How Much Would You Pay for Concert Tickets?
By Jeff Moffitt
@moffittjc (122472)
Gainesville, Florida
December 21, 2024 7:34am CST
I used to think it was preposterous for people to pay outrageous prices for concert tickets to see their favorite musical act. Then, Taylor Swift came around with her Eras tour and it seemed everybody was dropping their entire paycheck and life savings into the cost of tickets to see her live in concert. So now it seems almost normal for people to pay ridiculous prices for concert tickets.
And other bands were quick to catch on to this. At least that's what it appears is happening.
I just bought tickets to see AC/DC in concert in Tampa next May at Raymond James Stadium (the stadium where the NFL's Tampa Bay Buccaneers play). While tickets start at a reasonable $92 for upper deck nose bleed seats, things start getting out of hand when you look at the price of floor seats.
I first saw AC/DC on November 25, 1983 on their Flick of the Switch tour, as a young teenager, and have never missed a show of theirs in Florida since then. So, clearly, I will be going to their concert in 2025 on their Power Up tour. Given the advanced age of the band's members, this may be their last tour ever.
I decided that floor seats are a must, and found three seats in the fourth row, center stage. A dream come true. The tickets were a bargain at $525 each, before all the TicketMaster service fees.
I thought to myself, well it doesn't get any worse than that. Then, a few days later, my son called me and told me that a month after AC/DC plays that Metallica would be playing the same stadium, and he wanted to go. When I asked him how much good floor seat tickets were, he told me $600 each. What? That's crazy! I'm not paying that much for a ticket!!!!
Well, anyway, my son and I are going to see Metallica in concert next June. LOL
I need to win the lottery or something now just so I can afford to go see bands in concert!
How much would you be willing to pay to see your favorite musical act live in concert?
And I thought going to Disney World was expensive!
14 people like this
14 responses
@DaddyEvil (139935)
• United States
21 Dec
Thank goodness I don't like going to concerts and certainly don't have a "favorite" musical act!
And something you wrote caught my attention... You were young once??? 
4 people like this
@moffittjc (122472)
• Gainesville, Florida
21 Dec
Yes, I was young once...I stood on the shores of the Atlantic Ocean and welcomed Ponce de Leon when the Spanish first discovered Florida!
4 people like this
@moffittjc (122472)
• Gainesville, Florida
21 Dec
@DaddyEvil Wow, we've known each other for so long and didn't realize it!
3 people like this
@much2say (56857)
• Los Angeles, California
21 Dec
I know ticket prices are crazy expensive, so I don't even bother investigating the prices 
. Back in the days, it was way less than 100 bucks . . . I doubt there's any such price now. If I wanted to see any performance, I suppose I have a lot of myLotting to do 
.3 people like this
@much2say (56857)
• Los Angeles, California
23 Dec
@moffittjc Oh - that's true too. But there's nothing like actually being there . . . it's an awesome experience to see your favorite band live! Frugal me - I guess will have to settle for free livestreams 
.
.1 person likes this
@moffittjc (122472)
• Gainesville, Florida
22 Dec
I'm surprised tickets are so high these days, because almost any concert ends up being live-streamed by somebody, so if you know how to find those live-streams you can sit at home and watch for free! lol
2 people like this
@moffittjc (122472)
• Gainesville, Florida
24 Dec
@much2say I agree that nothing beats a live performance, but if cost is above one’s means, then live-streaming may be the next best option.
1 person likes this
@AmbiePam (95631)
• United States
22 Dec
I wouldn’t pay much to go see a music act in concert. I’ve never been one to be willing to put up with the crowds that go along with these concerts. The highest price for any ticket I’d pay might be a comedian I enjoyed, but I doubt a musician. I’m glad to hear that you are going to enjoy someone you like though. You deserve to do something that would bring you some enjoyment.
