The Eras Tour was Adele’s fourth concert tour, in support of her fourth studio album 30. It began on July 1, 2022 in Hyde Park, London and is set to conclude in March 2023 in Perth, Australia. The tour is Adele’s first in over 5 years, following her Adele Live 2016/17 tour.
The Eras Tour is notable for having some of the most expensive ticket prices ever for a concert tour. Prices have ranged from around $200 USD for nosebleed seats to over $30,000 USD for VIP packages. This has sparked criticism from some fans who feel the high prices make attending impossible for your average fan.
Most Expensive Eras Tour Tickets
The most expensive general admission Eras Tour tickets have been in the range of $2000-$3000 USD. For example, some floor seats at her shows in London’s Hyde Park and Las Vegas were priced around $3000.
However, the truly most expensive Eras Tour tickets are the VIP packages offered. These packages include amenities like premium seating, exclusive pre-show receptions, backstage tours, and gifts. Prices for these packages have gone as high as:
- $30,000 USD – For the “Ultimate VIP Experience” in Las Vegas which included a backstage tour and meet & greet with Adele herself.
- $25,000 USD – For a VIP package in Miami that featured front row seats and access to an exclusive pre-show lounge.
- $15,000 USD – For a VIP “Golden Circle” package in London which had early entry, a glass of champagne, and posh amenities.
So while the regular concert tickets are pricey, it’s really the VIP amenities that drive the overall ticket prices into record-setting territory. These over-the-top packages with once in a lifetime access and experiences are what makes the Eras Tour’s tickets the most expensive ever.
Why Are the Tickets So Expensive?
There are a few key factors that have driven up prices for the Eras Tour:
High Demand
Adele has not toured since 2016 and fans are eager to see her live show, especially with it being her first tour for her new album 30. Her popularity and scarcity of tour dates meant demand immediately outstripped supply when tickets went on sale.
Limited Capacity Venues
Many of the venues Adele is playing have relatively intimate capacities of only 15,000-20,000 people. Smaller venues mean fewer available seats, which drives up prices via scarcity.
Production Costs
Adele’s shows feature lavish, large-scale production values with complex stage designs and pyrotechnics. The overhead costs to fund this ambitious production are passed onto ticket buyers.
Dynamic Pricing
Ticket prices actually started quite low when originally announced. However, the tour is using variable or “dynamic” pricing which means prices adjust higher or lower based on demand. The huge demand caused prices to skyrocket from the initial range.
VIP Add-Ons
As mentioned, the ultra-expensive ticket prices are largely driven by VIP upgrades like meet & greets, after parties, exclusive lounges, early entry, and other high-end perks. These premium add-ons raise the overall ticket prices.
How Do Prices Compare Historically?
The Eras Tour features some of the most expensive concert tickets in recent memory, outpacing prices for other major pop artists today. Here’s how it compares to other recent large tours:
| Artist | Tour | Year | Average Ticket Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adele | Eras Tour | 2022 | $600+ |
| Bruce Springsteen | Springsteen on Broadway | 2017 | $500+ |
| Taylor Swift | Reputation Tour | 2018 | $300 |
| Beyoncé | Formation World Tour | 2016 | $250 |
As you can see, the average Eras Tour ticket price exceeds other major concert tours from artists like Bruce Springsteen, Taylor Swift, and Beyoncé. The premium VIP ticket packages drive the prices up even higher.
However, the Eras Tour tickets are not the most expensive ever in absolute terms. For example, tickets for Michael Jackson’s HIStory World Tour in 1996 averaged around $100, which would be over $175 in today’s dollars due to inflation. Similarly, the average ticket for The Rolling Stones’ Steel Wheels Tour in 1989 was around $70, or over $150 today.
So while the Eras Tour features some of the priciest tickets in modern history, tours in decades past could carry even higher relative prices when accounting for inflation over time. Adele’s ticket prices are eye-popping by today’s standards but have precedents from earlier eras.
Conclusion
To summarize key points:
- The most expensive general admission Eras Tour tickets have been $2000-$3000 USD.
- The priciest tickets are VIP packages ranging from $15,000 to $30,000.
- High demand, limited venues, production costs, and VIP add-ons are driving up prices.
- On average, Eras Tour tickets are more expensive than other recent major tours.
- But in absolute terms, other classic tours had higher relative prices when adjusted for inflation.
While the Eras Tour features unprecedented modern ticket prices, especially for VIP packages, the cost reflects Adele’s status as one of the most popular artists in the world. For the fans that can afford tickets, the Eras Tour promises to be a once-in-a-lifetime experience seeing Adele perform her biggest hits live and in-person.
