Ticketmaster has long been one of the primary ways for fans to purchase tickets to concerts, sports events, and other live entertainment. However, in recent years, Ticketmaster has faced backlash for its high fees and lack of transparency in pricing. This has led many fans to look for alternatives when buying tickets.
What fees does Ticketmaster charge?
Ticketmaster charges a variety of fees on top of the base ticket price. These fees can add a significant cost to an event ticket. Some common Ticketmaster fees include:
- Service fees – These range from $5-25 per ticket and are intended to cover Ticketmaster’s operating costs.
- Order processing fees – Around $5 per order to process the ticket purchase.
- Facility charges – Varies per venue to cover maintenance costs.
- Convenience fees – For purchasing tickets online or via phone instead of in-person.
- Shipping fees – For mailing physical tickets, typically $5-$25 per order.
These fees can add anywhere from 15-40% onto the base price. For high demand events where resellers are selling tickets at a premium, Ticketmaster fees can make tickets even more expensive.
Why do people dislike Ticketmaster?
The primary reason fans dislike Ticketmaster is the high additional fees added onto ticket purchases. These fees are not always transparent upfront during the buying process. Some other common complaints about Ticketmaster include:
- Hidden fees – Extra fees seem to pop up at the last step of checkout.
- Lack of price competition – There are no alternatives on Ticketmaster to find better ticket prices.
- Difficulty getting good seats – The best seats sell out instantly to resellers.
- Technical issues – Website crashes and errors during big sales.
- Poor customer service – Long wait times and unhelpful representatives.
These pain points leave many customers feeling frustrated with Ticketmaster as the dominant ticketing provider.
What are some Ticketmaster alternatives?
Here are a few popular alternatives fans use instead of Ticketmaster:
Ticketmaster Alternative | Key Features |
---|---|
AXS | Owned by AEG, good for concerts at AEG venues. Lower fees than Ticketmaster. |
Etobo | Ticket exchange and resale marketplace. Avoid fees by buying from other fans. |
SeatGeek | Comparison shopping for best ticket deal. Integrates listings from multiple sellers. |
VividSeats | Resale marketplace. Large inventory of tickets being resold by users. |
StubHub | One of the largest ticket resale marketplaces. Charges lower fees than Ticketmaster. |
TickPick | Resale marketplace with no service fees added onto ticket prices. |
These alternatives provide more options for finding affordable tickets from regular fans and brokers, not just directly from Ticketmaster.
Should I stop using Ticketmaster altogether?
For some of the most popular events, it may be difficult to avoid Ticketmaster altogether, as they are exclusive ticket sellers. However, it is worth exploring alternatives when possible to avoid high fees and find better deals.
Here are some tips for minimizing Ticketmaster usage:
- Check venue box office – Buy direct to avoid fees.
- Buy group tickets – Splitting fees across more tickets reduces costs.
- Try fan ticket exchanges – Connect with sellers directly instead of 3rd party.
- Consider season passes – Bundles and memberships can lower per-ticket costs.
With some effort, you may be able to purchase 50-75% of event tickets each year from non-Ticketmaster sources. While occasional Ticketmaster fees may be unavoidable, reducing usage can lead to significant savings.
Which Ticketmaster alternative is best?
The best Ticketmaster alternative depends on your priorities when buying tickets.
Best For | Recommendation |
---|---|
Lowest fees | Venue box office, TickPick |
Last minute tickets | StubHub, VividSeats, SeatGeek |
Popular concerts | AXS, SeatGeek |
Sports events | VividSeats, StubHub |
Hard-to-get tickets | Premium resale marketplaces like StubHub |
AXS and SeatGeek tend to have strong general purpose ticketing options to cover both concerts and sports. But exploring venue-specific options can also uncover good Ticketmaster alternatives in your local market.
Is Ticketmaster being disrupted?
Ticketmaster still dominates ticketing in North America with 80% market share or more. However, there are signs of growing competition:
- More venues offering direct ticket sales – For example, Madison Square Garden now sells directly to fans instead of outsourcing to Ticketmaster.
- European ticketing innovators expanding in US – Sites like Dice are bringing fee-free booking to concerts.
- Sports leagues exploring other options – The NFL chose Ticketmaster competitor TicketSmarter in 2019 to boost competition.
- More competitive pressure from resale sites – As secondary markets grow, teams and venues seek alternatives to capture more value.
While disruption is gradual, Ticketmaster may adapt by offering more dynamic pricing and transparency to match competition. It also faces PR pressure to improve the fan experience and avoid bad press on high fees.
What does the future hold for Ticketmaster?
In the next 3-5 years, experts predict Ticketmaster will:
- Roll out more dynamic pricing models – Pricing tickets based on real-time demand.
- 面 more competition from regional providers – Smaller players chip away market share.
- Improve mobile ticket transferability – Digital ticketing reduces friction vs. paper tickets.
- Offer broader bundled offerings – VIP packages, NFTs, and more to capture additional revenue.
- Expand globally – Growth in Asia, Latin America as live events recover from COVID-19.
However, in the long run, the combination of professional sports team owners and major venue operators may lobby for a single transparent ticketing marketplace without exclusive deals. This would force Ticketmaster to be just one selling option among many competitors. While change is slow, the days of Ticketmaster dominating the entire live event ticketing industry likely have an expiration date.
Conclusion
Ticketmaster has a well-entrenched position as the primary ticket seller for major concerts, sports, and entertainment events. However, fans have multiple alternative ticketing options that can help avoid high Ticketmaster fees and gain more control over the ticket buying experience. While exclusive deals still give Ticketmaster a large market share, competitors are innovating and applying competitive pressure that will likely force Ticketmaster to adapt its business model over time. By being informed and selective in ticket purchases, fans can find ways to reduce costs despite Ticketmaster’s dominant position in the industry.