How to save money on concert and sports

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If you’ve recently attended a live event, you may have been shocked by the high ticket prices. Sure, inflation can be part of it. The price of everything is going up, but what you’re probably witnessing is dynamic pricing in action.

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Dynamic pricing is the practice of increasing and decreasing prices in response to market demand. Hotels, airlines and even Amazon have been known to use it.

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Ticketmaster sells what they call official platinum seats. These seats are subject to market-based pricing, meaning ticket prices are adjusted based on supply and demand. However, the same practice led to Bruce Springsteen tickets being offered for more than $5,000 and Drake’s OVO Fest tickets for $900 for general-admission lawn tickets.

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Ticketmaster claims that only 11.2 percent of tickets sold for the Springsteen show were subject to dynamic pricing, but those prices still came as a surprise to fans.

These tips can help you skip inflated dynamic or resale prices and still enjoy a live event.

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Try the venue’s box office

Online seems to be the only way to get tickets these days, but you might want to try visiting the venue’s box office in person.

Tickets are sometimes released up to the last minute to allow you to catch a show you may have missed.

The Canadian Opera Company, for example, offers same-day express tickets as well as a limited number of standing room tickets at very reasonable prices. For example, if you have a subscription to the opera, a single ticket will cost at least $46. If you bought a general admission ticket, the cost would be $12.

Certain venues offer restricted view tickets – where the seats do not have an unobstructed view of the stage – which are available at a lower price than other tickets in the same row. You might be behind a support beam or an amplifier, but these tickets can get you cheaper to an event you don’t want to miss.

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Travel to another market

Don’t mind traveling to see your favorite band or team? Visiting a smaller market is a way to buy tickets easily – and cheaper – than seeing them in a big city.

Ticket prices are subject to change based on factors such as demand, which will generally be higher in larger cities. A 2017 study by travel website Wanderu found several examples of concert-goers being charged $50 or more for the same show based on location alone. A Janet Jackson concert in LA cost $275.95, while the same type of ticket cost $110 for a show in Little Rock, Ark.

If you need a flight or hotel to see the show in a city with cheaper tickets, that extra cost could wipe out any savings. However, it may be possible to take a day trip to a neighboring town that offers cheaper prices.

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Take advantage of little-known features

Certain stadiums and arenas have standing areas that offer great views of events – often at a reduced price.

Going to a Blue Jays game and don’t mind being on your feet? Buy the cheapest ticket and then make your way to the WestJet deck on level 200.

Itching to see the Yankees in action? Try to get a Pinstripe Pass.

Do your research and find out what hidden features venues could offer for those who don’t mind standing.

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If you can’t manage to get tickets to an event, you can always try to hang out near the venue on the day of the show. Sometimes concert-goers have additional tickets that they want to sell at face value.

Be advised that if you are trying a more innovative way to get tickets to an event, you need to be extra cautious and be aware of all potential downsides and scams.

When buying tickets for an event it is advisable not to buy paper tickets as they can easily be forged.

If tickets for the event are processed through Ticketmaster, please ensure that the ticket you purchased has been properly transferred to your account.

Never give out personal information – except what is specifically required to obtain the tickets – and never purchase a ticket from a person or website that requests gift cards.

This article is informational only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without any guarantee.