Morgan Wallen has become one of the biggest breakout stars in country music after hits like “Whiskey Glasses” and “Up Down” launched him to massive popularity. His live shows consistently sell out arenas and stadiums across the country. However, many fans are feeling frustrated about the sky-high ticket prices for Morgan Wallen concerts, even those in presales before the general public on-sale.
So are Morgan Wallen tickets just too expensive for the average fan?
In short, yes – the combination of high demand, limited tour dates, and tactics like dynamic pricing have driven the cost of Morgan Wallen tickets up to unprecedented levels.
In this detailed blog post, we’ll dive into all the factors behind the expensive concert tickets, look at some tips for getting seats for less, and examine whether it’s ultimately worth it for the biggest Morgan Wallen fans.
Why Tickets Are So Expensive
There are a number of key reasons why Morgan Wallen tickets don’t come cheap:
Huge Fan Demand to See Morgan Wallen Live
The most basic factor is economics 101 – supply and demand. Morgan Wallen has cultivated a massive fanbase as he has rocketed to stardom. His blend of traditional and contemporary country styles along with his energetic live performances have made him a must-see for country music lovers.
Wallen has sold out arenas like Madison Square Garden in minutes. When that many fans are vying for limited seats, prices inevitably go up. Promoters and ticket sellers are well aware of the intense demand.
Very Limited Tour Dates
While some huge global acts like Taylor Swift or U2 go on tours with dozens or even hundreds of shows, Morgan Wallen’s tours are relatively limited. For example, his 2022 tour had just 26 shows in North America.
When fans in each city have only 1 or 2 chances to see their favorite performer, demand goes through the roof. Limited supply allows sellers to charge a premium.
Big Venues Mean Big Overhead
Morgan Wallen is now playing in huge venues like NFL stadiums that can hold 50,000+ screaming fans. These venues cost a fortune to operate – staff, security, insurance, and all the technology involved with massive concerts.
Of course, the costs get passed along to consumers in higher ticket prices. Nosebleed seats have to be expensive just to cover the overhead.
VIP Treatment Adds Costs
From fan club presales to special packages with early venue entry, meet-and-greets, custom merch, and more, there are abundant opportunities for fans to pay a premium for VIP treatment at Morgan Wallen concerts.
These special perks allow promoters to capture more revenue from their most devoted fans. The biggest supporters want to get as close as possible to the star.
Dynamic and Speculative Pricing Tactics
Ticketmaster and other ticket sellers use “dynamic pricing” to adjust prices according to demand. For the biggest acts like Wallen, this often means rapidly escalating prices during presales and initial on-sales as fans rush for the chance to get tickets.
Similarly, “speculative pricing” sets prices high initially to discourage resellers, before lowering over time. This captures maximum revenue from the most eager fans first.
State-of-the-Art Production
Morgan Wallen concerts are full of state-of-the-art lighting, video screens, pyrotechnics, moving stages, and more. Delivering this enhanced experience for 50,000 seat stadium shows requires an enormous investment.
Much of the ticket revenue has to help recoup these major production costs that make Morgan Wallen concerts into such epic events.
Wallen’s Fame Means Pricing Power
As one of the most in-demand performers in country music right now, Morgan Wallen and his management team have tremendous latitude when it comes to pricing. They are well aware the shows will sell out instantly regardless.
Top stars can command sky-high prices, especially in huge markets like Los Angeles and New York. Promoters are eager to book Wallen and will agree to the pricing.
Lack of Pricing Transparency
Many complaints about concert tickets are not just the published prices, but all the fees tacked on. With Morgan Wallen shows, platinum level tickets can easily surpass $1000+ each after service and facility fees.
These confusing, convoluted fees often don’t appear until late in the purchasing process. All-in pricing would help consumers know the real costs upfront.
Tips for Morgan Wallen Tickets at Lower Prices
While Morgan Wallen tickets may seem prohibitively expensive, there are still a few tips fans can use to try to access seats for less:
- Wait for general on-sales – Prices are usually highest during presales. Remaining tickets may be cheaper.
- Check secondary markets – Sites like VividSeats or StubHub may have discounted seats from resellers.
- Consider obstructed views – You can sometimes save on partially obstructed upper deck or end zone seats.
- Last minute deals – Promoters often slash prices at the last minute if tickets remain unsold leading up to shows.
- Upper levels – Sitting higher up can mean big savings over lower bowl or floor seats.
- Group discounts – Buying 4+ tickets together sometimes allows access to group rates and deals.
There are never any guarantees when it comes to cheaper concert tickets. But fans willing to be flexible have a better chance to save.
Is the Morgan Wallen Experience Worth Expensive Tickets?
At the end of the day, every fan needs to determine if Morgan Wallen concert tickets are worth the sky-high prices for their own situation and budget. There are good arguments on both sides:
Worth the splurge
- Once in a lifetime experience in your city
- True superfans eager for the live experience
- Memorable “bucket list” night out
Too expensive to justify
- Budget considerations and other priorities
- Can still enjoy music without attending
- Principle – refuse to pay inflated prices
For many diehard Morgan Wallen devotees, the opportunity to be in the same arena and hear their favorite songs performed live is incredible. It really can make for a special night with friends or family. These fans have been waiting years for the chance.
For others, it is simply unreasonable or impossible to rationalize the costs, especially after adding in travel and other expenses associated with attending concerts. They will find other ways to enjoy Wallen’s music.
There are also fans conflicted somewhere in the middle – they desperately want to go but struggle with the pricing. This can lead to tough decisions around budgets and priorities.
Ultimately it’s a personal choice dependent on individual fan circumstances. There are good cases on both sides when prices rise so far beyond traditional concert ticket levels.
Why Are Prices and Fees So High Anyway?
Looking beyond just Morgan Wallen concerts, there are broader industry trends that help explain the jump in ticket prices and fees across the board:
- Touring costs – As productions become more elaborate, tour costs have ballooned. Just the trucks required can be $750,000 per day. Artists rely more and more on ticket sales, driving prices up.
- Promoter pressures – As LiveNation and other major promoters consolidate power, they demand higher artist fees that in turn raise ticket prices.
- Stagnant artist income – With declining album sales, artists see touring as the best way to gain income. Their teams push for higher ticket prices.
- Greed – As with any business, middlemen like promoters, ticketing companies, and venues want to maximize profits. They largely lack incentives to lower costs for fans.
- Dynamic pricing – Data-driven adjustments push maximum prices during peak demand. This shifts prices away from traditional fixed levels.
- Lack of regulation – Government oversight on ticket pricing is minimal. Critics argue more regulation could protect consumers.
These systemic factors across the live music business make sky-high ticket prices much more common – for Morgan Wallen and other top tours. Fans face an environment where costs will likely continue rising.
Conclusion
In the end, Morgan Wallen finds his tickets in such high demand that promoters and secondary markets can charge premium rates – and fans will still show up in droves. For the dedicated followers who have supported him from the start, the appeal of seeing this unlikely country superstar live provides justification to invest significant money into tickets. Yet at a certain price point, many fans simply cannot or will not pay hundreds of dollars per seat. This leads to frustration when initially eyeing the staggering costs.
Ultimately, consumers need more transparency on pricing and fees upfront, as well as more options through discounted sales. Morgan Wallen himself likely has minimal control over the actual ticket prices, which are set according to industry-wide practices. The combination of fame, scarcity of shows, and workings of the touring business predictably lead to very expensive concert experiences.
