Are Concerts Still Worth It?

This past weekend I attended the Eras Tour with my older sister. We’ve seen Taylor Swift twice before during her Fearless and Speak Now eras. Because tickets cost a lot less back then, we were able to get great seats. We were so close to the stage that my mom even managed to touch Taylor’s hand!

For this tour, I had to spend $800 to get two tickets in the second to last row of Gillette Stadium. Because of the extremely high demand for the Eras Tour, I couldn’t get my hands on face value tickets and had to buy them on the resale market for an inflated price. Although we were grateful just to be in the arena, we were so far back in the nosebleeds that we could almost touch the back wall of the stadium!

Since my sister and I both have a fear of heights, we were pretty terrified of how high up we were. Luckily we got more comfortable as the concert went on and ended up having a great time. However, the experience definitely made me wonder if live concerts are worth the high ticket cost.

Is This The New Norm?

Many news outlets are reporting that parents have spent thousands of dollars to get Eras tickets for their kids. One dad paid $21,000 for last-minute tickets for his daughter and her friends. Another parent shelled out $2,100 for Eras seats when the $700 resale tickets they previously purchased didn’t get delivered.

These out-of-control ticket prices seem like they’re becoming more common, especially if you want decent seats at a popular artist’s concert. Many big acts use dynamic pricing for a portion of the best seats at their concerts, or even all the seats in some cases. Dynamic pricing sets ticket prices based on demand from fans. So the more popular a concert is, the more you can expect to pay, especially if you want a decent view.

Bruce Springstein used dynamic pricing for his premium tickets, which caused the cost of some seats to jump to almost $4,000. But even if you didn’t care where you sat, the average cost of a ticket was still $202, which is pretty high if you ask me.

Unfortunately, it seems like expensive concert tickets are becoming the new norm. The average ticket cost to see Drake in concert was reportedly $600. The Weeknd had an average ticket price of $350 and Bad Bunny wasn’t far behind at $225 per ticket. Gone are the days when you could pay $25 for a concert ticket!

Are Concerts Still Worth It?

I don’t know about you, but these high ticket prices are making me question if concerts are still worth it. In addition to shelling out for expensive tickets, you have to pay to park—I spent $60 for a parking space that was a mile from Gillette Stadium last weekend.

Concert merch and stadium food have also become overpriced. I paid nearly $40 for two drinks, a pretzel, and a small personal sized pizza at Gillette. If I had wanted an Eras tour T-shirt, it would’ve cost me around $45.

In addition to paying a pretty penny for seats and parking, you have to deal with crowds and spend several hours getting to and from big concerts. We didn’t get home from the Eras Tour until nearly 2 in the morning. Luckily neither of us had school or work the next day.

Although it sounds like I’m complaining, I had a wonderful time at the concert and feel like the experience was worth the cost. After all, Taylor performed for a little over 3 hours and sang all of her greatest hits. Plus, there were even fireworks at the end of the show.

It’s Only Worth It To See Your Favorite Artist

However, I wouldn’t shell out that kind of cash and go through all that inconvenience for any other artist. I’ve been a Taylor Swift fan since I was a preteen. If I’m listening to music, it’s usually one of her albums. Because concerts have become so expensive, you have to be a superfan of the artist for the event to be worth the cost in my opinion.

For the same price I paid for Eras tickets, I could’ve taken a week-long budget vacation, bought a whole new wardrobe, or treated myself to many nice dinners out. To shell out that kind of cash, you have to really love the artist you’re seeing. That’s why I’m not planning to see another big artist anytime soon.

Many big musical acts create tour videos for fans that didn’t get to go to the concert. Even if there isn’t an official tour video, sometimes fans will upload clips to YouTube or even livestream the artist’s concert on TikTok. Plus, some artists sound better in autotuned song recordings than they do live. Investing in a good sound system or pair of headphones could potentially give you a better experience than attending a live concert depending on the artist.

Ways to Save on Concert Tickets

If you don’t want to give up on live entertainment, there are still ways to save money on concert tickets. My first suggestion is to avoid big acts if at all possible. Next month I’m seeing a smaller pop punk band and the ticket only cost me $35. Supporting local acts is so much cheaper than seeing big artists. Plus, less well-known musicians are usually excited to meet their fans and will often hang out in the lobby after the show for a free meet-and-greet.

If you’re dying to see a big act, it pays to be patient. Waiting to buy tickets until the day before or day of the concert could help you score last-minute deals. One of my sister’s friends managed to get a floor seat for the Eras Tour for around $300 a few hours before the show. She found out about the surprise ticket drop by following social media accounts dedicated to ticket updates. Keeping your ear to the ground and doing your research can potentially help you save a lot of money on premium seats.

Do you think concert tickets are still worth it? Are you willing to pay inflated ticket prices to see your favorite artists? Share your thoughts in the comments!

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Vicky Monroe

Vicky Monroe is a freelance personal finance and lifestyle writer. When she’s not busy writing about her favorite money saving hacks or tinkering with her budget spreadsheets, she likes to travel, garden, and cook healthy vegetarian meals.