Refreshing the queue on Ticketmaster can have a few different outcomes depending on the situation. Here are some quick answers to questions about refreshing the Ticketmaster queue:
Does refreshing reset your place in line?
No, refreshing the page will not reset your place in line or kick you out of the waiting room on Ticketmaster. Your spot is tied to your device’s IP address and refreshing will keep you in the same spot.
Can refreshing help get tickets faster?
Refreshing the queue page will not get you tickets faster. Your place in line is set based on when you joined the queue so continuously refreshing will not move you ahead in line.
Does refreshing risk you losing your place?
Refreshing does come with a small risk of possibly losing your spot if you refresh at the exact wrong split second when the queue is advancing. This risk is very low but refreshing too frequently could potentially cause an issue.
Should you ever refresh if stuck on waiting room page?
It’s generally not recommended but if the waiting room page appears frozen or is not advancing after a long time, carefully refreshing once may help jumpstart it. Only do this if the page seems glitched.
Can closing and reopening browser save your spot?
No, closing your browser completely will remove you from the virtual queue. You must keep the browser open the entire time to maintain your place in line.
Conclusion
In summary, refreshing the Ticketmaster queue page periodically does not reset your place in line or risk losing your spot in most cases. However, refreshing excessively or at the wrong time can very rarely cause issues so it’s best not to refresh unless necessary. The queue position is tied to your device’s IP address and keeping the browser open is required to save your place.
When and why you might be placed in a Ticketmaster queue
Ticketmaster utilizes virtual waiting rooms and queues to deal with high demands for popular events or shows. Here are some of the main situations when you may get placed in a Ticketmaster queue:
Initial on-sale rush
When tickets first go on sale, especially for hot shows or concerts, huge amounts of traffic flood Ticketmaster. To manage this demand and prevent site crashes, Ticketmaster puts people in a randomized queue to take turns accessing tickets.
Presales and VIP access periods
During presales for fan club members or credit card holders, you’ll likely enter a queue to control traffic volumes before the general public on-sale.
Immediately after sellouts
If a show instantly sells out, Ticketmaster will sometimes put you in a queue temporarily as it verifies remaining ticket counts before opening back up.
High demand events
For extremely popular events like playoffs, festivals, or exclusive concerts, queues regulate traffic to ensure site stability.
Web traffic overload
At times of exceptionally high site traffic, Ticketmaster may use waiting rooms prevent website issues and ensure an optimal experience.
Tips for navigating the Ticketmaster queue
Here are some tips to keep in mind when dealing with Ticketmaster queues to improve your experience:
Understand queue position isn’t always literal
Your spot is based on randomized order, so the number displayed in your queue doesn’t necessarily reflect the exact number of people ahead of you.
Don’t panic if numbers jump around
Queue numbers can fluctuate as people join or leave, so don’t worry if your position seems to go down or up.
Avoid refreshing excessively
Refreshing too much may very occasionally bump you, so only refresh if the page seems frozen.
Have accounts created and logged in
Save time by ensuring your Ticketmaster account is set up and you’re logged in ahead of queues opening.
Use multiple devices
If permitted, open queues on multiple mobile and computer devices to increase your chances.
Don’t give up right away
Persistence and patience pays off. Keep your queue active for best shot at tickets.
What to do if you get booted from the Ticketmaster queue?
It can be incredibly frustrating to lose your place in the Ticketmaster queue after waiting and get sent back to the start. Here is what to do if you get removed from your spot:
Refresh and reopen queue immediately
Refreshing and reopening the queue right away is your best bet to regain a similar queue position.
Try a different device
Switching to another computer or mobile device will put you in a new queue which may move at a different pace.
Use a different internet connection
If on WiFi, try a mobile hotspot. Cell towers handle queues differently than home internet providers.
Clear cookies/cache and reopen
Wiping your browser history and website data before rejoining may help start you in a better queue.
Keep trying while ticketing is open
Persist by jumping back in queue until the show sells out, as you still have a shot landing tickets.
Call Ticketmaster for assistance
If issues persist, contact Ticketmaster Fan Support for further troubleshooting help.
Can you save your spot if you lose internet connection?
Unfortunately, losing internet connectivity while waiting in the Ticketmaster queue will kick you out of line and be unable to save your spot. Here is what to know about losing internet while in queue:
Any loss of connection boots you
Whether it’s briefly losing WiFi signal or a dropped LTE connection, any outage removes your place.
You have to reopen queue from scratch
Once internet returns, you’ll be forced to open a fresh queue entry, unable to resume prior position.
Using cell data as backup can help
If WiFi is unreliable, using cell data as a backup source may prevent some connectivity losses.
Technology issues can’t be circumvented
Unfortunately, technological faults like ISP outages or computer crashes can’t be safeguarded against.
