Can you pick specific seats on Ticketmaster?

Yes, in most cases you can pick specific seats when purchasing tickets on Ticketmaster. The ability to select your exact seats depends on the event venue and how the tickets are set up for sale. Here’s what you need to know about choosing seats on Ticketmaster:

Seat Maps

Most major venues that sell tickets through Ticketmaster have digital seat maps available. When you go to purchase tickets, you’ll see an interactive map that shows you the layout of the venue and which seats are still available. You can click directly on the seat or section you want to buy tickets for.

Having the visual seat map makes it easy to pick out where you want to sit. You can see where the stage is located, look for seats near aisles or bathrooms, find ADA accessible seating, and get a feel for the views from different parts of the venue.

Pre-Assigned Seating

In some cases, especially for very popular shows that are expected to sell out quickly, the venue may pre-assign seat locations. This means exact seats are already allocated before tickets go on sale. When you go to purchase pre-assigned seats, you won’t be able to pick the specific seat numbers but you will see what areas tickets are available in.

Pre-assigned seats are usually categorized into pricing tiers like floor seats, lower level, upper level, etc. You can still choose tickets in your desired section and know you’ll be getting seats in that general area. This prevents battles for the “best” seats since they are randomly pre-assigned.

General Admission

Some events like festivals and smaller venue concerts use general admission. General admission tickets don’t guarantee any seat – it’s first come, first served. People with general admission tickets line up on a first come basis to get into the venue. The earlier you line up, the better chance you have at getting closer to the stage.

If an event uses general admission ticketing, Ticketmaster will not give you the option to select specific seats. General admission shows will usually just have one ticket option rather than breaking it down by seating sections.

Verified Resale Tickets

If an event is sold out on Ticketmaster, you may still be able to get tickets through their Verified Resale program. This is Ticketmaster’s official resale marketplace for people to resell extra tickets. Sellers can list their exact seat locations.

When browsing resale tickets for a sold out show, you may find floor seats in the first few rows or other prime seat locations available at inflated prices. Ticketmaster Verified Resale allows you to purchase those highly coveted seats if you don’t mind paying over face value.

Seat Selection Tips

Here are some tips for picking seats on Ticketmaster:

• Study the seat map carefully and look at seat views if available
• Read section descriptions (e.g. “left rear mezzanine”) to understand locations
• Check the stage setup – you probably want to avoid behind the stage
• Be ready to zoom in and select seats right when tickets go on sale
• Have backup seat selections in case your first choice sells out
• Use Verified Resale for sold out shows if seats are a must

When Seat Selection is Not Available

There are some cases when you cannot pick exact seat locations on Ticketmaster:

• Venues that don’t have digital seat maps
• Pre-assigned seating events
• General admission shows
• Some sporting events where whole sections are sold, not single seats
• Special circumstances like festival seating concerts

If seat selection isn’t available, Ticketmaster will say “best available seating” or “general admission” when you go to purchase tickets. You won’t be able to click on a map and pick seats out.

Seat Selection Unavailable on Mobile

Ticketmaster currently only offers interactive seat maps for ticket buying through their desktop website. If you try to buy tickets through their mobile site or app, you likely won’t have the option to select specific seats.

For the best chance at getting the exact seats you want, purchase tickets by logging into your Ticketmaster account on a computer. The mobile experience focuses more on speed and simplicity rather than granular seat choices.

Conclusion

Being able to hand pick seats from a digital map makes buying tickets much easier. No more guessing if you’re getting a decent location! However, the ability to choose specific seats isn’t guaranteed. Several factors come into play.

Your best bet is purchasing tickets right when they initially go on sale. Popular shows will have the most seats open then. Use Ticketmaster’s desktop website for maximum control over seat selection. And if you must have premium seats, be prepared to pay higher resale prices.