Ed Sheeran is one of the most popular music artists in the world right now. His concerts routinely sell out within minutes, making tickets extremely hard to come by. If you want to score tickets to an Ed Sheeran show, you need to plan ahead and be strategic about how you go about purchasing them. Here is a comprehensive guide on how to get Ed Sheeran concert tickets.
When Do Ed Sheeran Tickets Go On Sale?
The first thing you need to know is when Ed Sheeran tickets actually go on sale. This varies from tour to tour, but typically they will go on sale around 3-6 months prior to the first show date. Ed Sheeran and his management team announce new tours well in advance, so you need to be following Ed’s social media accounts and signed up for email notifications so you know right when tickets get released.
For extremely high demand shows in major cities like New York and London, there are sometimes presales that happen 1-2 weeks before the general public on-sale date. These presales are typically for members of Ed’s fan club, American Express cardholders, Spotify subscribers, or users of other partner platforms. By having access to these presales, you can get early access to buy tickets before the masses.
Where to Buy Ed Sheeran Tickets
There are a few different ways you can purchase Ed Sheeran tickets once they go on sale:
- Directly via the venue or concert promoter’s website – Most venues like Madison Square Garden and major promoters like LiveNation will sell the majority of their Ed Sheeran ticket inventory on their own websites. This is the most reliable place to purchase from.
- Resale sites like StubHub – If shows sell out quickly, resale sites are the next option. But you will pay more than face value.
- Ed Sheeran’s official website – Any remaining ticket inventory may be sold here after the initial onsale dates.
- Reputable ticket brokers – Brokers can provide access to high demand tickets, but fees will be higher.
Always make sure you buy from an authorized seller to avoid counterfeit or scam tickets.
Have Accounts Set Up and Payment Ready
In order to obtain Ed Sheeran tickets during the frantic onsale rush, you need to already have accounts set up on any websites you plan to buy from. Have your payment details, like credit card information, entered and stored on these accounts so you can checkout seamlessly.
On venue and promoter sites, create a login and password ahead of the sale date. Prepopulate your address and billing info into the website to accelerate the checkout process. The same goes for any resale sites you may use.
Use Multiple Devices
Don’t rely on just one device to purchase Ed Sheeran tickets. Have multiple laptops, desktops, tablets, and phones ready to go when purchasing. This gives you many opportunities to try for tickets and reduces your chances of missing out due to tech issues on one device.
Make sure each device is on a strong, stable internet connection to avoid lag and crashing during the hectic ticket sale.
Team Up with Friends
Get friends and family to help you out by having them try to buy tickets at the same time from their own devices. Coordinate which ticket sites and sections each of you will target. With multiple people trying, your group’s chances of getting tickets improves.
Just make sure you are not buying duplicate orders! Communicate clearly about what each person is purchasing.
Aim for Multiple Shows
Target more than just one Ed Sheeran concert on your city. Expand your search to nearby venues within driving distance. The more shows you have a chance at getting tickets for, the better opportunity you have of scoring seats.
Be Ready at Presale Start Times
When it comes to presales, timing is everything. Presales typically begin at 10am local venue time. But sometimes there are presales for different groups that start at slightly different times.
Prior to the presale, research exactly what time it begins. Be ready on the ticket site 15 min prior and refresh right at the start time to get into the virtual waiting room or ticket purchasing page.
Use Presale Codes
Some presales require special codes in order to access the ticket inventory. These are usually provided to members of Ed Sheeran’s fan club or users of a specific credit card that is sponsoring the presale.
Search online forums and Ed Sheeran fan groups to try to find valid presale codes you can use. Subscribing to Ed’s email newsletter can also provide you with presale code access.
Consider VIP or Front Row Seats
If regular floor or bowl tickets immediately sell out, don’t hesitate to explore VIP, front row or pit options. These tickets are in limited quantity and very expensive, but they guarantee you prime positioning in front of the stage.
VIP tickets come with extras like exclusive merch, private entrances, and backstage tours. This allows you an enhanced concert experience and chance to get up close to Ed Sheeran.
Use the Ticketmaster App
If purchasing tickets through Ticketmaster, make sure to use their mobile app rather than the desktop site. The app is highly optimized for high demand onsales thanks to its waiting room technology and ticket barcode delivery.
