All-in pricing for concert tickets refers to a pricing model where the advertised ticket price includes all fees and charges upfront. This differs from the more common model where extra fees like service fees, facility fees, and taxes are added at the end of the checkout process, resulting in a higher total cost than the advertised price.
What are the benefits of all-in pricing?
All-in pricing has several benefits for consumers:
- Transparency – Customers know the full cost upfront without hidden fees being added at the end. This makes it easier to stay within budget and know exactly what you’ll pay.
- No surprise costs – There are no unexpected charges added after selecting seats, so the final price is the same as advertised.
- Simplicity – The single advertised price is what you pay. There’s no need to estimate additional fees.
- Easier comparison shopping – When every company includes fees and charges upfront, it’s easier to accurately compare ticket prices across different shows, venues, and ticket sellers.
What are the downsides of all-in pricing?
While all-in pricing has benefits for consumers, there are some potential downsides:
- Higher upfront cost – Because all fees are bundled in, the advertised price is higher than just the ticket face value.
- Consumer confusion – Some consumers may see the higher all-in price and think they are paying more, not realizing it includes fees they’d pay regardless.
- Challenging price comparisons – When tickets have all fees included, they can’t be directly compared to tickets from sellers that add fees later in the process.
Which concert venues and teams currently use all-in pricing?
Currently, a limited but growing number of major concert venues and sports teams have adopted all-in ticket pricing models. Some examples include:
- Los Angeles Dodgers (MLB)
- Cleveland Cavaliers (NBA)
- New Orleans Saints (NFL)
- Baltimore Ravens (NFL)
- Toronto Raptors (NBA)
- Pittsburgh Steelers (NFL)
- T-Mobile Arena (Las Vegas)
- Hollywood Bowl (Los Angeles)
- Red Rocks Amphitheatre (Colorado)
While not yet an industry-wide standard, momentum does seem to be building for more teams and venues to adopt transparent all-in pricing.
How is all-in pricing shown when shopping for tickets?
When a concert or sports team uses all-in ticket pricing, it’s reflected in the advertised price online and on all listings. For example, a ticket page might show:
Coldplay – General Admission: $75.00
Underneath the $75 price, fine print would specify “All fees and taxes included”. This lets shoppers know the advertised price is the full, final amount they will pay if they complete the purchase.
What fees are included in all-in pricing?
While specific policies can vary, most all-in pricing models incorporate some or all of the following fees into the total advertised ticket price:
- Service fees – Online and phone ticket sellers charge this fee to cover costs and make a profit.
- Order processing fees – Similar to service fees, this covers administrative costs.
- Delivery fees – For printed or mobile tickets shipped to purchaser.
- Facility fees – Charged by the venue to cover operations and maintenance.
- City/county entertainment tax – Some jurisdictions levy a special local tax on event tickets.
By baking most or all these fees in upfront, the final price becomes transparent to shoppers early in the evaluation and purchase process.
Does all-in pricing affect seat locations differently?
All-in pricing typically applies the same way across all ticket locations in a venue. Whether it’s VIP floor seats or cheap upper deck seats, the advertised price shown includes all costs.
However, it’s important to note that different seating tiers still have major differences in their underlying base ticket prices. All-in pricing doesn’t change this dynamic. For example:
Seat Location | Base Ticket Price | Fees & Charges | Advertised All-In Price |
---|---|---|---|
VIP Floor | $200 | $50 | $250 |
Upper Level Corner | $60 | $15 | $75 |
While all sections include the full fees in the advertised price, premium seats still have a higher underlying base cost before fees. All-in pricing just simplifies the total customer payment.
Does all-in pricing affect resale tickets?
All-in pricing typically applies only to tickets sold directly by the venue or event owner. On secondary resale sites like StubHub and VividSeats, resellers can still tack on service fees and shipping charges.
However, all-in pricing does impact resale prices indirectly. When a show uses all-in pricing, it suppresses inflated “drip” fees on the primary market. This often leads to lower prices on secondary markets as well.
