Ticketmaster’s Best Seats feature aims to show ticket buyers the best available seats for an event, based on the venue layout and ticket demand. However, some fans have questioned whether it really does provide the best seats or if it’s just a sales tactic. In this article, we’ll take an objective look at how Best Seats works, if it delivers on its promise, and when it’s worth using.
How Best Seats Works
When you search for tickets on Ticketmaster, the Best Seats option appears near the top of the event page. If you toggle it on, Ticketmaster will highlight the seats it deems to be the best value. This is based on:
- Seat location – Sections near the front and center stage are prioritized.
- Row location – Middle rows are favored over rows too close or too far.
- Price – More expensive tickets are not necessarily tagged as Best Seats.
- Availability – It avoids highlighting sold out seats or single seats.
Behind the scenes, Ticketmaster uses proprietary algorithms to assign a score to each seat. The seats with the highest scores get tagged as Best Seats.
Factors that influence the seat scores include:
- Venue and seat specs – Layout, capacity, stage location, etc.
- Historic ticket sales data – Shows which seats sell fastest.
- Fan feedback – Customer reviews and ratings.
- Demand forecasting – Predicting hot tickets.
So in theory, Best Seats uses all this data to recommend the prime seats for a given event in that specific venue.
Does Best Seats Actually Show the Best Seats?
Whether Best Seats delivers the best tickets is debatable. Here are some of the key considerations:
It’s subjective
Best is subjective – what one person considers the optimal seats may not match another’s preferences. Some fans want to be front row center, others prefer an elevated view. Goal line seats can be better than 50-yard line in football. So Best Seats aims to highlight quality seats most people would find desirable, but not every fan will agree.
It doesn’t consider nuances
The algorithm uses high-level factors like section, row, and price to score seats. But it can’t account for every nuance like small obstructions or a slightly skewed angle. So some seats tagged Best may have minor drawbacks that only locals familiar with the venue might recognize.
It overvalues central seats
While middle sections are generally ideal, Best Seats likely overvalues central seats. For instance, it may highlight row 15 of a lower side section over front row of an upper side. But the front row usually offers a better view, even if it’s not central. So the algorithm seems biased toward middle over front rows.
It doesn’t consider special scenarios
Certain events or stages call for different seat priorities. For example, WWE Raw has a long stage, making side seats preferable over straight-on views with obstructed corners. But Best Seats doesn’t account for unique cases like these.
It promotes high ticket prices
By favoring lower bowl and front sections, Best Seats pushes buyers towards the most expensive tickets. But reasonably priced seats further back may still provide excellent views and value.
So Best Seats has some limitations when it comes to living up to its name in every scenario. But it still appears to do a decent job highlighting above average seats most of the time.
When Best Seats is Worth Using
Here are some cases when the Best Seats feature can be helpful:
- Venues you’ve never visited – It gives a general idea of better sections.
- Large venues with confusing layouts – Narrows down the many options.
- Quickly gauging seat quality – Faster than comparing individual seats.
- Flexible on preferences – It caters to the “average” fan’s needs.
- Newer venues – Less historical data on the best spots.
However, there are also times when ignoring Best Seats may be wise:
- You have strong location preferences – Your priorities may differ.
- Seeking front row spots – Algorithm favors middle rows.
- Value pricing is critical – It steers you toward costly seats.
- Unique stage/view considerations – Can’t account for every nuance.
So weigh your individual needs versus the general guidance Best Seats provides.
Tips for Using Best Seats
Here are some tips to use Best Seats effectively:
- Toggle it on to see recommendations, off to see all options.
- Scan Best Seats, but also consider others. It’s not definitive.
- Apply filters like price to find affordable Best Seats.
- Zoom in on the seating chart to evaluate individual seats.
- Cross-reference views using A View From My Seat.
- Read venue reviews for additional insights.
Getting a balance of location, price, and sightlines requires checking beyond just Best Seats. Use it as a starting point, not the final deciding factor.
The Bottom Line
Best Seats is a useful Ticketmaster feature that aims to identify optimal seats using data like location, price, and demand. It provides a helpful shortlist of sections likely to offer a quality experience for most fans. However, it has some inherent biases, doesn’t account for every nuance, and can push buyers into expensive tickets.
Treat Best Seats as a good initial gauge, but not a definitive ranking. Combine its suggestions with your personal needs and independent research to find the truly best seats for you. It takes some extra effort to land the right fit, but that little work can pay off in an improved live event experience.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Best Seats just a sales gimmick?
While Best Seats encourages sales, it’s not purely a gimmick. The algorithm behind it does attempt to identify quality seats using factors like location, price, and historic sales data. However, it is biased toward selling pricier tickets in central sections.
Can I rely on Best Seats for concerts?
It’s a reasonable starting point, but also consider your musical tastes. Best Seats often highlights middle sections far back for big concerts. Diehard fans may prefer getting closer, even if off-center, for a more immersive experience.
How does Best Seats handle obstructed views?
It tries to avoid truly obstructed seats, but may still show seats with partial or limited views. Always zoom in on the seat level to check for obstructions, as Best Seats doesn’t catch everything at the high level.
Are Best Seats worth the extra cost?
Not always. It promotes premium sections that carry higher prices. But you can find good values further back or on upper levels. Compare prices to see if the upgrade is worthwhile for your budget.
Can I save money using Best Seats?
Yes, use it in combination with filters. Toggle it on to see recommended sections, then set a price limit to find more affordable seats within those sections. You get the location benefits without overspending.
Conclusion
Ticketmaster’s Best Seats feature aims to identify optimal seats for events using various data inputs. It provides a valuable starting point in venue research. However, the algorithm has limitations and biases. Fans should use Best Seats as a tool, not a definitive ranking. Combining its suggested sections with price filters, seat views, and personal preferences leads to finding the truly best value seats.