Travis Scott show in New Zealand: Auckland concert prices fall, fans resell tickets to save money

Players began selling their tickets online en masse after promoters confirmed the event’s postponement, either canceling their plans to attend due to previous commitments or reselling them to buy cheaper tickets. A quick search of the Ticket Resale group on Facebook reveals that many people are advertising tickets to tonight’s show, most of which cost between $40 and $100.

For those concertgoers who haven’t already purchased last-minute tickets, attending the concert at Eden Park, which seats up to 60,000 people, will now cost no more than $149.90 when purchased through Ticketmaster.

The day after the concert was rescheduled, Ticketmaster slashed prices on all available tickets on its website. Tickets were available for as low as $29.90 for obstructed seating or $49.90 for regular seating.

General admission (standing) tickets initially ranged from $200 to $250, with tickets for the two Golden Circle sections selling for $450, given their proximity to the stage.

Since then, prices for all three sections have dropped significantly, with the Golden Circle and general admission sections dropping to $149.90 per ticket.

Ticketmaster is owned by Live Nation, the promoter of Scott’s single.

Some patrons were disappointed with the concert’s arrangements after ticket prices were slashed following failures to reschedule the concert.

One player, Kyle, called ticket sales a “roller coaster.” He paid $330 for reserved-seat tickets during a Ticketmaster presale, but noticed those same tickets dropped to about $140 before the date was moved.

Kyle contacted Ticketmaster to see if the company could refund the price difference, explaining that “a lot of money was wasted.”

In response, a Ticketmaster representative told Kyle that the tickets belong to “the clients (venues, sports team or other event promoters) who determine the number of tickets that will be sold and set the nominal price.” The spokesman said that customers sometimes “change” ticket prices in response to “different levels of customer demand”, and that customers buy tickets under an agreement where they pay the price set at the time of booking, meaning they cannot be returned or exchanged.

After the concert was rescheduled, anyone who said they couldn’t make the new date could request a refund. Kyle decided to get his money back by purchasing tickets from the same section for $69. But despite his excitement for the show, Kyle said the ticket issue had left him “tired of disappointment.”

“I learned my lesson here: don’t trust Ticketmaster presales.”

Last week, one concert goer told Herald she was “very disappointed with the lack of communication” about the date change. “My friends traveling from Wellington had to pay double the price for connecting flights and the tickets are now being sold for much less than what we originally paid for them,” she explained.

Many online shared similar sentiments. Some people said they had to pay hundreds of dollars to change flights, others struggled to rebook accommodation and many wondered when or if they would be able to adjust travel plans to Auckland from other parts of the country on such short notice.

One person on Reddit requested a refund for $330 tickets. “Now I have another concert the day before, and I’m not going to miss it. His leadership is very disappointing.” They noted that they could repurchase the same tickets for $65.90.

“I just requested a refund. I wanted to go but there’s a vibe coming from it and I don’t agree with it,” another person said, while a third wrote: “I’ll cash in my four Golden Circle tickets.”

“I’m not even going to change my plans and go to an earlier date at a reduced price because it’s just pure incompetence to be so close to the concert.”

Eden Park representatives referred all queries to Live Nation, which did not respond to requests for comment when contacted. Herald after last week’s unexpected rescheduling.

To date, Live Nation has not responded to questions about ticket discounts, expected attendance or the reason for the event’s postponement. Herald has since reached out to Live Nation again for comment on the changes and glitches.

Scott was due to visit New Zealand for the first time in October 2016. However, due to “unforeseen obligations” Sick mode the rapper canceled his performance at Powerstation in Auckland the day before and returned to the United States.

Wednesday’s concert will mark the first time the star has returned to the country to perform since canceling a concert in 2016.

Tom Rose is an Auckland-based digital producer and assistant magazine editor. Herald which covers lifestyle, entertainment and travel.