you missed out on tickets during the initial onsale, throw your name on that waitlist. With some luck and timely email response, you may end up scoring tickets to that must-see event after all!