Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band announced a series of concerts at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey in 2023. Fans were eager to get their hands on tickets to see The Boss take the stage in his home state.
Background on Springsteen and Past MetLife Shows
Bruce Springsteen is one of the most iconic rock musicians of all time. He got his start playing clubs along the Jersey Shore in the early 1970s before breaking through to mainstream success with 1975’s Born to Run album. Over the course of his decades-long career, Springsteen has won 20 Grammy Awards, an Oscar, and a Tony Award, cementing his status as a celebrated musician and performer.
Springsteen is also famous for his marathon live shows, regularly playing 3+ hour sets filled with hits, rarities, and plenty of spontaneity. His concerts at large stadiums and arenas have become the stuff of legend.
MetLife Stadium opened in East Rutherford, NJ in 2010. Since then, Springsteen and the E Street Band have performed at the stadium on three occasions:
- September 21, 2016
- September 12, 2013
- September 19, 2012
These shows continued Springsteen’s long tradition of blowing the roof off his home state arena. Demand from fans for Springsteen’s return to MetLife was high leading into the 2023 tour announcement.
2023 Tour Announcement
In July 2022, Bruce Springsteen announced a massive 2023 international tour with the E Street Band. The tour marked the first time Springsteen and his legendary backing group would be hitting the road since 2017.
The North American leg of the tour included a string of shows at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ:
- August 30, 2023
- September 1, 2023
- September 3, 2023
- September 7, 2023
- September 9, 2023
These shows were scheduled to be the grand finale of the North American tour. The massive 10-night run was sure to be a triumphant homecoming for Jersey hero Springsteen.
Ticket Sales Begin
Tickets for the general public for Bruce Springsteen’s 2023 MetLife Stadium shows were scheduled to go on sale beginning July 27, 2022 at 10:00 AM EST through Ticketmaster. However, various pre-sales allowed some fans early access to tickets before the public on-sale date.
Fan Pre-Sale
Members of Springsteen’s fan club, known as The Bruce Springsteen Club, received a special fan pre-sale code that allowed them to purchase tickets early from July 20-26. This gave his biggest fans first access to tickets before the general public.
Citi Cardmember Pre-Sale
Citi credit card holders had access to a special Citi Cardmember pre-sale which ran from July 25 at 10am EST until July 26 at 10pm EST. The Citi pre-sale was available through Citi Entertainment.
Verified Fan Pre-Sale
Ticketmaster ran a Verified Fan pre-sale for Springsteen MetLife tickets on July 26. Fans could register for the Verified Fan pre-sale in advance, then receive a code to access tickets early if identified as a verified fan. This was designed to give more access to real fans and keep scalpers out.
VIP Packages
Special high-end VIP ticket packages were also sold for the Springsteen MetLife shows. These included amenities like premium seats, exclusive merchandise, pre-show receptions, photo opportunities, and more. The VIP packages went on-sale beginning June 15, 2022 at 12pm EST.
General Public On-Sale
After the various pre-sales, tickets then opened up to the general public starting July 27 at 10am EST via Ticketmaster. Tickets could be purchased online, on the phone, or at in-person box offices.
High Demand & Sellouts
As expected, demand for Bruce Springsteen tickets was extremely high across the entire MetLife Stadium run. Several shows such as the final September 9 date sold out completely during the pre-sales before the public on-sale even began.
Other shows did release some tickets during the public on-sale, however the majority of dates sold-out completely within hours or days.
The incredibly high demand resulted in tickets being very difficult to obtain, even with pre-sale codes. Secondary market prices also predictably soared, with tickets running into the thousands.
Here is a table summarizing the on-sale and sellout info for each Springsteen MetLife Stadium date:
Date | Sellout Timeframe |
---|---|
August 30 | Sold out instantly |
September 1 | Sold out instantly |
September 3 | Sold out July 29 |
September 7 | Sold out July 28 |
September 9 | Sold out in pre-sale |
Continued Demand on Secondary Market
Given the immediate sellouts, fans who missed out on MetLife tickets initially continued to scramble to find seats on the secondary market. Prices on resale sites like StubHub, VividSeats, and SeatGeek saw astronomical prices, especially for the final shows.
Some example asking prices as of October 2022:
- August 30: $575+ for Upper Level seats
- September 1: $625+ for Upper Level
- September 9: $2,500+ for Floor seats
Prices are expected to remain highly elevated as the shows draw nearer. There’s no indication demand will cool off as fans look to secure their spot at what will surely be a historic run of shows.
Virtual Queuing for Sold Out Shows
With such little inventory left for sold out shows, Ticketmaster implemented a virtual queuing “waiting room” for any last minute tickets that may be released. This was done for high demand shows like the September 3, 7, and 9 dates.
Fans could sign up for the waiting room in advance, then wait to be randomly selected for the chance to purchase any tickets if they became available. This gave fans a small chance at scooping up any last second seats rather than having scalper bots grab them immediately.
Conclusion
The unprecedented demand for Bruce Springsteen’s 2023 MetLife Stadium shows with the E Street Band underscores his unmatched popularity as a live performer, especially in his home state of New Jersey. The instantaneous sellouts and sky-high resale prices paint the picture of a rabid fanbase willing to pay just about anything to see The Boss in action.
While the ticket buying experience was certainly stressful, most Springsteen fans remain hopeful they’ll eventually score seats to see the legendary musician’s sure-to-be epic homecoming run next year. The ten night stand is one of the hottest tickets in rock music history, further cementing Springsteen’s iconic concert legacy.