With The Cure announcing their first North American tour in over a decade, demand for tickets is incredibly high. As a result, prices on secondary ticket sites are skyrocketing, leaving many fans wondering if paying resale prices is worth it or if they risk getting scammed. Here’s what you need to know about buying The Cure resale tickets.
The Cure 2023 Tour Details
The Cure’s 2023 tour will be the band’s first in North America since 2008. They’ll be playing 44 shows across the continent from September 2023 through November 2023. The tour starts in Toronto and will hit major markets like New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, and Mexico City.
Most shows are taking place in arenas with 15,000 to 20,000 capacity. The Cure has a huge global fanbase, so tickets sold out quickly despite high prices. Face value ticket prices ranged from $59 – $250 USD depending on the city and seat location.
Huge Demand Driving Up Resale Prices
Tickets officially went on sale in October 2022. But despite the large venues, most cities sold out in minutes. This sent fans immediately to the secondary market looking to buy reseller tickets. Supply is very low while demand continues to be enormous, creating a perfect environment for high resale markups.
To illustrate the current ticket demand, here are some average resale ticket prices for The Cure 2023 tour:
| City | Venue | Average Resale Price |
|---|---|---|
| Toronto | Scotiabank Arena | $350 |
| Chicago | United Center | $500 |
| New York | Madison Square Garden | $750 |
| Los Angeles | Kia Forum | $600 |
As you can see, resale prices are routinely 5-10x higher than face value ticket prices. The massive demand allows resellers to charge exorbitant premiums, especially in cities like New York and Chicago.
Are Resale Sites Like StubHub and Vivid Seats Legit?
The two most popular resale sites are StubHub and Vivid Seats. Both are 100% legit ticket marketplaces.
StubHub has been in business for over 20 years. It’s owned by Viagogo, one of the largest ticket resellers in the world. StubHub sells millions of tickets each year across every major sport and concert. It guarantees all transactions so you’ll receive valid event tickets or get refunded if any issues arise.
Vivid Seats launched in 2001 and has an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau. It also offers a 100% buyer guarantee on all ticket purchases. The site partners with major ticketing platforms like Ticketmaster to validate all seats before listing them for sale.
In summary, StubHub and Vivid Seats are safe, reliable places to buy verified resale tickets. The tickets often come directly from season ticket holders and early purchasers looking to resell for a profit. Using these marketplaces eliminates the risks of buying from individual scalpers or shady platforms.
Are There Any Risks Buying Resale Tickets?
Despite their guarantees, there are a couple risks to keep in mind when using StubHub, Vivid Seats, or similar resale sites:
- Counterfeit tickets – While rare, there is still a small chance fake or spoofed tickets get posted for sale. This is more likely with independent sellers versus big season ticket holders.
- Inflated pricing – You may pay 2x, 5x or even 10x face value price for The Cure tickets. While natural due to supply/demand, the extreme premiums benefit resellers more than fans.
- Fees – Look out for added buyer fees from the resale site, payment processor, and shipping costs if tickets are mailed. These can add 15-20% on top of the ticket price.
As long as you buy from trusted sites like StubHub or Vivid Seats, stick to digitally delivered tickets, and understand the total fees, your risk is minimized.
Are There Cheaper Options Than Resale Sites?
Here are a few alternatives if you don’t want to pay the high premiums on StubHub and Vivid Seats:
- Official Ticketmaster Resale – Ticketmaster has its own resale site with more modest markups, though supply is very limited.
- Facebook Groups – Join dedicated fan groups and forums where people resell at closer to face value.
- Craigslist – Riskier for fakes, but you can often find last minute resale tickets here. Meet seller in person and verify tickets.
- At the venue – Some desperate resellers drop prices leading up to showtime. But no guarantees on getting tickets.
- Wait for general public sales – A small number of tickets may be released last minute, though unlikely for a tour this popular.
These options take more effort and have less security versus the major resell sites. But you may luck out and save some money if inventory pops up.
When Should You Buy Cure Resale Tickets?
Timing your resale ticket purchase strategically can help you save money:
- Now – Prices are expensive, but you lock in tickets.
- 1-3 Months Before Show – Potential deals as early buyers relist extra tickets.
- 2 Weeks Before – Prices climb back up as show nears.
- Day Before/Day Of – Last chance for deals from desperate sellers.
Keep in mind that the most in-demand cities like New York and Los Angeles will see prices remain sky-high up until showtime. But second-tier cities may see some last minute deals.
Set price alerts on StubHub and Vivid Seats so you’re notified if tickets dip in your target range.
Are Official Platinum Tickets Worth It?
In addition to regular tickets, Ticketmaster released a batch of “Official Platinum” tickets for The Cure tour. These are premium tickets sold directly by the venue or artist for well above face value.
Here are the key facts on Official Platinum tickets:
- Pricing fluctuates based on demand using Ticketmaster’s “Dynamic Pricing”
- ickets for premium seat locations like the lower bowl and floor sections
- Proceeds go back to the artist/venue since they’re officially sold
- No guarantees on exact seat locations
- Listed for 2-4x higher than face value tickets
Official Platinum tickets essentially let you pay inflated prices directly through Ticketmaster instead of a resale site. They are legit tickets that avoid resale risks, but carry the same high premiums.
Conclusion
The Cure 2023 tickets are scarce, driving massive demand on the secondary market. Sites like StubHub and Vivid Seats are legit for buying resale at prices 5-10x face value. But beware of scams from other sources.
Setting price alerts and checking fan forums can help you score deals. But expect to pay premium prices if you want guaranteed tickets in major cities like New York and Los Angeles.
Though expensive, resale tickets may still be worth it to longtime fans that view this as a once-in-a-lifetime chance to see The Cure back on a North American tour.
