When a concert, sporting event, or other ticketed event announces that tickets will go on sale at a specific time, often you’ll see that the time is listed as “local time.” This means that the tickets will go on sale at that exact time based on each local time zone. So if a show in New York City announces tickets will go on sale at 10am local time on Friday, the sale will start at 10am EST. But for someone in Los Angeles, the tickets will go on sale at 10am PST (which is 1pm EST).
Why do venues sell tickets based on local time?
There are a few key reasons why tickets go on sale at local time rather than all at once across time zones:
- It helps manage the initial rush – If tickets went on sale simultaneously across all time zones, the ticketing websites would likely crash or have major delays. Staggering it gives the sites a chance to handle the traffic in waves.
- It keeps the process fair for everyone – People shouldn’t have to stay up late or wake up extremely early just to get tickets. This way everyone can buy at a reasonable hour in their own time zone.
- It accounts for how venues are staffed – The box office and ticketing team are going to be working based on their own local time. Having staggered on-sale times allows them to be properly staffed and prepared.
So in short, local times allow the venues, ticketing platforms, and buyers to smoothly handle the rush of sales at reasonable hours tailored to their region.
How to figure out when tickets will go on sale in your time zone
When an on-sale announcement gives a time in a different time zone than you’re in, it can get confusing to figure out when exactly you can buy. Here are some tips:
- Pay attention to time zones – The announcement should make clear what time zone that on-sale time is in. Make sure you note if it’s giving times in EST, PST, CST, etc.
- Use a time zone converter – An easy way is to just use a time zone converting tool online. You can search “time zone converter” and input the details to get your local time.
- Consider the date – Keep the date in mind too. If tickets go on sale at 10am EST on May 15th, that means 10am EDT if you’re on the east coast but it will be May 14th at 10am local time if you’re in PST.
- Follow the social media – Often the event or band will post reminders on social media closer to the on-sale, listing specific times for different regions.
Here’s a quick example:
A concert taking place in New York City announces tickets will go on sale at 10am EST on Friday, June 12th. If you’re on the west coast, you’d put into a time zone converter 10am EST on June 12th and see that is 7am PST – so that would be when you could buy.
Tips for actually buying tickets during the local time on-sale
Once you know what exact time the tickets will go on sale in your timezone, here are some tips to prep for that on-sale rush:
- Set up accounts & logins ahead – Make sure you have accounts created and are logged in on any sites you’ll buy from before the on-sale starts.
- Check for presales – There are often special presales that start before the general on-sale, so keep an eye out.
- Be ready on all devices – Have the ticket site(s) open on your computer, phone, etc at least 15 mins early.
- Refresh exactly at on-sale time – Don’t just keep refreshing, most sites will let you wait in a queue. Only refresh right as the clock strikes on-sale time.
- Have backup payment methods – Sometimes primary cards get declined from too many requests, so have multiple options ready.
- Try for best available – Don’t waste time picking exact seats, just click through for the best ones you can get.
- Stay persistent and don’t give up – Keep trying if you don’t get tickets right away, things will open up as people’s purchases time out.
Following those tips, being patient and ready to adapt will give you the best shot at scoring tickets during a busy on-sale time, even if it’s not in your timezone! The key is planning ahead based on that local time announcement.
Why sometimes on-sale times vary by retailer
In many cases, you’ll see that major retailers like Ticketmaster and AXS have the same on-sale time for an event. However, it’s not uncommon to find that some sellers have slightly different times, even if just minutes apart. There’s a few reasons this can happen:
- Allotments – Different sellers get allotments of tickets, so they may open sales when their inventory is confirmed.
- Staggering traffic – Having different times can help manage traffic spikes across retailers.
- Location differences – If the retailer is located in a different region than the venue, that could lead to time variances.
- Human error – Honest mistakes on listings can always happen.
Minor time differences like this are generally nothing to worry about. But if you ever notice a major difference in on-sale time between legit sellers, your best bet is to trust the venue’s website and social media for the most accurate official on-sale time.
Typical on-sale times throughout the day
While on-sale times can vary greatly, there are some general trends for when you’ll typically see tickets go on sale based on local time:
Time of Day | Rationale |
---|---|
10am | Early enough for people to be awake and online, but still within normal work hours for venue staff. |
12pm | Standard lunch hour so people can take a quick break to buy tickets. |
3pm | After schools/work lets out for the day on the east coast. |
5pm | When traditional work hours wrap up for the day. |
7pm | Allows people to buy after returning home from work. |
10pm | Late enough for west coast buyers to be off work. |
Of course, you’ll see exceptions, but this covers some of the most popular patterns.
Special cases: pre-sales, waiting rooms, and lotteries
In some instances, the process for buying tickets for major events doesn’t follow the traditional on-sale time model. Here are some special cases you may encounter:
Presales
Presales give certain groups early access to purchase tickets before the general public on-sale. This includes fan club members, credit card holders, mailing list subscribers, etc. Each presale will have its own start time announced.
Waiting rooms
For high demand shows, you may have to register for access in advance, then wait in a digital waiting room before getting a chance to buy. Spots are given out randomly, not first-come, first-served.
Lotteries
Some events will sell a portion of tickets by lottery. Fans enter for a chance to be selected and given a window to purchase.
So in these cases, focus on following the specific instructions to take part in presales, waiting rooms, or lotteries accordingly rather than waiting for a general on-sale time.
Conclusion
When tickets first go on sale, it can feel like a frenzied race to get the best spots before they sell out. Understanding the local time on-sale process avoids any confusion and ensures you’re ready to purchase at the right moment. Have accounts created, payment options ready, and jump on exactly as that sale window opens in your timezone. With some planning and a bit of luck, you’ll be able to secure those coveted tickets.