What is the most expensive concert to go to?

  • Posted on: 11 Jul 2024
    What is the most expensive concert to go to?

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    Concerts can be quite thrilling events that enable you to view your preferred performers in the comfort of a theatre hall. But concert tickets are not cheap, and sometimes the price of some concerts makes it too expensive to attend the show. Which artist sold the most expensive concert ticket? Now we take a closer look at probably some of the most expensive live concerts and why they cost so much money.

    The Rolling Stones Are About to Hold Records for Expensive Tickets

    The Rolling Stones is one band we have seen again and again pull off some of the most costly concert tickets. Followers of this rock 'n roll band are ready to pay a lot of money to see them play live; they have been in the business for quite some time.

    In a 1997 performance with tickets costing $67, the rock & roll band The Rolling Stones also experimented with the Pay-Per-View approach. Considering the inflation rate, it would be around $113.00, the most expensive Pay-Per- View event at that period.

    The Rolling Stones broke records once again in 2005; during their A Bigger Bang tour, they scored the biggest grossing concert of all time. Considering the inflation rate right now, the least costly tickets cost $450, more than $600.

    Still, their most expensive ticket sold in 2006 came from the performance they gave at Fenway Park. It was the time when one could only buy front-row passes for 5000 USD! Though it was often attacked for its cost, there were always those ready to pay the price for the CDs of their favorite band.

    Gala concerts with high ticket prices

    Some well-known events are charitable ones, and musicians may take advantage of marketing including pricey tickets. While wealthy individuals purchase the tickets and know the money will be used for charitable purposes, regular fans find the tickets prohibitive.

    Tickets for Ariana Grande's Charities performance, "One Love Manchester," traded on the black market lawfully in the same year at very high rates ranging from $5000 each. It was a charitable event meant to help the victims of the Manchester Arena terrorist attack. Even if resale tickets among fans broke the regulations, it revealed what supporters were ready to pay for.

    A charity performance, the performance for Diana in 2007 included some of Britain's most well-known musicians—Elton John, Duran Duran, and others—performing in remembrance of the late Princess, Diana. Purchased straight from Wembley Stadium, some of the tickets cost about £1,500, or $2,300.

    Historic Reunion Concerts

    That is because whenever those bands that fans have been following for a long time come again onto the stage, usually after a long time of no performance, the ticket costs skyrocket. Loyal followers who never had a chance to watch these groups live jump at what may be a rare opportunity to do so. 

    It is noteworthy that in 1994, The Eagles reunited for their highly acclaimed ‘Hell Freezes Over’ tour. There was much outrage when they sold tickets priced at $100, an unthinkable amount at the time. Even when this sum is corrected for more than a quarter century of inflation, the amount comes to more than $ 175 of today’s currency.

    They also reunited with their iconic lineup in 2016 and that too was a record. The “Not In This Lifetime” tour was a live example of this, where the nosebleed seats are being sold for $100+ while the front row tickets range from $750 to $2,500. And such prices were for normal shows only; their big events were much pricier, entirely out of reach for the average consumer.

    Exclusive International Concerts

    It becomes evident that at times the costliest concert ticket is not going to have its origin in your own country. Consequently, international audiences are generally more than willing to pay a premium for worldwide tours and limited shows.

    In 1985, Tina Turner gave her stadium concert in Rio de Janeiro, which was hard to break. For the front row, seats cost as much as $10,000 in US dollars, whereas standing space costs $2,500. In today’s dollars, that comes out to $24,618 per ticket—and that does not even take into account the cost of food and drink!

    Still, in recent years, international concerts could become truly incredibly expensive, sometimes unimaginable. When rock band U2 took its blockbuster Joshua Tree Tour to Singapore in 2019, some VVIP passes were being sold for S$1,724 (SGD) or USD 1,274.

    Why Do Concerts Cost So Much Money?

    There are a few key reasons why some concerts get so costly.

    Iconic Artists: Fans who strictly stick to conventional rock bands like The Rolling Stones or a re-formed band like Guns N Roses in the 21st century push up the prices.

    Exclusivity: The consumer demand is higher when a band embarks on a one-time tour or even a concert in a different country.

    Charity: High-ticket price charity concerts generate more money to be donated to charity.

    Location: Close-up shots, which are ideal especially for front-row events, are very few.

    VIP Access: Booster packages that allow for backstage access, pre-show lobbies, transport, gifts, etc. are for the richer fans.

    Of course, the tickets are what fans are willing to pay for them, or the market value defines them. This is because consumers can drive these outrageously high ticket prices for concerts. For those who have always admired historical rock legends or a pop diva, nothing would be more pleasing than to see them perform live on the stage once again.

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