Quick Answer
There are a few main reasons why you might get a message on Ticketmaster saying your tickets aren’t available yet:
- The tickets are for a show that hasn’t gone on sale yet. Ticketmaster sometimes lists events ahead of the on-sale date, but you can’t purchase tickets until the specified on-sale time.
- The tickets are for a presale event. Oftentimes tickets are made available through presales before the general public on-sale. You need a special presale code to access tickets during the presale window.
- The tickets are for a show that already went on sale, but all the tickets are currently reserved in other shopping carts. Tickets don’t get removed from the available inventory until the reserved time expires or the purchaser completes/cancels checkout.
- There is extremely high demand and not enough ticket inventory. Popular shows will sometimes sell out instantly when they go on sale.
If you’re seeing the “tickets not available yet” message even though the event is supposed to be on sale, try refreshing the page, using a different browser or device, or contacting Ticketmaster customer service. The issue may just be a technical error on Ticketmaster’s end.
When Do Tickets Go On Sale on Ticketmaster?
The timing of when tickets go on sale on Ticketmaster can vary greatly depending on the event. Here are some of the factors that influence the on-sale date and time:
- Artist or team schedule: The on-sale date revolves around when the artist, sports team, etc. announces their tour, game schedule, or other event dates.
- Venue schedule: The venue also needs time to coordinate and schedule their calendar around the event.
- Promoter coordination: The concert promoter or other event organizer needs time to plan all the details and logistics.
- Release of new album or other projects: On-sale dates usually coincide closely with an album release or major project reveal by the artist.
- Holidays and weekends: On-sale dates are often set for Fridays or the day after holidays to avoid issues with high customer service demand.
- Pre-announced presales: Popular events will have presale windows starting 1-7 days before the general on-sale.
In general, on-sale dates are announced 1 week to 1 month in advance. But it varies case-by-case. Be sure to check the event page periodically if you don’t see an on-sale date already. Ticketmaster will display the exact on-sale date and time as soon as it’s confirmed.
You can also sign up for Ticketmaster’s email or text alerts for your favorite teams, venues, and artists to get notified when new shows are announced and tickets go on sale.
What Does “Awaiting Tickets” Mean on Ticketmaster?
If you try to access tickets on Ticketmaster and get a message saying “Awaiting Tickets” rather than a seating chart, it means:
- The on-sale hasn’t started yet – OR –
- The initial on-sale inventory has sold out
“Awaiting Tickets” is essentially Ticketmaster’s way of saying the event doesn’t have any ticket inventory available for purchase at the moment.
Reasons you may see the “Awaiting Tickets” message when trying to buy tickets include:
- The presale hasn’t started yet. Check back at the advertised presale time.
- The general on-sale date hasn’t happened yet. Make note of the public on-sale date and time.
- The entire initial allotment sold out instantly. Check back for more ticket releases later.
- You don’t have the correct presale code needed to unlock ticket access.
- The tickets are designated for fan club members only. You need to be logged into your verified fan account.
- The promoter has set aside tickets for a special auction or promotion.
Oftentimes more tickets will be released later as the event date approaches. But for very popular events, the limited tickets may sell out immediately when sales begin. Having presale access codes and logging in right at the start time gives you the best chance at tickets.
Why Do My Ticketmaster Tickets Say “Not Yet Available”?
Some of the main reasons your Ticketmaster tickets might show up as “not yet available” even though you already purchased them include:
- Delayed delivery: Sellers sometimes choose delayed ticket delivery to prevent resales. Your tickets will be released closer to event.
- Waiting for presale end: All tickets get released at once after the presale window closes.
- Print-at-home option: Your e-ticket option just hasn’t been activated yet by the seller.
- Unused presale allotment: The tickets you purchased get mixed into general on-sale seats.
- Hard tickets mailed out: Physical paper tickets can take 5-10 days to ship.
- Technical error: Sometimes a glitch prevents immediate ticket access, but refresh page.
If your Ticketmaster tickets still say “not available yet” after the event goes on sale publicly, you may need to reach out to the seller or Ticketmaster for assistance. They can investigate why your purchased tickets aren’t accessible yet. But in most cases, it’s just a built-in waiting period before you can access the tickets online or via the app. The tickets are still 100% yours, so no need to worry.
What if Ticketmaster Says “No Tickets Found”?
Some of the common reasons why you might get a “no tickets found” message on Ticketmaster when trying to buy tickets include:
- The tickets went on sale already and all sold out within seconds.
- You don’t have an eligible presale code for accessing tickets currently.
- The presale allotment already sold out, but you’re searching too early before on-sale.
- Scalpers used bots to buy up tickets faster than average users could.
- You didn’t click exactly at the specified on-sale time and missed out.
- Ticketmaster’s site is glitching and having technical difficulties.
- The event was canceled or postponed by the artist or promoters.