Is all-in pricing more expensive?
Whether all-in pricing results in higher or lower overall costs depends on several factors:
- Fee policies – Some teams/venues with all-in pricing still have very high fees, so the final price is quite expensive.
- Direct comparisons – Looking at the exact same tickets, all-in pricing does generally result in a higher advertised price than “fees added later” pricing.
- Changes over time – Some teams that adopted all-in pricing didn’t actually raise prices, but bundled existing fees into one flat price.
The reality is often nuanced. But in general, the transparency of all-in pricing exerts downward pressure on fees over time, ultimately creating a better experience for fans.
Does all-in pricing affect season tickets?
All-in pricing mostly impacts single-game direct ticket sales. For season tickets, there are often still many separate charges and fees baked into the total package cost:
- Personal seat licenses
- Ticket fees per game
- Playoff ticket costs
- Season ticket holder benefits
- Seniority and loyalty perks
While teams are increasingly simplifying season ticket packages, most still involveLine itemized costs rather than one all-in price.
How has all-in pricing been received by fans?
Like most major changes, the shift to all-in ticket pricing has had a mixed reception from fans to date:
- Positive – Many appreciate the upfront transparency and not being nickeled-and-dimed during checkout.
- Negative – Some fans dislike seeing higher advertised prices, even if the total cost is the same.
- Skeptical – Some question if fees are actually lower or if teams are just hiding premiums in the all-in price.
- Confused – Others don’t fully understand the model and assume they are paying more.
However, as all-in pricing becomes more widespread, fans are likely to catch on to the benefits and have a more uniformly positive view.
Should I wait to buy tickets if I’m unsure about all-in pricing?
If you’re unsure about all-in pricing, it may be wise to wait before purchasing tickets:
- See if your concerns are addressed as more teams/venues adopt all-in pricing.
- You may have a chance to compare all-in pricing to alternatives for a given event.
- Time will tell if all-in pricing reduces fees/costs industry-wide.
However, if tickets are selling out quickly, you may need to make the best decision you can with limited information.
How can I voice feedback on all-in pricing?
If you have concerns or feedback about a venue or team’s all-in pricing policy, here are some effective ways to make your voice heard:
- Call or email the fan services department with constructive feedback.
- Post thoughtful commentary on the team/venue’s social media pages.
- Speak with fan representatives at games in person.
- Write opinion pieces or letters to local newspapers and media outlets.
- Sign/share fair pricing petitions circulated by fan groups.
Venues want happy fans, so they do pay attention to legitimate concerns voiced through these channels.
Will other fees disappear in the future due to all-in pricing?
It’s unlikely that all ancillary fees and charges will disappear, even with widespread all-in ticket pricing. A few key reasons why:
- Some fees have different business purposes, like split revenue streams.
- Third parties not subject to all-in pricing still have separate fees.
- Credit card transaction costs may remain broken out in some cases.
- As costs rise over time, line items may reappear.
However, all-in pricing does pressure the entertainment industry to streamline fees. Over time, we should expect to see fewer line items and hidden surcharges added during the ticket buying experience.
Does all-in pricing limit my flexibility on changing tickets?
No, all-in pricing typically does not restrict your ability to exchange or upgrade tickets later:
- Any exchange/upgrade fees are unchanged by all-in pricing.
- All-in pricing mainly simplifies the initial ticket purchase.
- Refundability depends more on the event’s general ticket policy.
- You still have the same post-purchase options as before.
Some event tickets have very restrictive policies regardless. But all-in pricing itself does not reduce how changeable your tickets are after buying.
Conclusion
The transition to all-in ticket pricing represents an overdue shift toward transparency and simplicity in event ticketing. While the higher advertised prices may seem jarring at first, ultimately all-in pricing benefits fans by clearly showing the full costs upfront.
As this practice spreads industry-wide, expect to see less fan confusion, fewer hidden fees, and lower overall pressure on prices in the ticket market. Simpler and fairer pricing is a win for everyone.