When you search for tickets on Ticketmaster, you may see some listings with a “pending” status. This means that the tickets are not yet on sale and the onsale date and time have not been announced yet by the artist, team, or venue. There are a few common reasons why a Ticketmaster listing might show as “pending”:
The event was just announced but details are still being finalized
Often when a new concert, game, or show is first announced, Ticketmaster will create a placeholder listing even though the full details and onsale info is not yet available. This allows fans to sign up for alerts so they’ll be notified when tickets do go on sale. The listing will show “pending” until the onsale date and time is solidified.
The tickets are tied to a presale that has not started yet
Many major events have special presales that give certain groups early access to tickets before the general public onsale. This includes presales for fan club members, credit card holders, Spotify listeners, venue email list members, etc. If you try searching for tickets during the presale period before your specific presale starts, you may see a “pending” status until your window begins.
The seller is waiting for tickets to be released
Third-party ticket resellers like StubHub or Vivid Seats sometimes list tickets for upcoming events before they actually have the tickets in hand. This is because they anticipate being able to obtain tickets once they go on sale. These listings will show as “pending” until the seller acquires the tickets they expect to have.
Ticket availability or pricing is being adjusted
Occasionally Ticketmaster will have a placeholder “pending” listing while they finalize ticket configurations, scale pricing to demand, or hold back tickets for specific groups like fan club members or credit card presales. The pending status allows them flexibility to adjust plans as needed before the onsale.
Conclusion
In summary, a “pending” status on Ticketmaster means the ticket listing is a placeholder until details are finalized. The most common reasons are the event was newly announced, there is an upcoming presale, the third-party seller doesn’t have tickets yet, or Ticketmaster is still adjusting ticket availability and pricing. The tickets typically go on sale within days or weeks of appearing in a pending state.
When do pending Ticketmaster tickets go on sale?
There is no set timeframe for when pending Ticketmaster tickets go on sale, but it’s usually within a few days or weeks of the pending listing first appearing. Here are some general guidelines:
- Newly announced events – Typically 1-4 weeks after the initial announcement.
- Presales – Usually the day before or day of the general public onsale.
- Third-party resellers – Hours or days after tickets initially go on sale.
- Ticketmaster price/availability holds – Often just 24-48 hours before the main sale.
Some things that can impact how long it takes pending tickets to go on sale include:
- Artist touring schedules
- Venue and promoter availability
- Production schedules for major sports leagues
- Scheduling conflicts and changes
- Demand projections and ticket planning strategy
There are a couple ways to find out when pending tickets will go on sale:
- Sign up on Ticketmaster for sale alerts – You’ll get an email when they do.
- Follow the event venue/performer social media pages for onsale announcements.
- Check back periodically to see if the pending status has been updated.
The best way to ensure you have a chance to get hot tickets is to monitor presale and general onsale dates for any events you want to attend.
Why do some Ticketmaster tickets say pending?
There are a few main reasons why some Ticketmaster ticket listings may show a status of “pending”:
1. Event newly announced
When a concert, game, festival, or other event is first announced, Ticketmaster will often create a ticket page even if full details aren’t yet available. This placeholder listing allows fans to sign up for onsale alerts.
2. Presale not yet started
Many major events have presales before the general public onsale for groups like fan club members or credit card holders. If you search for tickets before your specific presale window opens, you’ll likely see pending listings.
3. Seller waiting for ticket release
Resellers like StubHub sometimes post listings speculatively before having tickets in hand. They anticipate getting them once sales start. These will show as pending initially.
4. Ticket details still being determined
Venues and event organizers will sometimes have to finalize details like seat configurations, ticket prices, and allotments for presales before the full listing can be made active.
5. High demand event
For extremely high demand events like playoffs or championships, Ticketmaster will sometimes hold back tickets to help manage inventory flows between presales and general sales.
So in summary, pending Ticketmaster tickets are essentially placeholders until the event and ticket details are full finalized and the listings can become activated for purchases.
How long does it take for pending tickets to go on sale on Ticketmaster?
There is no set rule for how long Ticketmaster tickets will remain in a pending status before going on sale. Timeframes can range from a few hours to a few months depending on the specific event and what details still need to be worked out. Here are some general guidelines:
| Event Type | Timeframe |
|---|---|
| Newly announced concert/show | 1-8 weeks before onsale |
| Upcoming sports season | Up to several months before onsale |
| Presales | 24-48 hours before onsale |
| Reseller speculative listings | Hours or days usually |
Factors that can impact how long pending status lasts:
- Artist touring schedules and routing
- Sports league schedules and ticket allocation planning
- Venue availability and booking
- Event budgeting, financing, and logistics
- Marketing coordination and timing
In general, pending Ticketmaster tickets will go on sale within hours, days, or weeks, rarely remaining pending longer unless it is a tour or season still months away from starting.
Can you buy pending tickets on Ticketmaster?
No, Ticketmaster does not allow purchasing tickets that are in a pending status. If you try to select tickets on a pending listing, you’ll get an error message that the tickets are not yet available. Pending Ticketmaster tickets essentially serve as a “coming soon” placeholder until the event details are finalized.
Some key things to know about pending ticket statuses:
- You cannot buy pending tickets – they are not yet available/activated for sale
- Quantity, price, and seat locations usually cannot be seen yet
- Sign up for alerts to be notified when pending tickets go on sale
- Check back frequently as pending status can change quickly
- Sales usually start within hours/days for presales or resellers
- General public onsales typically begin within 1-8 weeks
While you cannot purchase pending tickets, signing up for alerts through Ticketmaster will notify you immediately once they become available. This gives you the best chance to get tickets right when they go onsale.
