There are a few possible reasons why you may not be moving forward in the Ticketmaster queue:
High demand for tickets
The most common reason is simply that there is very high demand for the event you are trying to buy tickets for. When a lot of people are trying to buy tickets at the same time, it can take a long time to get through the queue as there are only so many tickets available.
For very popular concerts, sporting events, etc. it’s not uncommon for hundreds of thousands of people to be trying to buy tickets at the same time when they first go on sale. So even if you joined the queue right away, it can still take a very long time to reach the front as you wait for those ahead of you to finish buying.
Bots or scalpers slowing down the queue
Another possibility is that Ticketmaster’s queue system is being slowed down by bots or scalpers trying to buy up large volumes of tickets. Bots are automated programs designed to buy tickets, and scalpers are people who buy up lots of tickets with the intention of reselling them at a higher price.
Both bots and scalpers will often use tricks to get ahead in line, or buy the maximum number of tickets allowed per order. This can bog down the queue system for everyone else trying to buy tickets honestly.
Ticketmaster does try to combat this with CAPTCHA tests and other verification checks on their site. But it’s an ongoing battle, and bots and scalpers still often find ways to overwhelm the queues.
Glitches or errors with the queue system
It’s also possible there are some glitches or errors causing problems with Ticketmaster’s queue system itself. With so many people hitting the website at the same time when tickets go on sale, sometimes technical issues can arise.
Potential problems include:
- The queue freezing and not updating
- People being kicked out of the queue unexpectedly
- Queue position numbers jumping around or going backwards
- Pages timing out or not loading properly
Usually these are just temporary glitches as Ticketmaster’s servers struggle to handle the traffic surge. Reloading or giving it some time often resolves the issues. But it can definitely be frustrating if they cause your queue position to stall out.
Tips for moving through the Ticketmaster queue faster
If you want to try to speed up your place in line, here are some tips that may help:
- Join the queue as soon as tickets go on sale – don’t wait if you want the best shot at getting good tickets
- Use a strong, fast internet connection on a desktop/laptop rather than slower mobile data
- Make sure to disable any ad blockers, as these can sometimes interfere with Ticketmaster’s queue system
- If you get an error or kicked out, reload and get back in queue ASAP before you lose your place
- Be patient and prepared for a long wait – getting through quickly is never guaranteed
Purchasing queue jump or “fast pass” options
For some events, Ticketmaster offers queue jump or “fast pass” options you can purchase to get ahead in line and bypass the regular queues. These will typically let you access tickets before the general public.
Options may include:
- Fan club or artist presales – get first access by joining a fan club or mailing list
- VIP packages – buy a hotel/ticket package that includes queue jump access
- Verified fan presales – register ahead of time to get in early queues
- Credit card presales – some cards offer special presale ticket access
The downside is these can be expensive add-ons compared to regular tickets. But if getting tickets is your top priority, they can greatly speed up the process.
Using alternate sales avenues
Rather than fighting the crowds on Ticketmaster, another option is to look for tickets through alternate sales avenues including:
- The box office at the venue itself – smaller queues and fees often
- The performer’s website – may have own presales and fan clubs
- Resale sites like StubHub – more expensive but skip Ticketmaster queues
- General ticket resale sites like Craigslist, eBay, Facebook
The ticket selection may be more limited, but you’ll likely have an easier time finding tickets without Queue delays. Just be careful to avoid scams on informal resale sites.
Using a ticket broker
Finally, you can always turn to a ticket broker or concierge service to buy tickets on your behalf. These companies employ large teams to get ahead in queues and find tickets even when events are sold out.
Of course, they charge substantial fees for this convenience. But it saves you the headache of battling Ticketmaster yourself, so can be worth it for hard-to-get tickets.
Conclusion
In the end, long waits and stalled queues are unfortunately common when buying highly coveted tickets on Ticketmaster. With so many people vying for limited tickets, delays are inevitable. The best strategies are to join queues right away, troubleshoot any errors quickly, or look into alternate purchase options. While frustrating, being patient and keeping things in perspective is also wise – after all, it’s just concert tickets!
