It’s a question that often comes up when tickets for popular concerts or events go on sale – will Ticketmaster release more seats after the initial onsale? The short answer is sometimes yes, but it depends on the event. Here’s a quick look at some of the key factors that determine whether or not more tickets will be released over time.
Dynamic Pricing and Platinum Tickets
Many major concerts and events now use dynamic pricing, meaning ticket prices can fluctuate over time based on demand. When an event first goes on sale, prices are generally set at a lower “face value” cost. If demand is high, prices will increase leading up to the event. Dynamic pricing also opens up the possibility of last minute ticket releases at elevated “platinum” prices.
So even if an event initially sells out, Ticketmaster may release more tickets for sale at higher price points. These platinum tickets are essentially a way for the artist and promoters to capture more revenue from fans willing to pay more as the event draws near. The number of platinum tickets available can vary greatly depending on the event.
Production Holds
Venues will often hold back some seats when tickets first go on sale. These production holds are retained for things like staging, equipment, crew, the artist’s guests, etc. As the event plans firm up, some of these production holds may get released as tickets if they are no longer needed for those purposes.
The number of production holds can vary drastically – an intimate club show may only have a handful, while a massive stadium tour may have a couple thousand seats held back. Bigger tours tend to have more production needs, so having more tickets freed up from holds is more likely.
Sellouts and Near Sellouts
If an event completely sells out, obviously no more tickets will be released unless the artist and promoters make a decision to add more seats. Even for shows that come close to selling out, the number of possible ticket releases goes down. Venues are less likely to release holds unless they’re confident they can sell the newly opened seats.
On the other hand, if an event still has a large number of unsold seats, venues and promoters will be more motivated to put tickets back into the market if they can do so. Releasing holds is a tactic to improve sales.
Venue Size and Layout
The size and layout of a venue can impact how many tickets get released over time. Smaller venues have less wiggle room. Releasing a few dozen seats from holds may not make sense if it doesn’t meaningfully boost sales or revenue.
Larger venues like arenas and stadiums have more seats to work with. They can free up hundreds or thousands of seats from holds if needed. Unique layouts also come into play – some stadiums can “open up” more sections or rotate stage setups to add seats.
Artist and Promoter Decisions
Ultimately the artist and concert promoters decide how many tickets are available and when. If releasing more seats strategically can increase profitability, they are likely to do so. If demand is still very high leading up to the event date, the financial motivation becomes lower.
Established artists with lots of ticket buying fans can pretty safely release seats over time without sacrificing demand. Up-and-coming acts have less leeway. Promoters also analyze sales patterns from previous tours to determine the best timing and volume for seat releases.
When Are Added Tickets Released?
If more tickets do get released, when does it happen? It varies from event to event, but there are some general windows:
- Immediately after the initial onsale – unsold tickets get put back on the market
- A few weeks or months after the public onsale – seats freed up from holds
- Right as the event approaches – last minute platinum seats at higher prices
Promoters and venues don’t want to flood the market too quickly, as that could negatively impact prices. Tickets are often released in batches over a period of time leading up to the date.
Buying Resale Tickets
Fans who missed out on tickets initially shouldn’t wait around hoping more seats will be released. There’s no guarantee it will happen. Buying resale tickets from verified sellers on sites like Ticketmaster is often the best way to get into sold out shows.
Resale inventory also grows as the event gets closer. Fans who can no longer go put their tickets up for sale. Speculators may release extra tickets they snapped up hoping to profit. Resale prices usually go down closer to the date too, even for big sellouts.
Tips for Getting Added Seats
If more tickets do get released, here are some tips to improve your chances:
- Check Ticketmaster regularly leading up to onsale dates. Newly opened seats tend to go fast.
- Try for single seats rather than groups – fewer together often get released.
- Be ready right at the moment new seats are supposed to go on sale.
- Consider platinum seats to get in for super high demand shows.
- Don’t give up – keep checking back for new releases if a show is still on your must-see list.
The Verdict
Will Ticketmaster release more seats? Sometimes yes, sometimes no. It depends on many factors – demand, venue size, artist preferences, and more. Fans need to weight if waiting for possible seat releases makes sense vs. looking at guaranteed resale tickets. For the most in-demand events, buying resale is usually the way to go.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do tickets get held back from the initial sale?
Venues hold back tickets for things like the artist guests, crew, equipment, and stage setups. These production holds get released later on if they are no longer needed.
How long before an event do added tickets get released?
Added tickets can get released anytime between immediately after the initial sale up until right before the event date. Promoters strategically release seats in batches to maximize sales.
Are added tickets more expensive?
Sometimes – platinum level tickets released later can have dynamically adjusted prices based on demand, which is often higher than initial face value costs.
What’s the latest I can expect added seats to be released?
In some cases platinum tickets are added in the final hours leading up to an event, giving fans a last chance for entry.
Should I wait for added seats or buy resale now?
There’s no guarantee on added inventory, so buying resale is usually the smarter move rather than waiting and potentially missing out entirely.
Key Takeaways
- Ticketmaster may release more seats for sold out events, but nothing is guaranteed
- Dynamic pricing and platinum tickets allow new batches to be sold at elevated prices
- Production holds get released back as tickets if no longer needed
- Smaller shows have less wiggle room than big stadiums
- Artists and promoters decide when and how many seats to add
- Fans are often better off buying resale tickets than waiting for releases
Factor | Impact on Ticket Releases |
---|---|
Dynamic pricing | Allows platinum tickets to be added at higher prices |
Production holds | Released if no longer needed, adding inventory |
Sellouts and near-sellouts | Fewer releases when event sells out quickly |
Venue size | More wiggle room for adds at larger venues |
Artist and promoter decisions | They decide timing and number of releases |
This table summarizes how different factors impact whether more tickets are released over time.
Conclusion
Ticketmaster does sometimes release extra seats for popular events, but fans should manage expectations. Buying resale tickets is often a better option than waiting for additional releases that may never come. With platinum pricing and dynamic ticket values, added seats also cost more. While possible, counting on added ticket inventory is risky.