Hamilton, Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Tony award-winning musical, has taken the world by storm since its Broadway debut in 2015. With record-breaking sales and packed houses night after night, getting tickets to see Hamilton, especially in major cities like New York and Chicago, can be extremely difficult and expensive.
However, just because Hamilton is sold out in big cities doesn’t mean you have to pay exorbitant prices to see it. If you’re willing to travel a bit, there are plenty of cheaper cities and touring productions where you can experience Hamilton for a fraction of the cost of Broadway or Chicago tickets.
Why are Hamilton tickets so expensive in major cities?
There are a few key reasons why Hamilton tickets command such high prices in major hub cities like New York and Chicago:
- High demand – Hamilton has been consistently sold out and playing to capacity audiences since its debut. There simply aren’t enough seats in theaters to accommodate the incredible demand.
- Limited engagements – When Hamilton comes to big cities, it’s usually for a limited 3-6 month engagement as part of a touring production. This scarcity drives up prices.
- Resale market – People snap up as many Hamilton tickets as they can and resell them at a huge markup. Sites like StubHub allow price gouging.
- Premium seating – The best seats in major city venues come at premium prices, often over $400 per ticket.
These factors combine to drive the average price of a Hamilton ticket in New York or Chicago well over $200-300. For a family of four, it can easily cost $1,000 or more for decent seats at a major market Hamilton performance.
Where can you find cheaper Hamilton tickets?
While Hamilton in NYC or Chicago will cost you an arm and a leg, there are many cheaper cities, touring productions, and options where you can see the show for much less. Here are some of the best places to find affordable Hamilton tickets:
Look for touring productions
Once Hamilton finishes up its initial 6-12 month run in major cities, touring productions take the show to many smaller cities around the country. Hamilton’s national touring productions have stopped in many cities like Denver, Indianapolis, Cleveland, Providence, Milwaukee, and more.
Because these cities don’t have quite the same population size and tourism as NYC/Chicago, Hamilton tickets for the touring productions are much more affordable. Where you might pay $250+ per ticket in Chicago, you can often find tickets in touring cities for $100-150 instead.
Buy direct from the box office
Always check the official box office first before looking at resellers like StubHub. Box office prices are almost always cheaper than the marked-up resale sites. You can also often buy discounted tickets directly from the box office by:
- Getting obstructed view seats – Sitting behind a pillar or with a partial view cuts cost.
- Buying day-of tickets – Try your luck buying tickets day-of at the box office for short lines or last-minute seats.
- Entering lotteries – Many productions offer day-of lotteries for cheap tickets.
- Rush tickets – In NYC, rush tickets let you buy seats at a huge discount 1-2 hours before showtime.
See a non-Equity touring production
There are often two touring productions of Hamilton making their way around smaller cities – an Equity production with Broadway actors and a non-Equity production with local actors. The non-Equity version is just as great of a show but features less famous performers, allowing them to offer cheaper ticket prices. You can often see the non-Equity Hamilton for $60-100 per ticket.
What are the cheapest cities to see Hamilton as of October 2023?
Based on currently scheduled productions and average ticket prices, below are some of the cheapest metro areas to see Hamilton as of October 2023:
City | Average Ticket Price |
---|---|
Des Moines, IA | $130 |
New Orleans, LA | $140 |
Omaha, NE | $150 |
Las Vegas, NV | $165 |
San Antonio, TX | $175 |
As you can see, you can find Hamilton tickets for under $200 in many mid-sized cities that touring productions visit. Rather than forking over $400+ for a ticket in NYC, you could see the same show for $150 or less by heading to a cheaper Hamilton city.
How to find the best Hamilton ticket deals
If you’re set on seeing Hamilton for the cheapest price possible, follow these tips:
Time it right
See Hamilton at the beginning or end of a touring production’s run in a city when there is the least demand. Opening month and closing 1-2 weeks often have the best deals.
Shop early
Get your Hamilton tickets as soon as sales open to the public to take advantage of the initial supply. Waiting until last minute may mean paying more premium prices.
Plan for a weekday
Aim to see Hamilton midweek when most people are working. Fridays/Saturdays are the most in-demand (and expensive) show nights.
Buy obstructed view
Obstructed view seats let you see the show at a steep discount of sometimes 50% or more compared to a standard ticket.
Enter lotteries
Many productions offer online and in-person lotteries for cheap seats. You can enter every day for a chance to win $10 front row tickets.
Wait for discounts
Specific promotions like student, military, senior, or other discounts can chop 10-40% off Hamilton tickets too.
Conclusion
While Hamilton remains one of the toughest tickets to find in cities like NYC and Chicago, you don’t have to break the bank to experience the magic of the show. By traveling to cheaper cities on the touring route, buying direct from the box office, timing your trip right, and being flexible, you can find Hamilton tickets for as low as $100-200 per seat. With the right planning and research, you can see one of Broadway’s biggest blockbusters for an affordable price.