2 people like this
@AmbiePam (95631)
• United States
22 Dec
@moffittjc I was listening to a sports podcaster talk about paying $900 to sit front row at Madison Square Garden last year to see Jerry Seinfeld. Jerry Seinfeld! Not surprisingly, last year Seinfeld was the top selling stand up. Meanwhile, my brother-in-law paid $150 for my sister to go see comedian Nate Bargatze this February. He was just on Saturday Night Live, but he’s not household name famous yet.
1 person likes this
@AmbiePam (95631)
• United States
22 Dec
@moffittjc I have never even seen his show.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (122472)
• Gainesville, Florida
22 Dec
I wonder how much tickets cost these days to see comedians? I haven't been to a comedy show in decades!
2 people like this
@snowy22315 (184369)
• United States
21 Dec
No more than 100 certainly and that's a stretch I got to see Dave Matthews up close and personal like that for free.
2 people like this
@snowy22315 (184369)
• United States
21 Dec
@moffittjc Thousands..never in a million years! I put that in the category of a thousand dollars in fireworks that are going to be gone in one night
2 people like this
@moffittjc (122472)
• Gainesville, Florida
21 Dec
To me, $100 seems reasonable. I wouldn't blink twice to pay that to see a good band in concert. I still can't believe I shelled out thousands of dollars to see two rock n roll bands in concert. But it is what it is. It's not something I will do on a regular basis.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (122472)
• Gainesville, Florida
21 Dec
@snowy22315 I never really thought of it that way, but in a sense you are right! I've always shaken my head at people who spend thousands of dollars to buy fireworks for New Years Eve. I guess now I'm that guy that people are shaking their head at! LOL
3 people like this
@JudyEv (344799)
• Rockingham, Australia
22 Dec
There was a documentary about how Live Nation now owns most of the big venues, and virtually all of the ticketing outlets. They can charge what they want. The smaller bands never get the chance to strut their stuff as they can't afford the fees. I think Live Nation is being investigated in the USA. Having said all that, I'm sure it will be a great concert.
2 people like this
@moffittjc (122472)
• Gainesville, Florida
22 Dec
Love them or hate them, Live Nation was smart to buy up all the venues, ensuring they have a virtual monopoly on concerts. And yes, they are currently being investigated by our federal government. Hopefully, something good we result from the investigation.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (122472)
• Gainesville, Florida
21 Dec
Is there a such thing as $15 tickets anymore? LOL
2 people like this
@moffittjc (122472)
• Gainesville, Florida
22 Dec
@NJChicaa That's funny! Because I was thinking that you must have not been to a concert in like the last 50 years or so, to think that tickets only cost $15. LOL
And could you imagine what the ticket prices would be if Pink Floyd got back together?
2 people like this
@NJChicaa (121032)
• United States
21 Dec
@moffittjc I meant $150. This is what happens when I try to type on my phone without glasses.
2 people like this
@FourWalls (70698)
• United States
21 Dec
Nope. WAY out of my price range.
I’m glad my concert going days are behind me. The last concert I went to was Robbie Fulks and Linda Gail Lewis (Jerry Lee’s sister) in 2018, and it was $20. That’s a good stopping point. I like to rub it in on the Eagles fans who are paying $800 for their Sphere shows that I saw THE EAGLES (not “Don Henley and Friends”) twice for ten bucks each time…first time with Steve Miller and Eddie Money as opening acts, and the second time with Jimmy Buffett as an “opening act” (although he did a full two-hour show [in your back yard at the University of Florida football stadium, no less]).
I was a little surprised when NJ Chic said the Coral Reefer Band tickets were $59 (considering I saw Jimmy Buffett five times for that much money), but I guess that’s the norm now. But then, I had free tickets for U2 and griped about paying $10 for parking.
2 people like this
@moffittjc (122472)
• Gainesville, Florida
22 Dec
I shouldn't complain about ticket prices, because I pay around $300 per ticket every time I go see the Tampa Bay Lightning hockey games. Plus, I pay $30 for parking to be in the lot right across the street from the arena.
