Majority of Bruce Springsteen concert tickets were sold at face value, says Ticketmaster

The majority of Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band fans in the U.S. who purchased concert tickets last week bought them at face value, according to statistics released by Ticketmaster on Sunday, July 24.

Just over 88 percent of the tickets were sold at face value, according to Ticketmaster. The prices for arena shows ranged from $59.50 to $399 before service fees and the average ticket price was $202.

Many Springsteen fans, who registered under Ticketmaster's Verified Fan system, experienced sticker shock when they purchased, or tried to purchase, tickets for the six Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band 2023 U.S. arena tour concerts that went on sale the morning of Wednesday, July 20.

The price of some floor seats rose to more than $4,000 due to the Ticketmaster dynamic pricing system, which adjusts the price in real time due to demand. Top prices were elevated for the subsequent sales.

The break-down by Ticketmaster is as follows:

• 88.2% of tickets were sold at face value. The prices for arena shows ranged from $59.50 to $399 before service fees, and the average ticket price was $202.

• 11.8% of tickets were designated Platinum. 1.3% of total tickets across the shows sold for more than $1K.

• The average price of all tickets sold, both at face value and through Platinum pricing, is $262.

• 18% of all tickets sold were under $99; 27% between $100 and $150; and 11% between $150 and $200. 56% under $200.

Prices and formats are consistent with industry standards for top performers, according to Ticketmaster. A spokesperson for Springsteen and the E Street Band had no comment.

The pricing of the 2016 and ’17 “River Tour,” the last E Street Band tour, was below the industry average at $68 to $150 for a typical arena show.

In related news, Rep. Bill Pascrell (D-NJ), who has previously introduced legislation on the matter, called for Ticketmaster to adjust its policies on July 21.

“When Yogi Berra said it’s déjà vu all over again, he could have easily been talking about Ticketmaster and another unwelcome surprise for Springsteen fans,” said Pascrell in a statement. “After the long hiatus, we are all excited that Bruce is going back in tour. But Americans have the right to enjoy some live entertainment without getting ripped off. Ticketmaster sees popular events as an opportunity to soak regular Americans. My colleagues and I are hearing from irate customers who are fed up, and the New Jersey and New York dates aren’t even on sale yet.”

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Pascrell introduced the BOSS Act, an acronym for “Better Oversight of Secondary Sales and Accountability in Concert Ticketing,” back in 2009. It hasn't been passed.

“The fact is that multi-billion dollar live events ticket marketplace cries out for reform. The BOSS ACT legislation I have previously introduced would bring much needed transparency to sale, pricing and distribution of live event tickets,” Pascrell said. “I have been working closely with my colleagues and stakeholders on revising our legislation and expect to reintroduce the improved bill shortly.”

“We are supportive of industry-wide reforms to bring more clarity to ticket buyers and believe more can be done to aid artists in delivering their tickets to fans at price points they determine,” said a spokesperson for Ticketmaster in response to Pascrell. “As one recent example, we worked collaboratively with New York policymakers to enact a new law that adds important new protections and transparency for fans.”

Tickets for area shows also including the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia on March 16; Madison Square Garden in New York City on April 1; two at the new USB Arena in Belmont Park, New York, on April 9 and 11; and the Prudential Center in Newark on April 14 go on sale this week.

The Wells Fargo Center does not use Ticketmaster.

More:Bruce Springsteen fans get sticker shock

Springsteen 2023 U.S. arena tour

• Feb 1, Tampa, Fla., Amalie Arena (tickets on sale July 20)

• Feb. 3, Atlanta, State Farm Arena (tickets on sale 10 a.m. July 27)

• Feb. 5, Orlando, Fla., Amway Center (July 20)

• Feb. 7, Hollywood, Fla., Hard Rock Live (July 20)

• Feb. 10, Dallas, American Airlines Center (July 22)

• Feb 14, Houston, Toyota Center* (July 22)

• Feb. 16, Austin, Texas, Moody Center (July 22)

• Feb. 18, Kansas City, Mo., T-Mobile Center (10 a.m. July 27)

• Feb. 21, Tulsa, Okla., BOK Center (July 20)

• Feb. 25, Portland, Ore., Moda Center (July 22)

• Feb. 27, Seattle, Climate Pledge Arena (10 a.m. July 27)

• March 2, Denver, Xcel Energy Center (July 21)

• March 7, Milwaukee, Fiserv Forum (10 a.m. July 27)

• March 9, Columbus, Ohio, Nationwide Arena (10 a.m. July 27)

• March 12, Uncasville, Conn., Mohegan Sun (July 22)

• March 14, Albany, N.Y., MVP Arena (July 22)

• March 16, Philadelphia, Wells Fargo Center* (10 a.m. July 26)

• March 18, State College, Pa., Bryce Jordan Center (10 a.m. July 26)

• March 20, Boston, TD Garden (July 20)

• March 23, Buffalo, N.Y., KeyBank Center (10 a.m. July 27)

• March 25, Greensboro, N.C., Greensboro Coliseum (July 22)

• March 27, Washington, D.C., Capital One Arena (10 a.m. July 26)

• March 29, Detroit, Little Caesars Arena (10 a.m. July 27)

• April 1, New York, Madison Square Garden (10 a.m. July 29)

• April 3, Brooklyn, Barclays Center* (10 a.m. July 29)

• April 5, Cleveland, Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse* (10 a.m. July 27)

• April 7, Baltimore, Baltimore Arena (10 a.m. July 26)

• April 9 and 11, Belmont Park, N.Y., USB Arena (10 a.m. July 29)

• April 14, Newark, Prudential Center (10 a.m. July 29)

*General onsale: no Ticketmaster Verified Fan access code required

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Chris Jordan, a Jersey Shore native, covers entertainment and features for the USA Today Network New Jersey. Contact him at @chrisfhjordan; cjordan@app.com.

This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Majority of Bruce Springsteen tickets sold at face value: Ticketmaster