What are front gate tickets?
Front gate tickets refer to tickets that are purchased directly from the venue or box office where the event is being held. They allow you to bypass third-party ticket sellers and ticket agencies and buy your tickets straight from the source. Some key things to know about front gate tickets:
- They are sold by the venue/event organizer rather than a third party
- There are no extra processing fees
- You can be sure the tickets are legitimate and direct from the source
- Availability can be limited as the venue controls how many are sold
- Prices are set by the venue and cannot be marked up by resellers
In summary, front gate ticket buying allows you to get tickets directly from the venue, avoiding fees and markups from middlemen. The downside is there is less availability than going through large ticket sellers.
How do you buy front gate tickets?
There are a few ways to purchase front gate tickets:
- At the venue’s physical box office – Go to the venue and purchase tickets in person at the box office
- The venue’s website – Most venues sell tickets directly through their official website
- Official fan clubs – Some artists/teams offer fan club members access to front gate tickets
- Promoter websites – For some events the concert promoter may sell the tickets
- By phone – Some venues allow you to call in to purchase front gate tickets
Always look for the official links to buy from the venue itself to ensure you are getting genuine front gate tickets. Be wary of secondary sites claiming to sell front gates unless you can verify their legitimacy.
What are the benefits of buying front gate tickets?
There are a few key benefits to purchasing front gate tickets instead of going through a secondary marketplace:
- No extra fees – No annoying service charges, processing fees, etc. that can really add up
- Face value prices – Front gate prices are set by the venue so you pay face value
- Guaranteed legitimate – No risk of counterfeit or scam tickets from resellers
- Support the artist/team – More of your money goes to the people putting on the event
- Purchase limits – Limits per customer can make it fairer for fans
- Pre-sales – Front gate pre-sales give you first access before general public
What are the downsides of front gate tickets?
There are also a few potential downsides to be aware of:
- Limited availability – Venues only sell a portion of tickets as front gate
- Sell out quickly – Harder to get as they are capped and sell out fast
- No resale – Can’t resell or transfer front gate tickets
- No shopping around – You are stuck with the set front gate prices
- Delivery fees – Physical tickets may have mail/courier fees
- No customer service – Reputable resellers can offer better support
So while you avoid some of the headaches of resale sites, front gate tickets can lack flexibility and be difficult to actually buy.
How do front gate tickets work?
Front gate tickets work a bit differently than buying tickets through large secondary ticket marketplaces. Here are some key differences in how front gate ticketing works:
- Direct inventory – Venues allocate tickets from their own inventory to sell as front gates
- Set pricing – Venues determine the ticket face value prices, not influenced by demand
- Strict limits – Individual purchase limits to discourage mass buying from resellers
- Digital delivery – Most front gates are mobile/electronic for security and convenience
- Unique barcodes – Individual barcodes prevent duplication and resale of front gate tickets
- earlier access – Fan clubs and credit cards may get front gate pre-sales before general public
So front gate tickets provide official inventory directly managed and priced by the venue, with security restrictions in place. This contrasts with resale marketplaces where pricing fluctuates based on secondary market demand.
How are front gate tickets delivered?
Front gate tickets are primarily delivered digitally these days for convenience and security:
- Mobile tickets – Scannable tickets can be downloaded to your phone
- Print-at-home – Some venues allow you to print tickets yourself
- Wristbands – Festivals may use wristbands tied to your purchase
- Hard stock – Physical mailed tickets as keepsakes, may have a delivery fee
Digital tickets reduce the risk of counterfeiting and lost or stolen tickets. However, you may want physical collectible tickets for major events you attend. Make sure to choose delivery method during checkout.
Why can’t you resell front gate tickets?
Front gate tickets typically cannot be resold, unlike tickets bought on secondary markets. There are a few reasons for this:
- Unique barcodes – The barcode is assigned to the original ticket buyer
- ID/CC required – Your ID must match the ticket at entry to the event
- Non-transferable – Resale is prohibited under the ticket terms
- Cancellation refunds – Refunds are issued to the original buyer only
Venues do this to discourage mass buying by ticket brokers and to ensure tickets end up in the hands of genuine fans. It means you can’t resell at a profit if your plans change.
