releasing tickets

trentonleonard · Post by **trentonleonard** » April 11, 2003 2:50 pm

wonder why ticketmaster doesn't release all the tickets when an event goes on sale

moeb03106 · Post by **moeb03106** » April 11, 2003 3:09 pm

This is from Ticketmaster's TICKET FAQ, but I suspect that season ticket sales also come into play -- many times the concerts are sold before season ticket packages, so any unused season ticket seats may become available shortly before a show.

Why are "better" tickets sometimes available...

...a few minutes after the event goes on sale?
When customers find available tickets either online or through any of the other access points, those tickets are actually reserved while the customer considers the purchase. During that period, which lasts for only a few minutes, no one else can view or purchase those tickets. If the customer decides not to buy the tickets, they are "released" and become available to other purchasers. So if a customer is looking at 10th row center seats and decides not to buy, those seats become available for another customer.

...days after the event goes on sale?
A venue may release more tickets for Ticketmaster to sell as the event date approaches. This happens for several reasons such as 1) The artist or team may no longer need the tickets that were held when the event originally went on sale, or 2) Once the stage or event area is set up, the venue has a better idea about which seats are obstructed. Sometimes events are so popular that even seats with obstructed views are released for sale!

Additionally, sometimes a customer attempts to buy tickets but their credit card is declined. If Ticketmaster is unable to contact the customer to secure a valid credit card or billing address, the order is cancelled and the tickets are released for sale. Tickets may also be re-released if a customer does not follow Ticketmaster's published ticket limits or other terms of use.

Tampico · Post by **Tampico** » April 11, 2003 9:21 pm

Actually it's not Ticketmaster that releases the tickets, they just sell them. Contrary to popular belief Ticketmaster has nothing to do with how many tickets are made available, they are out to make a buck and they would just as soon sell every ticket there is along with a big surcharge. The venue & promoter release the tickets and they contract out to Ticketmaster to sell them. This is the reason that sometimes the tickets are only released the day of the show and sold at the venue. Less than 24 hours and Ticketmaster will not post them on their site.

This is not in defense of Ticketmaster (they s***) but the promotors are a much bigger problem and bigger crooks and the number 1 reason it's a pain in the rear to get tickets.