Best practice is monitoring connection closely
Your best protection against connectivity loss is proactively monitoring your internet link quality while queued.
How the Ticketmaster queue algorithm and system works
Ticketmaster utilizes a virtual queueing algorithm to efficiently manage huge demands and allocate access to limited ticket inventory. Here is an overview of how the Ticketmaster queue system works:
Queues are randomized, not strictly ordered
Queue positions are assigned randomly, not solely in order of joins, to keep crowds flowing smoothly.
Multiple queue streams run simultaneously
Tens of thousands of people are funneled across parallel queue streams at staggered paces.
Queue priority factors assessed
Your odds can be influenced by account history, high-demand filters, and other priority factors.
Inventory scarcity controls queue flow
The pace of queue movement adapts dynamically based on how quickly remaining tickets are selling.
Automated anti-bot measures implemented
Fraud filters analyze activity to detect and block automated bots from queues.
Traffic pattern analysis guides optimization
Real-time analytics on site traffic and sales guide queue optimization adjustments.
Goal is maximizing sales while minimizing chaos
Ultimately the queuing system is designed to maximize sales and minimize disorder amid frenzied demand.
Typical wait and queue times to expect
Wait times in the Ticketmaster queues can vary substantially depending on factors like event popularity and inventory. Here are some typical queue times you may experience:
Event Examples | Typical Wait Time |
---|---|
Major Rock Concerts | 45-90+ minutes |
NBA Finals Games | 30-60+ minutes |
NFL Playoff Games | 15-45 minutes |
Midsize Arena Concerts | 10-30 minutes |
Smaller Club Shows | 0-10 minutes |
As shown above, plan for queues reaching over an hour for extremely high demand events with limited tickets. Even lower demand events could see 15-30+ minute waits during peak sales times. The queue can change rapidly, so patience is key.
Getting through quickly with Presales and VIP access
Gaining access to Ticketmaster Presales or VIP promos provides huge advantages in getting through queues quicker and improving your odds. Here are some ways to get presale ticketing privileges:
Fan Club and VIP Presales
Joining an artist’s official fan club unlocks presale code access before the general public.
Album and Merch Bundles
Some bands provide presale codes when pre-ordering upcoming albums or merchandise.
Sponsored Presales
Having select credit cards or belonging to certain corporate promotions also grants presale ticketing.
Spotify and YouTube Presales
Following artists on select streaming platforms may provide special presale ticketing access.
Venue and Promoter Presales
Signing up for presales at specific venues or promoter networks also occurs.
Verified Fan Presales
Ticketmaster’s Verified Fan system picks qualifying members for early ticketing windows.
Tips for scoring tickets through the Ticketmaster queue
Here are some top tips for improving your odds of scoring tickets through the Ticketmaster queue system:
Join queues promptly at open
Joining immediately at the queues opening time gives you pole queue position and first dibs at tickets.
Use multiple devices across networks
Run 2-3 devices on both WiFi and cellular data to multiply your queue positions.
Maximize number of browser windows
Open multiple windows on browsers like Chrome to further increase number of queue entries.
Try less popular ticket types
Single seats may progress faster vs multi-seat blocks in queue, so stay flexible.
Persist through the entire sales window
Don’t leave the queue until the event sells out, as inventory can open up over time.
Google resolving errors and glitches
Search for solutions if encountering technical issues to avoid losing your spot.
Alternatives if you can’t get tickets through Ticketmaster
If you fail to secure tickets through the Ticketmaster queue, don’t lose hope! Here are some alternative options for scoring tickets if the queue doesn’t work out:
Ticket resale sites
Sites like StubHub let you shop post-market tickets, often at inflated prices.
Social media ticket groups
Joining Facebook or Reddit ticket groups can uncover fan ticket transfers and resales.
Ticketing Facebook groups
Groups like “ISO: In Search Of” on Facebook help connect fans needing tickets.
Fans outside the venue
Checking crowds outside the event day-of can reveal last-minute ticket availability.
Trusted ticket brokers
Vetted corporate brokers resell event tickets, though likely marked up over face value.
Artist fan forums
Band-specific fan forums often have Buy/Sell subforums to exchange extra tickets.
Conclusion
The Ticketmaster queue system aims to give everyone a fair shot at limited event tickets while preventing website meltdowns under massive traffic loads. Patience and persistence are key when navigating Ticketmaster queues. Refreshing does not reset your place but can very rarely cause issues if done excessively. Losing connectivity knocks you out of line with no way to resume position. Presales, multiple devices, and queue persistence are your best weapons for scoring coveted tickets. And if queues ultimately fail you, explore ticket resale sites, social groups and fan forums to unlock alternative ticket access. With smart strategy, flexibility and some luck, fans can power through Ticketmaster virtual queues and get their hands on those last few remaining seats even for the hottest and most exclusive events.