Should Restricted View Tickets Be Ultra Cheap or Cancelled?
A little off the point - but funny. Many years ago, I was at the Nassau Coliseum to see Frank Sinatra. The seats were near the roof, and my feet were on a level with the shoulders of the person in front of me. There was an opening group and then Sinatra appeared - the size of an ant. The lady next to me was so excited she said, 'I think I'm gonna faint!' Her husband replied, 'Then faint backwards!.'
What are Restricted View Tickets?
While it’s been a long time since I’ve been to an indoor concert or event, restricted view tickets mean that something like a pole or column will be in front of you, restricting your view of the show. Historically, these tickets used to be a lot cheaper because of the restricted view. However, canceling these seats is unnecessary. If people want to see a show badly enough, they will take those seats if that’s all that is left. Nobody is being forced to pay for restricted view seats. It is your choice whether or not you buy them.
The Economics of Restricted View Tickets
The live concert industry has become infamous for its greed, but it’s hard to blame them for selling things like ‘restricted view’ tickets. There are still fans who are unexplainably and stupidly desperate for tickets and will buy restricted view tickets rather than none at all. This behavior is bizarre, but to each their own.
Personally, I would never buy restricted view tickets, but there are many fools out there who will. Demand drives the market. If nobody bought restricted view tickets, tours would stop selling them. Venues looking to make every dollar possible would probably be more motivated to come up with better engineering designs to reduce or eliminate restricted view seats. As long as fans continue to demonstrate they are willing to buy these tickets, the blame lies with them, not the venues, artists, or ticket companies.
Price vs. Availability
Yes, cheap is better. However, I don’t recall ever buying a restricted view seat that I didn’t know had an obstructed view. Sometimes they’re the last seats available. It really just depends on the specific venue.
Conclusion
The optimization of concert venue design plays a crucial role in the management of restricted view seats. By continuously improving the layout to minimize or eliminate restricted views, venues can ensure that every ticket holder has an enjoyable experience. This, in turn, can lead to increased satisfaction and repeat business for artists, venues, and ticket providers. As concert goers become more discerning, venues will be forced to adapt and evolve to meet their demands, ultimately creating a more equitable and satisfying experience for everyone involved.