1 person likes this
@jstory07 (141305)
• Roseburg, Oregon
22 Dec
@moffittjc I hope the two of you have a good time.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (122472)
• Gainesville, Florida
22 Dec
@jstory07 I hope so too, especially for the price I paid for those tickets. lol
@moffittjc (122472)
• Gainesville, Florida
22 Dec
Under normal circumstances I would never pay that much, but this is my favorite band of all time, and this is probably their last tour ever. Plus, my daughter has never seen them and has said that is one band from my generation that she would love to see.
1 person likes this
@Juliaacv (52025)
• Canada
22 Dec
I believe that they played an outdoor venue in Sarnia, Ontario back in about 2009 or so.
It was one of those outdoor music festivals where there were a few different bands for 1 price, and I want to say that The price was much less than $100 for the entire festival which lasted a weekend.
It is hard to imagine that prices have escalated so much in such a relatively short period of time.
Basically it is the same crowd for this band, and the band is still who they are, but the prices are not justified.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (122472)
• Gainesville, Florida
22 Dec
I've seen several outdoor two or three day music festivals, and tickets were always right around the $100 mark.
1 person likes this
@wolfgirl569 (110541)
• Marion, Ohio
21 Dec
I would not pay the 92 . Hope you enjoy both shows.
. Hope you enjoy both shows.2 people like this
@moffittjc (122472)
• Gainesville, Florida
22 Dec
I wouldn't pay 92 just to have nosebleed seats where you need a high-powered telescope just to see the stage. Although I guess most bands have huge projection screens on their stages now so that everyone can see the action more clearly.
1 person likes this
@JESSY3236 (20176)
• United States
31 Dec
Yeah it is outrageous. I would love to see Metallica. The last concert I saw was Aerosmith many years ago. Now I would settle with watching music videos through youtube.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (122472)
• Gainesville, Florida
5 Jan
I've seen Aerosmith multiple times, they are such a great band when they play live in concert.
Yeah, Metallica is definitely a band I want to see again. I think the last time I saw them was probably back in the 90s.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (183852)
• United States
22 Dec
If I could have seen the Bee Gees in concert with floor seats up front, I might have paid just about anything. When I was contemplating seeing Elton John, I thought the same thing especially since it was his last tour. Alas, it was too hard to get me there in a wheelchair; and they had no handicap seats. Have a good day.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (122472)
• Gainesville, Florida
22 Dec
I can't believe they did not have any handicap seating available. I would think that under the ADA law, they would be required too accommodate you in some way even if they didn't have any specific handicap seating available,
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (183852)
• United States
23 Dec
@moffittjc Maybe it was sold out...I don't know. It would have been really hard to get me there though.
1 person likes this
@freelancermariagrace (28887)
• Philippines
22 Dec
I would love to see my favorite band, Coldplay, perform live. However, I won’t pay $100 for a ticket since that can be too expensive. Hehe
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (122472)
• Gainesville, Florida
22 Dec
I was never a big fan of Coldplay, although a lot of people here in the US like them.
@aureategloom (11058)
• Bosnia And Herzegovina
21 Dec
i honestly never understood the hype about Taylor Swift, but my friend bought a concert ticket, plane ticket and rented a place to stay in Munchen. crazy.
most concerts in Bosnia were 20 and 50 BAM (10,67USD and 26,67USD), depending on the place where you want to be. oh and they would be around 100BAM (53,35usd) or more for "VIP" places. that seems okay to me. but i'm talking about Bosnian/Serbian/Croatian singers/groups. sometimes they even have free or charity concerts for people in need. even though for some people even 20 and 50 BAM is too much, i think these are reasonable prices.
2 people like this
@moffittjc (122472)
• Gainesville, Florida
22 Dec
I never understood the hype around Taylor Swift either. But there are people out there that plan their entire life around her and her concerts.
1 person likes this
