Getting tickets to popular concerts and events through Ticketmaster can be extremely competitive. With high demand and limited ticket supplies, many fans struggle to secure tickets before they sell out. This has led to growing frustrations with Ticketmaster’s ticketing systems and processes.
In an effort to make the ticket buying experience fairer for fans, Ticketmaster introduced its Verified Fan program in 2017. The program aims to verify that ticket requests come from actual human fans rather than bots and scalpers. But does becoming a Ticketmaster Verified Fan guarantee you will get tickets?
What is Ticketmaster Verified Fan?
Ticketmaster Verified Fan is a program where fans register in advance for a chance to purchase tickets for concerts and events. Here is a brief overview of how it works:
- Fans sign up for Ticketmaster Verified Fan and provide their personal information.
- Ticketmaster uses technology to verify fans are real human users and not bots.
- Verified fans are randomly selected to participate in a presale before the general public.
- Selected verified fans receive a unique code to access the presale.
- During the presale, verified fans can shop for tickets before the general onsale.
The goal is to give genuine fans better access to tickets during presales, before scalpers and bots can scoop them up.
Does being a Verified Fan guarantee tickets?
Unfortunately, being a Verified Fan does not guarantee that you will get tickets. Here are some key reasons why:
- Only a portion of verified fans are selected for each presale.
- The selection process is random – being verified does not prioritize your place in line.
- There is still high demand from the selected verified fans.
- Inventory is still limited, so tickets can sell out fast.
Essentially, the Verified Fan program verifies your identity but does not reserve tickets for you or give you any special access. You still have to compete against other verified fans during the presale for a chance at tickets.
What are your chances of getting tickets as a Verified Fan?
Your odds of scoring tickets as a Verified Fan vary greatly depending on the event. For extremely popular concerts, only 10-20% of verified registrants may be selected. But for less in-demand events, selection rates can be 50% or higher.
Here is a table showing estimated selection rates for different tiers of events:
Event Tier | Examples | Verified Fan Selection Rate |
---|---|---|
High Demand | Beyoncé, Taylor Swift | 10-20% |
Moderate Demand | Large arenas, older acts | 20-40% |
Low Demand | Smaller venues, niche acts | 40-60%+ |
As you can see, landing a spot in a Verified Fan presale is toughest for mega popular artists and huge stadium shows. But your odds improve considerably for more average events.
Tips to improve your chances
While verification alone does not guarantee tickets, there are things fans can do to boost their odds of scoring seats in a Verified Fan presale:
- Register early – Do not wait until the last minute to sign up as a Verified Fan.
- Provide accurate info – This helps verify you are a real fan.
- Only register once – Duplicate registrations are filtered out.
- Use multiple payment methods – Have different credit cards ready in your Ticketmaster account.
- Shop right at presale start time – Don’t miss the initial rush when inventory is highest.
- Be flexible – Consider alternate dates, venues, and ticket types/prices.
Following these tips gives you a better shot at getting through the presale, but still does not fully guarantee you will get tickets.
Are there any ways to guarantee tickets through Ticketmaster?
There are a couple Ticketmaster programs that do guarantee tickets, including:
Official Platinum Seats
Official Platinum refers to premium tickets sold directly through Ticketmaster at market value prices. These tickets are more expensive than regular tickets but they guarantee admission. Fans know exactly what they are getting upfront.
VIP Packages
Many events offer special VIP ticket packages through Ticketmaster with perks like premium seating, exclusive merchandise, meet-and-greets with artists, and more. These packages are very limited but they guarantee admission.
The catch is that both Official Platinum seats and VIP packages can cost 2-10x more than regular face value tickets. But for diehard fans, the peace of mind may be worth the splurge.
Should you still register as a Verified Fan?
While being a Verified Fan does not guarantee you will get tickets, it is still highly recommended to register if you hope to buy tickets during presales. Here are some key benefits:
- It improves your chances versus the general onsale.
- You can access presales before the public.
- It prevents scalpers/bots from gobbling up all the tickets.
- Registration is free and simple.
- Provides the fairest chance for real fans to get tickets.
So while not a full guarantee, Verified Fan registration is the best shot passionate fans have at snagging those coveted seats. Just be sure to manage expectations and have backup plans.
Other ticketing options
If you miss out on the presale and general onsale, do not lose hope yet. Here are some other ways you may still be able to score tickets:
- Fan ticket exchanges – Check fan forums and social media for fans reselling extra tickets at face value.
- The box office – A small number of tickets may be held back for in-person sales.
- General ticket resale sites – Stubhub, VividSeats, etc., but expect big markups.
- Last minute tickets – Check back leading up to the event for last minute inventory.
Be proactive and persistent, and don’t assume it’s sold out – you can often still land tickets with some luck and effort!
The bottom line
While being a Ticketmaster Verified Fan does not guarantee you will get tickets to highly in-demand events, it does give you the best shot possible as a genuine fan to access presale ticket inventory. Combine verification with smart presale strategies, and your chances of scoring seats improve considerably. Just recognize the limits of the system and have backup options in case you don’t get through.