As soon as pending tickets transition to “on sale” status, the quantity, prices, and interactive seat maps will unlock allowing purchases to be made.
Should I wait for pending tickets to go on sale on Ticketmaster?
Whether you should wait for pending Ticketmaster tickets to go on sale depends on a few factors:
- How in-demand the event is – If it’s likely to sell out quickly, waiting carries risk.
- How soon the show or game is – The longer away, less urgency to buy.
- Your schedule flexibility – If you need firm plans, may need to look at alternatives.
- Your loyalty to particular teams/artists – If it’s a must-see, more worth waiting.
- Availability of verified resale tickets – Provides backup options if pending sells out.
Benefits of waiting for pending tickets:
- Prices may be cheaper direct from primary seller
- More choice for best seat location
- Avoid fees and uncertainty of resale market
- Can back out if plans change
Downsides of waiting for pending tickets:
- Pending inventory may sell out very quickly
- May miss opportunity to buy resale tickets at lower prices
- Dates could potentially be changed or canceled
Tips for waiting on pending Ticketmaster tickets:
- Sign up for onsale alerts through Ticketmaster
- Follow event and venue social accounts for presale codes
- Set calendar reminders for any presale and general onsale start times
- Check resale sites as a backup option in case pending sells out
Waiting for pending Ticketmaster tickets can offer perks like lower prices and better seats, but also comes with risks if inventory sells out. Monitoring presale and onsales gives you the best chance of getting the seats you want.
How do I get notified when pending tickets go on sale on Ticketmaster?
Here are some tips for getting notified when pending tickets go on sale on Ticketmaster:
1. Sign up for Ticketmaster sale alerts
On a pending Ticketmaster ticket listing, find and click the link or button to sign up for alerts or notifications for that specific event. You’ll need to create an account if you don’t already have one. This will send you an email as soon as the tickets are available for purchase.
2. Follow social media pages
Follow the social media accounts for the venue, performer, team, festival, or event promoter. Many will announce upcoming presales and ticket onsales on platforms like Twitter and Facebook.
3. Check Ticketmaster regularly
Don’t forget to check back on the Ticketmaster site periodically to look for status changes. Things can sometimes change from pending to onsale quickly as details get finalized.
4. Look for presale codes
Search for presale codes online which give early ticket access. Subscribing to fan clubs, newsletters, or having certain credit cards can unlock these.
5. Set Google Alerts
Set up free Google Alerts for the performer name, event name, or venue. You’ll get emailed any time they are mentioned online regarding ticket sales.
Staying on top of any updates from Ticketmaster and event organizers is the best way to secure tickets the moment they go on sale. With high demand shows, presale and general onsale sellouts can happen very quickly.
Can you buy tickets that say pending on Ticketmaster?
No, Ticketmaster does not allow you to purchase tickets that are in a pending status. If you try to select pending tickets to add to your cart, you will get an error message that those tickets are not yet available for sale.
Here are some key things to know about pending tickets on Ticketmaster:
- Pending means the tickets are placeholder listings without sale details finalized yet.
- You cannot actually buy pending tickets on Ticketmaster until they go onsale.
- Quantity, prices, and seat locations are unknown and unavailable while pending.
- Sign up for alerts on the event page so you are notified when regular and presale tickets unlock.
- Pending status typically changes to onsale within hours, days or weeks at most.
- Popular events can sell out quickly once pending tickets go onsale.
Instead of allowing purchases, pending tickets serve more as a “coming soon” message and allow you to sign up for the latest sales updates. Onsale alerts give you the best chance at getting tickets right when they are released for sale before they sell out.
Once the pending tickets turn onsale, you will be able to see available quantities, seating options, and pricing. At that point purchases can be made normally like any other Ticketmaster event tickets.
Should you wait for pending tickets or buy resale?
When Ticketmaster tickets show as pending, you have to decide whether to wait for them to go onsale, or buy resale tickets instead. Here are some pros and cons of each option:
Waiting for pending tickets
Pros:
- Often cheaper than resale prices
- Get to choose your preferred seats
- Avoid resale fees and risks
- Refundable if plans change
Cons:
- Pending inventory may sell out fast
- Sale dates can get pushed back
- Miss out on resale ticket deals
- Less selection closer to event
Buying resale tickets
Pros:
- Tickets secured right away
- Prices can be very low initially
- Browse many listings from different sellers
- Established delivery guarantees
Cons:
- Usually pay more than face value prices
- Fees per ticket order
- Fewer ticket options closer to event
- No refunds
Ultimately it’s a tradeoff between getting the tickets you want for the best price vs the certainty and convenience of buying resale. Monitor both pending and resale listings carefully when deciding.
Conclusion
When you see tickets marked as “pending” on Ticketmaster, it means the event was recently announced but important details like prices and seating options are still being finalized before sales can begin. Pending tickets serve as placeholders that let you sign up for sale alerts, but they cannot be purchased directly until they officially go onsale.
It’s normal for Ticketmaster listings to show as pending for hours, days, or sometimes weeks after being initially posted. Signing up for alerts gives you the best chance at getting great seats the moment they become available. High demand shows can sell out incredibly fast once pending sales start, so staying vigilant is key.
