The face value of a concert ticket refers to the original price printed on the ticket by the venue or event organizer. This is the base price established for that particular seat or section before any additional fees or dynamic pricing are applied. Understanding face value gives consumers a reference point for assessing the real costs and value of tickets being resold on the secondary market.
What Does Face Value Mean for Concert Tickets?
When venues and artists first release tickets for a concert, they will set prices based on the seating sections, demand, and other factors. The price you see advertised right when tickets go on sale is generally the face value price. This original ticket price determined by the venue/artist does not include any extra processing fees or service charges added during the purchase process.
The face value gives the baseline cost before third-party vendors like Ticketmaster or AXS add on their own fees. It represents what the venue/artist alone is charging for that seat before any upcharges. While the final price paid probably includes some fees, consumers should still reference the face value when evaluating if a ticket resale price seems fair or not.
Key Points on Face Value of Tickets:
- It is the base price set by the venue/artist before fees.
- Extra processing fees are added on top of face value during checkout.
- It provides a reference point for judging prices on secondary markets.
- The real final cost almost always ends up higher than face value.
How is Face Value Determined for Concerts?
Venues and event organizers set initial ticket face values based on a few key factors:
1. Seating Location
Front row seats or VIP sections will have a higher face value than seats in the back or in the upper levels. Prime locations closest to the stage generally command higher prices. The face value will scale based on seat quality and demand.
2. Venue Size
Larger venues with more seating capacity tend to have lower face values, while more intimate venues may have higher values per seat. A club show may be priced higher than a large arena concert, in part due to supply and demand.
3. Artist Popularity
In-demand performers with devoted fanbases can charge higher face values and still sell out shows. Lesser known acts often have lower face values to attract fairweather or new fans to get seats filled.
4. Production Costs
Concerts with elaborate lighting, effects, and staging will factor those production expenses into the ticket face values. Big spectacle shows sometimes set benchmark pricing due to the scale of the event.
5. Market Factors
If a tour announcement coincides with a new album release, merchandise launch, or other promotion, artists may strategically price high to capitalize on the surge in interest. Likewise, massive hype and press coverage will allow higher face value pricing.
Typical Face Value Range for Concert Tickets
While every event sets its own pricing structure, below are some averages for major concert tours at both stadium and club venues:
| Venue Type | Face Value Range |
|---|---|
| Major Stadium/Arena | $50 – $500+ |
| Amphitheater | $35 – $125 |
| Theater | $25 – $100 |
| Clubs | $10 – $50 |
These ranges account for all seat locations – front floor seats and lower sections will hit the higher end, while upper decks and behind the stage spots come in at lower face values. Premium VIP packages frequently exceed $500.
How Face Value Compares to Resale Market Prices
Once tickets sell out from the official box office, they often end up posted on secondary markets like StubHub, VividSeats, or Ticketmaster Resale. Sellers will list tickets for amounts above face value to turn a profit.
Some common examples of resale markups:
- Nosebleed seats with a $50 face value reselling for $75-$100
- $100 face value floor tickets reselling for $150-$200+
- $500 VIP face value packages reselling for $800-$1000+
For especially hot shows, resale prices can be listed for many multiples above face value. While fans may pay above face for hard-to-get seats, comparing the original cost set by the venue provides a gauge if secondary prices are fairly aligned or exorbitantly inflated.
Why Face Value Matters
Understanding concert ticket face values gives fans reference points to make informed decisions on the secondary market. Some reasons it matters:
Assess true ticket costs
By knowing the base price before fees, you can better calculate the total out-the-door cost from different sellers.
Avoid extreme markups
Looking at face value helps spot if a reseller is price gouging or inflating prices unreasonably above the original cost.
Compare deals
You can identify legit deals that may actually beat face value. Unsold tickets sometimes get priced below face value near the event date.
Plan budget
Checkout the venue seating chart and face value rates to estimate your total spend before fees.
Estimate ticket limits
For high demand shows with ticket limits, look at lower face values to maximize seats you can buy from the primary onsales.
Ways to Buy Below Face Value
While most primary and resale tickets end up higher than face value due to added fees, fans do have some options to pay below face under certain conditions:
1. Buy during presales
Artist fan club or venue presales sometimes have special low ticket allotments below face value as a perk.
2. Bid on auctions
StubHub, Vivid Seats, and other resale sites run auctions allowing bids lower than current list prices.
3. Check late resale listings
As the event date nears, unsold tickets may get repriced below face value if demand is lagging.
4. Buy obstructed/partial view seats
Tickets with imperfect views or locations sometimes get discounted a bit below face values.
5. Wait for promoter releases
More inventory occasionally gets released by promoters at the last minute for below face to fill seats.
Conclusion
The face value on a concert ticket represents the baseline cost set by venues before additional fees get tacked on. While the final price usually ends up higher than face, knowing the starting point helps fans evaluate true ticket costs. Comparing face values against secondary market prices shields against extreme markups and spotlights good deals. A little face value knowledge goes a long way towards maximizing budgets and minimizing overpaying as a concertgoer.