Why does Ticketmaster say couldn’t find tickets?

There are a few common reasons why you might see the message “Sorry, we couldn’t find any tickets that meet your requirements” when searching for tickets on Ticketmaster.

The event is sold out

The most obvious explanation is that the event you are trying to buy tickets for is completely sold out. This means all tickets have been purchased and there are none left available for sale. Some major concerts, sporting events, and other hot ticket items will sell out very quickly, especially if the event has limited capacity.

Ways to get tickets for a sold out event

If you see the “couldn’t find tickets” message because the event is sold out, here are some things you can try:

• Check back later – More tickets may be released over time as the event date approaches.
• Try reseller sites – Sites like StubHub or VividSeats may have tickets being resold by other fans.
• Look for ticket giveaways – Radio stations, sponsors, etc. may do ticket giveaways you can enter.
• Go to the box office – Some tickets are held back from online sales to be sold at the venue box office.
• Get on the waitlist – Some events offer waitlists you can join in case more tickets are released.

No matches for your search filters

Another reason you might see the “couldn’t find tickets” message is if the search filters you specified returned zero available ticket options. For example:

• Searching for a specific seat or section that is sold out.
• Trying to buy large groups of tickets (6+ seats together).
• Looking for front row or VIP tickets that are not available.
• Setting a min/max price filter that’s too narrow.

Try broadening your search criteria. Leave filters like specific seats or sections blank, search for fewer tickets if buying a group, and expand your price range. This increases the chances of finding ticket options.

Tips for flexible search filters

When searching Ticketmaster, keep these tips in mind:

• Leave the quantity filter blank – Let the system find any number of tickets.
• Don’t specify section or row – Keep it open unless you only want certain seats.
• Use a wide price range – Like $50 min and $500 max.
• Avoid platinum or VIP only – Unless you really need those luxury tickets.
• Open up zone filters – Such as “anywhere in arena” instead of lower level only.

Issues with your Ticketmaster account

Problems with your Ticketmaster account could also lead to issues finding or purchasing tickets. Here are some potential account problems:

• Cookies/cache: Clear your browser cookies and cache and try again. Outdated cookies can cause errors.
• Wrong region: Ensure your Ticketmaster account matches the region/country you are trying to buy tickets in.
• Verification needed: You may need to re-verify your Ticketmaster account by entering a code or digits from a text.
• Too many devices: Ticketmaster limits how many devices can be logged into one account simultaneously.
• Blacklisted account: Accounts believed to violate Ticketmaster’s terms can be blacklisted from purchasing.

Logging out and back into your Ticketmaster account, using a different account, or contacting Ticketmaster support may help resolve these kinds of issues.

High demand for a popular event

For extremely popular concerts, games, and other live events, tickets will sell out incredibly fast. We’re talking seconds in some cases. This is because demand drastically outpaces supply for the hottest events that everyone wants to attend. Here are some examples of events that will likely sell out in seconds:

• Major music artists like Taylor Swift, Beyonce, or Bruce Springsteen on tour.
• The Super Bowl, World Cup, and other championship sporting events.
• Theater performances like Hamilton, Wicked, etc. in major cities.
• Comic Con, anime conventions, and similar pop culture events.

If you try searching for tickets to events like these right when they go on sale, it’s very common to immediately see the “couldn’t find tickets” result on Ticketmaster. The initial allotment of tickets sells out instantly to all the other fans vying for seats. Your best bet is to try again later as some tickets are released over time.

Tips for buying hot event tickets

When trying to purchase tickets for extremely popular live events that sell out quickly, keep these tips in mind:

• Get online ahead of time – Be signed into Ticketmaster early and ready to search.
• Keep trying – Don’t give up after the first “no tickets” result.
• Be flexible – You may need to accept any tickets just to get in.
• Use pre-sales – Take advantage of fan club or credit card pre-sales when available.
• Try other sellers – Don’t rely only on Ticketmaster.

Persistence and flexibility are key when dealing with hot ticket items. The more open you are on dates, seats, and sellers, the better chance you have of eventually grabbing tickets.

Bots scooping up tickets

There is increasing frustration over the use of ticket buying bots that purchase up huge blocks of tickets the moment they go on sale. This leaves few if any tickets for regular fans to buy through Ticketmaster. Professional scalpers and resellers use these bots to buy popular tickets in bulk:

• Bots automatically search for and buy tickets much faster than a human user can.
• Hundreds or thousands of ticket requests can be made simultaneously.
• TICKET BOT ACTIVITY

As you can see from this table, massive percentages of tickets for high-demand events are scooped up immediately by bots. This leaves few if any tickets for regular fans to purchase when the tickets first go on sale.