If an event is highly anticipated, those limited first tickets often sell out nearly instantly. Your best bet is to keep checking back for more ticket releases in the following days or weeks leading up to the event. Promoters and artists will sometimes release extra production holds and other ticket allotments over time.
Signing up for presales also gives you early ticket buying access before the general public on-sale. Just make sure to log in and search right at the specified presale time for the greatest availability.
How Do Ticketmaster Presales Work?
Ticketmaster presales give purchasers early access to tickets before the general on-sale date. Here are some key things to know:
- You’ll need a special presale code or link to access tickets.
- Presales typically begin 1-7 days before public on-sale.
- There is a limited allotment of tickets set aside for presales.
- Multiple presales may overlap for the same event.
- Presale tickets cannot be purchased without a code or verified account.
- Code registration doesn’t guarantee you’ll get presale tickets.
Ways to get Ticketmaster presale codes:
- Join artist fan clubs or mailing lists
- Sign up for Live Nation’s Verified Fan platform
- Have an American Express card (for some events)
- Purchase a VIP experience package
- Get special code via certain radio stations or sponsors
Timing is critical for presales. Log in right at the beginning of the posted presale window and be ready to search for your tickets quickly. The limited allotments tend to sell out fast.
Why Do My Ticketmaster Tickets Say “Pending”?
If your Ticketmaster order confirmation says “Pending” instead of “Confirmed” next to the ticket status, it typically means:
- Your tickets are still being processed and verified.
- Your payment is still being finalized and authorized.
- Tickets are awaiting release from the distributor/client.
- Your order hasn’t passed fraud and risk checks yet.
A “pending” status is common right after placing an order as Ticketmaster works behind the scenes to complete the transaction. Things like verification steps, processing time, delivery method, and client ticket release schedules can impact when an order changes from “pending” to “confirmed.”
If your Ticketmaster tickets remain stuck in “pending” status for more than an hour after ordering, it could signal:
- There was suspicious activity detected on purchase.
- Your payment method was declined or insufficient.
- Your account is brand new and under added scrutiny.
- You ordered more tickets than allowed by the client.
Reach out to Ticketmaster customer service for help if your “pending” tickets don’t eventually process to “confirmed.” Most pending orders process through within minutes successfully.
What Does “Verified Resale Ticket” Mean on Ticketmaster?
When you see “Verified Resale” on Ticketmaster tickets, it means:
- The tickets are being resold through Ticketmaster’s official resale marketplace.
- The tickets were originally purchased from Ticketmaster primary sales.
- Ticketmaster has verified the tickets are genuine and legitimate.
- Prices often exceed face value since these are resale tickets.
- Sellers can set their own markup prices on resale tickets.
Ticketmaster developed their Verified Resale program to give fans a safer, more secure option for reselling and buying secondhand tickets. It helps cut down on fraud compared to third party resellers.
Some key protections with Verified Resale tickets:
- Tickets are 100% guaranteed valid for event entry.
- All purchases are backed by Ticketmaster’s FanProtect Guarantee.
- Tickets are instantly downloadable or available for express delivery.
- Tickets can be listed for free (or small commission fee).
- Tickets are often cheaper than scalper sites like StubHub.
While prices are inflated compared to face value, Verified Resale gives you peace of mind knowing your tickets are legitimate and come with buyer protections. The platform helps cut down on fans getting ripped off by scalpers.
How Does the Ticketmaster Waiting Room Work?
For extremely high demand events, Ticketmaster utilizes a virtual “Waiting Room” system to stagger and control the flow of users accessing tickets. Here’s how it works:
- Fans join a digital “line” prior to the on-sale time.
- Ticketmaster’s servers randomly select users to enter the ticket buying area.
- Only a limited number of users are granted ticket access at a time.
- Once your turn is up, you have a set time limit to shop for tickets.
- The Waiting Room shows your estimated wait time as you progress through the queue.
The Waiting Room is designed to mitigate ticket buying issues like:
- Website crashes from too many users at once.
- Sold out events within seconds.
- Unfair advantages from bots, scalpers, etc.
The virtual queue system randomly assigns users a place in line on a first come, first served basis. Your spot is held even if you lose connectivity. Once inside, you have a fair shot at buying tickets before the next users enter.
The Waiting Room doesn’t guarantee tickets though. For super high demand shows, tickets still tend to sell out extremely quickly. It just prevents the instantaneous sell outs by regulating traffic flow.
Conclusion
In summary, some of the common reasons you may get messages on Ticketmaster saying tickets aren’t available yet or can’t be found include presales not starting, incredibly high demand, insufficient ticket inventory, technical errors, improper presale codes, and expedited sellouts to scalpers.
Always check back later for more ticket releases in the weeks leading up to an event. Sign up for presales and be ready to log in right as they begin to get the best access. Understand that popular shows will still sell out fast, so persistence and good timing is key. Lastly, reach out to customer service if you have issues accessing valid tickets you already purchased.