Beyoncé fans are pulling out all the stops as tickets for the highly anticipated Cowboy Carter Tour go on general sale.
The six UK dates at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London this June will be the singer’s first shows since her record-breaking Renaissance Tour in 2023.
Ticketmaster announced prices ranging from £71 to £950, with pre-sales preceding the general sale that kicks off at 12:00 GMT on Friday.
Concert-goers are bracing for a big day as tickets for several major tours also go live, including Ozzy Osbourne’s final performance with Black Sabbath, as well as shows by Kendrick Lamar, SZA, Patti Smith, Beck, Morrissey, Mumford & Sons, Razorlight, and Smashing Pumpkins.
One fan revealed they were prepared to spend up to £2,000 to attend Black Sabbath’s charity concert in Birmingham, featuring Metallica, Pantera, and members of Guns N’ Roses.
“This really is Ozzy’s final show with Sabbath,” said Alex Woodford. “It’s a once-in-a-lifetime event.”
British Beyoncé fan Ben Archer, who has attended every concert of hers since 2014, reflected on the rising costs. “Eleven years ago, I paid £60 for a standing ticket.
This year, it was almost four times that,” he said, questioning if high prices could exclude casual fans.
Ticket prices have surged post-pandemic, with costs increasing by an average of nearly 10% annually, according to Billboard Boxscore.
The last time Beyoncé performed in London, tickets ranged from £56.25 to £2,400 for VIP packages.
For this summer’s tour, standing tickets near the stage were priced at £858.10 during pre-sales.
Ticketmaster’s controversial “dynamic pricing” system has further complicated matters, with prices fluctuating based on demand.
One fan, Fredrica Fekkai from Washington, DC, took matters into her own hands by gathering ticket price data from more than 1,000 fans.
She noticed significant differences between pre-sales through Beyoncé’s fan club and those offered by sponsors like Mastercard and Verizon.
“The Beyhive sale had a lot of panic buying and higher prices,” she explained, hoping her findings will help others avoid overpaying.
Ticketing expert Tim Chambers attributes the rising costs to inflation in touring expenses.
Beyoncé’s previous tour involved a 16-carriage convoy, 304 staff members, and soaring costs for fuel, accommodation, and work visas.
Additionally, many artists are recouping losses from the pandemic hiatus.
Some, like Coldplay and Ed Sheeran, have kept ticket prices affordable, with Coldplay offering Wembley tickets for as little as £20 and donating a portion of proceeds to help emerging artists.
Still, most artists are opting for higher earnings with minimal extra effort, says Chambers.
The demand for top-tier shows is also squeezing smaller artists and grassroots venues, leaving mid-market acts struggling to stay afloat.
Michael Rapino, CEO of Live Nation, suggests that high concert prices are here to stay.
While fans balk at expensive tickets for musicians, he compared it to sports culture, where luxury prices are widely accepted.
“The challenge for artists,” he said, “is finding that balance between accessibility and profit without alienating fans.”
Also read: Novak Djokovic Net Worth
