Ticket buying through Ticketmaster can be a stressful experience, with high demand events selling out in seconds. Many fans wonder – how early does the Ticketmaster queue open before tickets go on sale? Understanding when you can join the queue is key to getting a spot at the front of the line and scoring those coveted seats.
When does the waiting room open?
For high demand events, Ticketmaster utilizes a virtual waiting room. This waiting room queue opens up before the actual tickets go on sale, sometimes as much as an hour early. Joining the waiting room queue does not guarantee you tickets, but it places you in line to enter the ticket onsale when it opens. This helps deal with the heavy incoming traffic all trying to purchase at the same time.
Waiting room open time examples
Here are some examples of when the waiting room opens prior to ticket sales for different events:
| Event | Waiting Room Open Time | Ticket On-Sale Time | Time Waiting Room Opened Beforehand |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ed Sheeran Concert | 9:00 AM | 10:00 AM | 1 hour before |
| Harry Styles Concert | 10:30 AM | 11:30 AM | 1 hour before |
| Super Bowl LVII | 7:00 AM | 10:00 AM | 3 hours before |
As you can see from the examples above, the waiting room typically opens 1-3 hours prior to the actual ticket on-sale time, depending on the scale of the event.
Can you join the queue before the waiting room opens?
No, there is no benefit to trying to join the queue before the published waiting room open time. Ticketmaster’s systems will not allow you to enter the queue until the waiting room has officially opened.
If you attempt to access the queue early, you will get an error message saying the waiting room is closed. You will have to wait until the waiting room opens to join the queue.
Does entering the waiting room early guarantee tickets?
Unfortunately, no. Just because you enter the virtual waiting room early does not guarantee you will get tickets. Spots in the queue are essentially randomized once the waiting room opens.
That said, joining the waiting room at least an hour before onsale gives you the best possible chance at getting a spot near the front. But nothing is guaranteed until tickets are actually in your cart.
How to find out when the Ticketmaster waiting room opens
Ticketmaster will publish ahead of time when the waiting room for an event will open. This information is usually available a few days before the onsale date.
The waiting room open time will be displayed on the Ticketmaster event page. There will be a countdown clock showing the waiting room open time.
The open time is also often announced on the Ticketmaster Twitter account and Facebook page in the hours leading up to the onsale.
Being aware of the waiting room open time well in advance is key so you know when you need to be online and ready to join the queue.
Set reminders for the waiting room open time
Since the waiting room open time is known ahead of the onsale date, be sure to set reminders leading up to it:
- Put an alert in your calendar for 15 minutes before the waiting room opens
- Set a phone alarm for the open time
- Ask friends to text you reminders that morning
Having multiple waiting room open time reminders in place guarantees you won’t lose track and miss the queue!
Strategies for getting tickets from the waiting room
Now that you know when you can join the Ticketmaster waiting room for an event, here are some key strategies to actually get tickets once sales open:
Be ready at your computer before the room opens
Log in to Ticketmaster ahead of time and make sure to refresh right at the waiting room open time. Don’t wait until after the room opens to try and join.
Use multiple devices
Have Ticketmaster pulled up on your desktop, phone, and tablet. Try joining the queue from multiple devices at the same time to increase your chances.
Team up with friends & family
Get everyone you know to try for tickets from their own devices. Multiple people from different locations may increase your odds.
Keep trying if you don’t get in at first
Sometimes the site gets overloaded and crashes at the waiting room open time. Keep refreshing and rejoining the queue if you face errors.
Conclusion
Knowing when the Ticketmaster virtual waiting room opens for an event is extremely valuable intel for fans. Be sure to look up the waiting room open time as soon as it is announced and set calendar alerts leading up to it. Have Ticketmaster queued up on multiple devices right at the open time to maximize your shot at coveted tickets.