When buying tickets on Ticketmaster, many people wonder how the seat assignments work. Does Ticketmaster truly assign seats randomly, or are there certain biases that determine where you’ll end up sitting? In this comprehensive guide, we’ll examine Ticketmaster’s seat selection process in detail to find out if it’s really random.
How Ticketmaster’s Seat Mapping Works
First, it helps to understand how Ticketmaster maps out the seats for an event. When an event venue first partners with Ticketmaster, they provide a detailed seat map showing the layout of the venue and all available seats.
Ticketmaster then loads this map into their system and assigns each seat a unique ID number. This helps Ticketmaster keep track of every single seat’s location for inventory and ticketing purposes.
When you go to purchase tickets, you’re seeing the same interactive seat map that Ticketmaster has on file. As tickets are bought and sold, Ticketmaster updates the map to show which seats are still available.
Order of Ticket Buying and Assignment
So how does Ticketmaster actually assign seats when you buy tickets? Here is the basic process:
- You search for an event and select the number of tickets you want to purchase.
- You enter the Ticketmaster queue to buy tickets.
- When it’s your turn, Ticketmaster looks at the event’s seat map and available inventory.
- Ticketmaster assigns you the “best available” seats, based on the type of ticket you selected.
- You complete your ticket purchase for the assigned seats.
The key thing to notice is that Ticketmaster does not randomly assign seats. Instead, it uses an algorithm to assign you the “best available” seats at the time you reach the front of the queue.
So what does “best available” actually mean? Keep reading to find out.
How Ticketmaster Determines the “Best Available” Seats
When it’s your turn to purchase tickets, Ticketmaster’s system looks at the remaining seat inventory and uses certain rules to determine which available seats are considered “best.”
Here are some of the factors Ticketmaster may consider when assigning seats:
- Seat location – Sections and rows closer to the stage or field are prioritized over farthest seats.
- Ticket type – If you bought front row seats, you’ll be assigned available front row seats over standard seats.
- Group size – Ticketmaster tries to assign groups together in the same row or section.
- Accessibility needs – Wheelchair and accessible seats are reserved for those who need them.
- Inventory management – Unpopular seats that need to be filled may be assigned first.
- Promotions – Special upgraded seats may be assigned to reward loyalty program members.
Ticketmaster has not publicly shared the exact logic and formulas used in their seat assignment algorithm. But in general, the above factors help explain what “best available” typically means when buying tickets.
When True Random Assignments May Occur
In most cases, Ticketmaster uses its smart seat assignment system to find the optimal seats based on inventory and ticket type. But there are certain scenarios where some form of random seat assignment may come into play:
- High demand general admission shows – For concerts and events with unreserved GA floor tickets, entry order is essentially randomized.
- Upper deck and nosebleed sections – The worst seats are less optimized and more randomly assigned.
- Near sell-out events – As fewer seats remain, less selectivity is possible.
- Group and multi-ticket purchases – Trying to keep groups together can randomize order.
- Computer glitches – Bugs or errors could accidentally cause randomization.
So while completely random seat assignment is rare in most cases, true randomness can come into play under certain high demand situations.
Does Buying Tickets Early Improve Seat Selection?
This brings up an important question – does buying tickets early in the sales process increase your chances of getting better seats?
The answer is generally yes. Buying early improves your odds for these reasons:
- More total inventory is available, giving you more options.
- Popular front row/floor seats are less likely to be sold out.
- You get earlier access to pre-sales for fan club members.
- Group tickets can be coordinated when more seats are open.
Buying later in the sales cycle reduces your seat selection chances:
- VIP/front row tickets likely sold out.
- Remaining scattered singles may prevent groups sitting together.
- Less total inventory makes it harder to find ideal seats.
- You may be stuck in the upper decks or ends of rows.
So generally speaking, earlier ticket buying improves your odds of better seat assignments from Ticketmaster.
Tips for Increasing Your Chances of Good Seats
Beyond just buying early, here are some other tips that can help increase your chances of scoring better seats on Ticketmaster:
- Join fan clubs and artist pre-sales – Get early access before general public sales open.
