One Direction was one of the biggest boy bands in the world during their heyday between 2010 and 2015. Their concerts were known for selling out quickly and having incredibly high ticket demand from their massive fanbase of “Directioners.” In this article, we’ll take a look at how much One Direction tickets cost during the height of their fame.
One Direction Ticket Prices for Up All Night Tour
One Direction released their debut album Up All Night in November 2011 after being formed on The X Factor UK in 2010. To support the album, they embarked on their first headlining concert tour called the Up All Night Tour from December 2011 through July 2012.
The Up All Night Tour consisted of 62 shows in Europe, Australia, New Zealand, and North America. Average ticket prices for One Direction concerts during the Up All Night Tour were:
Venue Size | Average Ticket Price |
---|---|
Theater/Club (under 3,000 capacity) | $50 |
Theater (3,000 – 6,000 capacity) | $75 |
Arena (6,000 – 20,000 capacity) | $100 |
Stadium (over 20,000 capacity) | $125 |
As you can see, average ticket prices typically ranged from $50-125 depending on the size of the venue. The Up All Night Tour mostly played smaller theaters and clubs since the band was just starting out.
Notable Up All Night Tour Ticket Prices
- Los Angeles, The Roxy Theatre (April 12, 2012) – $50
- London, O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire (April 11, 2012) – $75
- New York City, Beacon Theatre (May 23, 2012) – $100
- Mexico City, Auditorio Nacional (June 2, 2012) – $100
- Sydney, Hordern Pavilion (April 10-11, 2012) – $100
One Direction Ticket Prices for Take Me Home Tour
After releasing their second album Take Me Home in November 2012, One Direction embarked on their second concert tour aptly titled the Take Me Home Tour. This tour ran from February 2013 through November 2013 with over 120 shows across Europe, North America, Australia, Asia, and Africa.
Average ticket prices for the Take Me Home Tour were:
Venue Size | Average Ticket Price |
---|---|
Theater/Club (under 3,000 capacity) | $75 |
Theater (3,000 – 6,000 capacity) | $100 |
Arena (6,000 – 20,000 capacity) | $125 |
Stadium (over 20,000 capacity) | $150 |
Ticket prices increased about 25% on average from the Up All Night Tour as the band continued to explode in popularity.
Notable Take Me Home Tour Ticket Prices
- London, O2 Arena (February 23-24, 2013) – $125
- New York City, Madison Square Garden (December 3, 2012) – $125
- Sydney, Allphones Arena (September 13-14, 2013) – $150
- Los Angeles, Staples Center (August 7-8, 2013) – $150
- Mexico City, Palacio de los Deportes (May 27, 2013) – $150
One Direction Ticket Prices for Where We Are Tour
One Direction reached new heights with their third album Midnight Memories in 2013. To support the album, they launched their biggest tour yet – the Where We Are Tour. This massive world tour spanned April 2014 to October 2014 and included 69 concerts in Europe, North America, South America, and Asia.
The Where We Are Tour exclusively played large stadiums and saw a significant bump in average ticket prices:
Venue Size | Average Ticket Price |
---|---|
Stadium (over 20,000 capacity) | $175 |
Stadium w/ Field Seating (40,000+ capacity) | $200 |
For these huge NFL and soccer stadium shows, One Direction ticket prices ranged from $175 for upper deck seats to over $200 for premium field seats closest to the main stage on the floor.
Notable Where We Are Tour Ticket Prices
- East Rutherford, MetLife Stadium (August 5, 2014) – $200
- Foxborough, Gillette Stadium (July 9, 2014) – $175
- Chicago, Soldier Field (July 28, 2014) – $200
- Mexico City, Estadio Azteca (November 24, 2014) – $200
- Manila, Philippine Arena (March 21-22, 2015) – $175
One Direction Ticket Prices for On The Road Again Tour
One Direction launched their fourth major tour On The Road Again in 2015 to promote their album Four. While still playing large stadiums, this tour focused on Oceania and Asia since the band had extensively toured Europe and North America in previous years.
Average ticket prices for the On The Road Again Tour were:
Venue Size | Average Ticket Price |
---|---|
Stadium (20,000 – 40,000 capacity) | $175 |
Stadium w/ Field Seating (40,000+ capacity) | $200 |
Prices remained similar to the Where We Are Tour since the venues were comparable in size.
Notable On The Road Again Tour Ticket Prices
- Jakarta, Gelora Bung Karno Stadium (March 25, 2015) – $200
- Manila, Philippine Arena (March 21-22, 2015) – $175
- Singapore, National Stadium (March 18, 2015) – $175
- Bangkok, Rajamangala Stadium (March 14, 2015) – $200
- Sydney, Allianz Stadium (February 28 – March 5, 2015) – $175
How Did One Direction Ticket Prices Compare to Other Popular Artists?
One Direction’s ticket prices were on par with many other major pop artists during their peak years. Here’s a comparison of average ticket prices for some other top 2013-2015 arena/stadium tours:
Artist | Average Ticket Price |
---|---|
One Direction – Where We Are Tour | $175-$200 |
Justin Timberlake – The 20/20 Experience World Tour | $150-$200 |
Paul McCartney – Out There Tour | $250 |
Bruno Mars – Moonshine Jungle Tour | $150 |
Katy Perry – Prismatic World Tour | $100-$150 |
While not the most expensive, One Direction consistently charged higher ticket prices given the huge demand to see them live in concert.
Why Were One Direction Concert Tickets So Expensive?
There are a few key reasons why One Direction tickets were priced so high during the band’s peak from 2012-2015:
Massive Fan Demand
One Direction had an enormous global fanbase of teenage and young adult women called “Directioners” who were absolutely obsessed with the band. This caused a frenzy whenever new tour dates were announced, with most shows selling out immediately.
Limited Supply
The band only toured for a few weeks at a time given their age, other commitments, and need for rest. The limited touring supply drove up demand even further.
Strategic Market Pricing
Like many artists, One Direction charged premium prices because their team knew the market would pay it. Simple economics of supply vs. demand.
Production Costs
Stadium tours require enormous production budgets. With custom stages, pyrotechnics, HD screens and lights, costs can easily exceed $1 million per show.
Small Venue Sizes
One Direction only performed 1-2 nights in each city, even in major markets like London and New York. Short engagements in relatively small 50,000 seat stadiums also increased demand.
Conclusion
In summary, One Direction charged $50-200 per ticket during the height of their touring career from 2011-2015. Average ticket prices ranged from $50 in small theaters up to $200 for prime floor seats in massive stadiums on their final tours. Compared to other contemporary pop acts, their tickets were firmly in the premium price range given the huge demand to see them live.