There are a few different reasons why you might see the message “Tickets not currently available online” when trying to buy tickets on Ticketmaster:
The tickets are not on sale yet
Often this message shows up when tickets for an event go on presale before the general public on-sale date. Presales allow certain groups like fan club members or credit card holders to buy tickets before the general public.
So if you try looking for tickets before the public on-sale date and time, Ticketmaster will show the “not currently available online” message. You’ll need to wait until the public on-sale date and time to buy tickets.
The event is sold out
If a concert or show is really popular, it may sell out completely during the presale or shortly after tickets go on sale to the general public. When this happens, there are no more tickets available so Ticketmaster shows the not available message.
In some cases more tickets may be released later on if the artist or venue releases more seats. But there’s no guarantee of this. If an event looks sold out, it usually means all tickets have been purchased already.
The remaining tickets are reserved for pre-sales
Sometimes when you try to buy tickets right at the public on-sale time, you’ll still see the “not available” message. This is because Ticketmaster holds back some tickets for presales even after the public on-sale starts.
So the remaining tickets are “not available” yet online because they’re being reserved for certain presale groups. Once those presales end, any leftover tickets are released to the general public.
Tickets are only available directly at the venue
In some cases, an artist or event organizer may choose to sell tickets directly at the venue box office only. So there are tickets available, but not through Ticketmaster or other online ticketing services.
The venue box office will have the ticket inventory, while Ticketmaster shows “not available online” since they don’t have access to those tickets to sell.
The event requires tickets to be bought in person
Similar to the previous point, some concert promoters and organizers make all tickets only available for in-person purchase at the venue box office. This might be to prevent scalpers and brokers from scooping up tickets online.
So even if tickets exist, you cannot buy them through Ticketmaster. You have to go to the venue in person to get tickets.
There is high search traffic and demand
For extremely popular events like big concert tours or championship games, Ticketmaster may temporarily show “not available” due to extremely high search traffic and demand. This doesn’t necessarily mean tickets are sold out.
It’s possible Ticketmaster temporarily takes ticket inventory offline to perform maintenance and updates to manage the traffic. So tickets may still be available later once demand decreases.
Conclusion
The “tickets not currently available online” message on Ticketmaster is quite common and has a number of potential explanations. It could mean the tickets aren’t on sale yet, are sold out, or are being held for presales. In some cases, tickets need to be purchased directly from the venue box office.
The key is not to assume tickets are impossible to get if you see this message. There still may be ways to get seats, whether waiting for a public on-sale, checking later for more ticket releases, or purchasing at the venue box office in person.
As long as an event isn’t marked as “sold out”, don’t lose hope! Just be patient and keep checking back on Ticketmaster leading up to the event date.
| Reason | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Tickets not on sale yet | Tickets are on presale only before the public on-sale date/time |
| Event is sold out | All tickets were purchased already during presales or public on-sale |
| Tickets held for presales | Some tickets still reserved for presale groups before public on-sale |
| Tickets only at venue | Tickets only sold directly at venue box office, not online |
| In-person purchase only | Tickets must be purchased in person at venue, not online |
| High traffic and demand | Inventory temporarily unavailable online due to high search volume |
Waiting for the public on-sale date
If you get the “not available” message before the public on-sale date, simply wait until the public on-sale begins. Set a reminder for yourself so you buy at the exact time they go on sale. Presales can snatch up many of the best seats, so you want to act fast.
Checking back for more releases
Keep checking Ticketmaster periodically if a show looks sold out at first. Sometimes more tickets are released over time leading up to the event. You may be able to snag tickets at the last minute.
Heading to the box office
For events that are only selling tickets at the venue box office, you’ll need to head there in person and get in line. It takes more effort but can be worthwhile for high demand events.
Many box offices also have ticket drawings when demand exceeds supply for fairness. So you still have a shot without waiting in line for days.
Trying other sources
Third-party resellers and ticket marketplaces like StubHub can sometimes have tickets, but often at inflated prices. Still, it can be an option if a show is sold out everywhere else.
Promoters may also release more tickets through artist fan clubs, sponsor presales or local radio station promotions.
So in summary:
– Be patient and keep checking Ticketmaster for more ticket releases
– Be ready at the exact public on-sale date and time
– Consider heading to the venue box office to purchase tickets there
– Look into other ticket sources like resellers, but expect higher prices
With persistence and proper timing, you should hopefully score tickets even if you initially get the “not available online” message on Ticketmaster.