- Use presale codes – Take advantage of unique codes to buy early.
- Buy during less popular pre-sales – Avoid the busiest presales with huge demand.
- Get verified fan status – Proves you’re a real fan, not a scalper bot.
- Refresh for better seats – Keep checking back for newly released seats.
- Buy single tickets – More solo seats open up than groups of 2+ together.
While not guaranteed, using strategies like pre-sales and verified fan access can definitely give you a leg up in finding the best seats available through Ticketmaster.
Does Buying Through Season Ticket Holders Help?
For extremely high demand events like concerts, sports playoffs, and Broadway musicals, buying tickets through season ticket holders can sometimes provide better access.
Here are some of the potential benefits:
- Season ticket holders have the earliest access to the best seats.
- They usually get presale codes and other priority benefits.
- Long-time holders may have seat tenure and get the first picks.
- Their unused tickets tend to be prime seats that others passed on.
The biggest downside is paying above face value if purchasing through a ticket reseller or broker. But for hot events, it may be worth the premium to get excellent seats through a seasoned season ticket holder.
Does Ticketmaster Advantage Its Own Resale Marketplace?
In recent years, Ticketmaster has faced some controversy for supposedly steering the best tickets towards its own resale marketplace instead of the primary market. Critics argue:
- Fewer great seats are being made available for regular on-sale.
- Ticketmaster toggles seats from primary to resale to maximize profits.
- The resale site disproportionately gets good seat inventory.
However, Ticketmaster has denied these claims and maintains it does not advantage its resale platform. While skepticism remains, there is no clear evidence Ticketmaster is rigging the system this way. Both markets use the same core inventory.
Key Takeaways – Is Seat Selection Truly Random?
Based on this deep look at how Ticketmaster assigns seats, here are some key high-level takeaways:
- Ticketmaster uses a smart algorithm – not true randomness – to assign “best available” seats.
- Buying early improves your chances of getting better seats.
- Purchase options like presales and verified fan access can help.
- Completely random seat assignment mainly occurs when inventory gets very limited.
- While not perfect, Ticketmaster’s system aims to optimize seat assignments based on customer preferences.
So in summary, Ticketmaster does not randomly assign seats in most cases. Their algorithm generally rewards those who buy early and take advantage of presales. Only in high demand sell-out situations does true randomness begin to take hold. So while the system may sometimes feel random, rest assured there is complex logic working behind the scenes!
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Ticketmaster automatically assign the worst/farthest seats first?
No, Ticketmaster does not automatically assign the worst available seats first. Their algorithm attempts to assign customers the best seats available at the time of purchase, based on factors like ticket type, location, and group size. The worst seats are only assigned when limited inventory remains.
Is there any way to upgrade your seats after purchasing?
Sometimes. If better seats become available after your purchase, Ticketmaster may allow you to upgrade your seats for an additional fee. You can call their customer service after tickets go on sale to check on upgrade options. Upgrades are not always available, but it is possible in some cases.
How does Ticketmaster handle seat assignments for extremely popular shows?
For extremely high demand shows like Beyonce or Taylor Swift, Ticketmaster uses systems like Verified Fan presales to validate real fans before tickets go on sale. This helps filter out bots and scalpers. Randomization also increases for the initial on-sale to distribute tickets fairly when demand drastically outweighs supply.
Why do I sometimes get split up from people I’m buying tickets with?
If you’re purchasing tickets as a group, Ticketmaster tries to assign seats together. However, for very popular shows with limited groups of seats available, you may get split up. Purchasing early when more options are available can reduce this risk of getting separated.
What happens if an event sells out right before I buy tickets?
If an event sells out right before your place in the virtual queue, you will not be able to buy tickets. Ticketmaster’s system only allows purchases when inventory is available. Your best bet is to try again during the next presale or general on-sale.
The Bottom Line
Ticketmaster utilizes a sophisticated seat assignment algorithm that optimizes for customer preferences and inventory availability. While not purely random, some degree of randomness does come into play during extremely high demand on-sales. By understanding Ticketmaster’s system, being flexible on preferences, and using early access opportunities, customers can maximize their odds of getting great seats.