Tips for buying front gate tickets
Here are some handy tips for successfully purchasing front gate tickets:
- Act fast – Have accounts set up ahead of time as they sell quickly
- Know presale days – Sign up for presales to get early ticket access
- Be ready online – Be logged in ahead of the sale time for the fastest access
- Stay persistent – Keep trying if tickets sell out as they may release more
- Avoid resale sites – Don’t trust third party “front gate” listings as they are likely speculative or fake
- Set alerts – Sign up for inventory alerts so you know when tickets are released
- Maximize limits – Use buying limits to get the maximum number of tickets
With plentiful demand and limited supply, it takes skill and persistence to beat the masses and get those coveted front gate tickets. But the benefits and peace of mind make it worthwhile for your must-see events.
Front gate ticketing trends
Front gate ticket sales have been evolving in recent years. Some newer trends in front gate ticketing include:
- Dynamic pricing – Some venues are experimenting with surge pricing models
- More presales – Pre-sales windows are expanding to 1-2 weeks for major events
- Waiting rooms – Virtual waiting rooms help absorb demand spikes for high-traffic sales
- Lotteries/raffles – Random allocations for very popular events with massive demand
- Season tickets – Bundles covering multiple events or performances
- VIP packages – Priority access and perks offered in addition to ticket price
Despite the move to more online and mobile ticketing, front gate sales remain a priority for many major venues to keep prices fair and deter scalpers.
Are front gate tickets more expensive?
Whether front gate tickets are more expensive than secondary marketplaces depends on the event and demand:
Front Gate Tickets | Secondary Market Tickets |
---|---|
Face value pricing set by venue | Prices fluctuate based on supply/demand |
No added service fees | Have added fees per site/seller |
Pricing static over time | May increase as event nears if limited supply |
Limits on maximum number sold | No limits, sites add inventory from many sellers |
If an event is low demand or not yet sold out, front gate prices may be cheaper. But for hot events with little inventory, secondary market prices can soar above face value. It depends on the specific event and market conditions.
Should you buy front gate or resale tickets?
Deciding between buying front gate vs. resale event tickets depends on your priorities:
Front Gate Tickets | Resale Market Tickets |
---|---|
Guaranteed valid/official | Risk of invalid tickets from scammers |
Directly support artist/venue | Money goes to reseller, not event organizers |
Very limited supply | More selection as combines all resellers |
Not transferable/resellable | Can resell if plans change |
If your top priority is getting any ticket you can or being able to resell later, a resale site may be better. But for peace of mind and fair pricing, front gate tickets directly from the source are ideal for true fans.
Common questions about front gate tickets
What does front gate presale mean?
Front gate presales give early access to purchase tickets directly from the primary source before the general public on-sale. Presales may be for fan club members, credit card holders, venue mailing lists etc. This gives fans the first chance at front gate inventory.
Why did my front gate tickets get canceled?
Front gate ticket orders can get canceled if:
- Your purchase exceeded ticket limits
- Your credit card is declined/suspected fraud
- The event is postponed/canceled altogether
- You are suspected of using bots or unfair methods
Always use legitimate purchasing methods and make sure your payment details are correct when ordering to avoid cancellations.
Can you pick up front gate tickets at will call?
Yes, front gate ticket purchases can often be picked up at the venue’s will call box office on the day of the event. You will need the original purchaser’s ID and payment card for verification. Will call allows you to avoid delivery fees and still get physical tickets.
Do front gate tickets have better seats?
Not necessarily – front gate tickets are not inherently better seats than resale tickets. They simply offer tickets at face value prices direct from the primary source. Seating quality depends on which specific tickets you purchase, regardless of whether they are front gate or resale.
How can you tell if front gate tickets are fake?
Warning signs that front gate tickets may be fake or illegitimate:
- Not sold through official venue channels
- Prices well above or below face value
- Spelling errors or low quality printing
- No seat numbers assigned
- Seller unreachable after purchase
Buying strictly through official venue sites and box offices is the only way to guarantee authentic front gate tickets.
Conclusion
In summary, front gate ticket buying allows fans to purchase tickets directly from the official source, avoid reseller markups and fees, contribute more money to the event, and have peace of mind knowing tickets are 100% legitimate. While availability is lower than resale sites, true fans agree the benefits are worth going through the effort to buy front gate. With some persistence and smart strategies, you can land seats at face value even for the hottest and most in-demand events and performances.