Remedies being explored for bots

Ticketmaster, venues, artists, and legislators are all exploring ways to combat bots and get more tickets into the hands of actual fans. Some remedies being considered include:

• Technology like CAPTCHA to identify bots.
• Limits on number of tickets one person can buy.
• Cancelling suspected scalper or bot purchases.
• Making more tickets available through fan club pre-sales.
• New laws prohibiting ticket bot use.

Unfortunately bots remain a significant challenge today when trying to buy popular tickets. Keep trying if you get a “no tickets found” message right away – more inventory may be released over time.

Network connection issues

In some cases, you may get the “couldn’t find tickets” result due to a problem with your internet connection or Ticketmaster’s servers when you search. Here are some potential network-related causes:

• Poor wifi or mobile signal – Can’t connect properly to Ticketmaster.
• Browser problems – Try a different browser if one isn’t working.
• High traffic – Ticketmaster servers overloaded when tickets go on sale.
• Website glitches – Buggy code or other tech issues on Ticketmaster’s end.

If you suspect your “no tickets found” error is due to a network or technical problem, here are some steps you can try:

1. Refresh the page or restart your browser.
2. Clear browser cookies, cache, and history.
3. Try a different browser like Chrome, Firefox, Safari.
4. Switch wifi networks or use mobile data.
5. Test your connection speed at speedtest.net.
6. Wait a few minutes then search again – could be temporary issue.

A little patience combined with troubleshooting your network connection or browser may help resolve transient technical issues that prevent you from searching tickets successfully on Ticketmaster.

Ticketmaster app problems

In addition to using Ticketmaster.com on a desktop browser, many fans use the Ticketmaster app on iOS or Android when buying tickets. Technical issues with the app could lead to problems finding and purchasing tickets. Here are some potential mobile app issues:

• Outdated app version – Update to the latest version of the app.
• App coding errors – Glitches in the app’s software.
• Overloaded servers – Too much traffic when hot tickets go on sale.
• Incorrect app configuration – Wrong country, currency etc. set.

If you encounter the “couldn’t find tickets” message while using the Ticketmaster mobile app, here are some troubleshooting tips:

1. Force quit and restart the app.
2. Update app to latest version from the App Store.
3. Delete and reinstall the app fresh.
4. Double check app region/currency settings.
5. Try again later when server traffic is lower.
6. Switch to desktop browser instead of app.

Issues with the Ticketmaster app that prevent ticket searches can often be resolved by restarting, updating, reinstalling, or changing settings in the app. Using Ticketmaster.com on a desktop or mobile browser is also an option.

What to do if you can’t get tickets

Despite your best efforts, there will be times when you still end up empty-handed after trying to buy hot tickets. If you run into the “couldn’t find tickets” message, all hope of getting into the event is not lost. Here are some final options to try:

• Ticket exchanges – Sites like StubHub, VividSeats, SeatGeek, etc. often have tickets being resold.
• Social media searches – Look for fans selling extra tickets in Facebook Groups or Reddit communities.
• Ticket drop boxes – Some teams/artists release last-minute tickets this way.
• Wait in line – You can sometimes get unclaimed tickets right as the doors open.
• Find a simulcast – Look for movie theater or bar showings of the event.

While scoring tickets through the initial Ticketmaster sale is ideal, persistence and creativity may pay off in finding another way into sold out and high demand events.

Final tips

Here are a few final tips when dealing with the dreaded “couldn’t find tickets” message on Ticketmaster:

• Don’t give up – Keep checking back for newly released seats and blocks.
• Be flexible – Take whatever tickets you can get or look for other dates.
• Use multiple devices – Have friends/family search too.
• Try other sellers – Don’t rely only on Ticketmaster.
• Have backups – Look for backup events/activities in case you can’t get tickets.

Conclusion

Seeing the “couldn’t find tickets” or similar messages when trying to purchase tickets on Ticketmaster can certainly be frustrating. But hope isn’t completely lost. By understanding the many potential causes for this message, you can troubleshoot issues and try different approaches to still try to get seats to your desired event. With persistence, flexibility, and some tips like pre-sales and reseller exchanges on your side, there’s still a fighting chance!