You still want to be on a desktop/laptop as well, but have the Ticketmaster app open in addition to increase your odds.
Refine Your Search
If you get stuck in a ticket search that says “no tickets found,” keep refining and expanding your search. Try looking at one ticket instead of two. Try changing sections or ticket types. Oftentimes tickets will randomly pop up as you tweak search parameters.
Use Auto-Refresh Browser Extensions
There are browser extensions like Enhanced Ticket Refresh for Chrome that will auto-refresh ticket search pages every few seconds. This ensures you don’t miss any surprise ticket releases while manually refreshing.
Make sure to pause refreshing if you do get into a purchase flow to avoid losing tickets. But otherwise keep auto-refresh going in hopes additional seats open up.
Consider Ticket Packages or VIP Upgrades
If regular tickets are immediately sold out, check for special ticket packages that may still be available. Venues often sell bundles like a concert ticket plus food/drink vouchers or merchandise.
There are also usually opportunities to purchase VIP upgrades after buying standard tickets. Look for upgrade offers during the checkout process.
Check Resale Sites Frequently After Onsale
Don’t stop looking for tickets after the initial onsale. Keep checking back on resale sites in the hours, days, and weeks after tickets go on sale. Fans will start posting extra tickets they can no longer use.
As you get closer to the concert dates, people will slash prices on unused tickets since they’d rather get some money back vs. the tickets going to waste.
Wait Until Last Minute for Resale Sites
Hold off on purchasing tickets on StubHub, Vivid Seats, etc. until 1-2 weeks before the show date. Brokers start panicking as the event gets closer and will cut prices to offload inventory. This is when you can find desperate sellers willing to sell for cheap.
Keep in mind this risky strategy could backfire and stock could dry up. But you can score bargains on sites like Gametime right before showtime.
Buy Partial View or Obstructed View Seats
If the cheap seats you want are sold out, don’t hesitate to look at partial/obstructed view options. While not ideal, something like an obstructed view halfway back in the lower level is better than nosebleeds. And these tickets are discounted 20-30% typically.
Join Ed Sheeran’s Fan Club
Becoming an official member of Ed Sheeran’s fan club (usually costs $40-50/year) provides you early access to purchase tour tickets during fan club presales. You also get first dibs on VIP packages and merchandise.
Fan club members often have ticket limits lifted as well. Definitely worth joining for hardcore Ed Sheeran fans who go to multiple shows per tour.
Petition the Venue for More Shows
If Ed Sheeran sells out extremely quickly in your city due to incredible demand, start lobbying and petitioning the venue for them to add additional shows. Many times in high demand markets, 2-3 concerts will get added based on popular request.
Venues want to cash in on the demand and rake in more revenue. Convince them by starting social media campaigns requesting Ed Sheeran add more dates.
Follow Ed Sheeran Ticket News Accounts
There are Twitter accounts like @EdSheeranTix that provide constant updates about Ed Sheeran presale codes, onsale times, and other useful ticketing info. Following these accounts can give you valuable intel.
Turn on Twitter notifications for these accounts so you don’t miss any important ticket announcements or news that may help you in your ticket buying quest.
Use Caution on Craigslist and Facebook
Sites like Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace will have Ed Sheeran tickets posted for sale, usually at inflated prices. There is inherent risk here as scams are common when buying from total strangers.
If going this route, only buy electronic or mobile tickets you can verify are legitimate. Require social media profiles from sellers. Conduct transactions only in-person and avoid wiring money to unknown people.
Sign Up for Verified Fan Presales
Promoters like Ticketmaster now run Verified Fan presales for major tours like Ed Sheeran’s. Fans must register ahead of time and get verified to gain presale code access. This helps filter out scalpers and bots.
As soon as Ed announces a tour, look for Verified Fan registration. This will give you a major edge in getting early access to tickets.
Conclusion
Getting tickets to see music superstar Ed Sheeran in concert is no easy feat. But use the tips provided in this guide, do your preparation ahead of time, and execute smart ticket buying strategies and you’ll have a great shot at scoring seats.
The key is persistence and grinding through the entire ticket buying process. Don’t give up after initial disappointments. Keep trying different sites, devices, and methods. With hard work and determination, you can make your Ed Sheeran concert dream a reality!
