Big Time Rush was an American boy band that was formed in 2009 and rose to popularity thanks to their Nickelodeon television series of the same name. The band consisted of Kendall Schmidt, James Maslow, Carlos Pena Jr., and Logan Henderson. During the height of their fame from 2009 to 2013, Big Time Rush toured extensively and sold out arenas all over the world. But just how much did fans have to pay to see BTR live in concert?
Ticket Prices for Big Time Rush Concerts
According to various online ticket resale sites and online forums, here’s a look at approximately how much Big Time Rush tickets cost for their major tours and shows:
Big Time Rush 2010 Tour
The Big Time Rush 2010 Tour was the band’s first major headlining tour. They played at venues with capacities around 1,500-3,000 people. Tickets to these shows cost:
| Section | Price Range |
|---|---|
| Lower Level Seats (Closer to Stage) | $50 – $150 |
| Upper Level Seats (Further from Stage) | $30 – $75 |
So lower level or floor seats at 2010 BTR shows ran from around $50 on the low end up to $150 for front row seats. The upper level or balcony seats cost between $30 and $75 depending on the venue.
Better With U Tour 2012
In 2012, Big Time Rush embarked on their Better With U Tour. They graduated to playing much larger venues with capacities of 5,000-15,000. Ticket prices for these larger arena shows were:
| Section | Price Range |
|---|---|
| Floor/Lower Level (Closest to Stage) | $125 – $300 |
| Lower Level (Further Back) | $75 – $200 |
| Upper Level (Furthest from Stage) | $40 – $125 |
For their 2012 tour in bigger venues, the floor seats closest to the stage ranged from $125 to a whopping $300 for the best seats in the house. Lower level seats further back from the stage cost between $75 and $200. And upper level seats ran from $40 up to $125 depending on the city and specific venue.
Big Time Rush 2013 Farewell Tour
Sadly, in 2013 Big Time Rush announced they would be going on an indefinite hiatus and embarked on one final farewell tour. They again played arenas with 10,000+ capacities. Ticket prices were similar to the previous tour:
| Section | Price Range |
|---|---|
| Floor (Closest to Stage) | $150 – $400 |
| Lower Level | $85 – $250 |
| Upper Level (Furthest from Stage) | $45 – $150 |
For their last tour, floor seats close to the stage were going for $150 to $400 since these were highly coveted tickets given it was their farewell tour. Lower level seats were $85 to $250. And if you wanted to get in the door, upper level seats ran from $45 to $150 depending on the city.
Most Expensive Big Time Rush Concert Tickets
What were some of the highest priced Big Time Rush tickets that the most die-hard Rushers paid to see their favorite band live in concert?
Front Row Floor Seats
Without a doubt, the most expensive Big Time Rush tickets were always front row floor seats. These got you as close to Kendall, James, Carlos and Logan as possible. During their 2012 Better With U Tour, front row floor seats went for as much as $300-$400 each. For their final 2013 farewell tour, front row floor seats sold for an even higher $500-$600 per ticket from ticket resellers.
VIP / Meet and Greet Packages
Another option for big spending BTR fans were VIP packages that included meet and greets with the band members. These premium packages included perks like:
- Front row floor tickets
- Pre-show hang out backstage with Big Time Rush
- Individual photo op with the band
- Autographed tour poster
- Official VIP laminate pass
These exclusive meet and greet packages could cost anywhere from $500 to $1,000+ per person depending on the city and specific tour. So for the biggest fans who wanted a chance to actually meet Kendall, James, Carlos and Logan in person, they had to shell out upwards of $1,000.
Resale Market Prices
When shows were sold out, Big Time Rush ticket prices always spiked exponentially on secondary resale sites like StubHub. For hot shows in major cities like Los Angeles and New York, reseller prices routinely went into the thousands for prime floor seats. Some specific examples:
- Los Angeles Forum, “Better With U Tour” – Front row floor seats resold for $2,500 per ticket
- New York Madison Square Garden, “Big Time Rush In Concert” – Lower level seating resold for $1,000 per ticket
- Chicago United Center, “Farewell Tour” – Floor seats resold for $1,500 per ticket
As you can see, the secondary market often pushed Big Time Rush ticket prices into the stratosphere, with the most in-demand tickets commanding prices of $1,000 or more for the biggest venues on must-see tour dates.
Factors Affecting Big Time Rush Ticket Prices
Why did ticket prices for Big Time Rush concerts vary so greatly from tour to tour and city to city? Here are some of the key factors that influenced pricing:
Venue Size and Location
As Big Time Rush’s popularity grew, they graduated from smaller theaters to big arenas which drove up the ticket prices. Plus larger cities like Los Angeles and New York had the most expensive tickets given the huge demand.
Tour Popularity
Tours like the Better With U Tour and farewell tour were in higher demand than earlier tours, which led to higher ticket prices overall.
Seat Location
As with any concert, the closer you were to the stage, the higher the ticket price. Front row floor seats always commanded premium pricing of $200+ or even $500+.
VIP Packages
Fans were willing to pay much higher prices for special VIP tickets that included meet and greets, gifts, early entrance, and more.
Reseller Markups
Highly coveted tickets would often get marked up to many times their face value on secondary sites like StubHub, especially for sold out shows.
How Big Time Rush Ticket Prices Compared to Other Boy Bands
How did Big Time Rush ticket prices stack up against prices for other popular boy bands over the years? Here’s a comparison:
| Boy Band | Average Tour Ticket Price |
|---|---|
| Backstreet Boys (Peak popularity around 2000) | $60 – $200 |
| N’Sync (Peak popularity around 2000) | $50 – $150 |
| One Direction (Peak popularity around 2015) | $100 – $400 |
| Big Time Rush (Peak popularity around 2012) | $75 – $250 |
On average, Big Time Rush ticket prices were on the more affordable side compared to bands like One Direction who charged upwards of $400 for top tickets. But BTR tickets cost more than predecessors like Backstreet Boys and N’Sync who played smaller venues at their peak. Overall, Big Time Rush delivered a solid value for fans relative to other top boy bands of their eras.
Should You Have Paid Big Money for Big Time Rush Tickets?
There’s no doubt that Big Time Rush concert tickets could get quite pricey, especially when buying resale tickets for hot shows. Should fans have paid so much to see Kendall, James, Carlos and Logan live?
Pros of Paying Big Bucks
- Got to see your favorite band live
- Incredible experience and memories
- Chance to get closest to the band with floor seats
- Exclusive VIP experiences like meet and greets
Cons of Dropping Big Dollars
- Tickets got extremely expensive especially resale
- Probably not worth spending thousands just for one show
- Could only afford a few concerts at those prices
- Cheaper upper level seats still let you enjoy the show
Super fans may have felt it was worth any price to see their favorite band live, especially for a once-in-a-lifetime experience like a farewell tour. However, the average fan could still get great value opting for more affordable upper level seats. Ultimately it came down to personal budget and how big of a Rush fan you were.
Conclusion
Big Time Rush was one of the biggest boy bands of their era, prompting fans everywhere to rush out for tickets whenever they came to town. While the band tried to make shows affordable for the average fan, especially earlier on, prices inevitably increased as venues grew larger and demand skyrocketed. Die-hard Rushers could end up paying several hundred to even thousands of dollars for front row seats or VIP packages. Yet those on a budget could still sing along in the rafters. No matter where you sat, seeing Big Time Rush live in concert was always an unforgettable pop experience.
