Best time to sell tickets

General patterns in ticket resale timing

Most events follow a few recognizable patterns:

• Early hype – Some buyers rush in right after on-sale, especially for big-name artists and playoff games.
• Middle lull – Prices and interest can flatten for weeks or months, with lots of inventory on the market.
• Last-minute window – Many buyers make final decisions in the last week or even last days before the event, especially for local shows and sports.

Where your tickets should be priced in each phase depends on how quickly you want to sell and how popular the event is.

How timing differs for concerts, sports, and theater

Different event types behave differently:

• Concerts – Big tours can see strong early resale demand, especially if dates sell out quickly. For mid-level shows, demand may be softer and more last-minute.
• Sports – Regular season games can be very price-sensitive, with lots of inventory. Playoff and rivalry games may support higher prices closer to game time.
• Theater – Long-running shows may have more stable pricing, while limited-run or opening nights can behave more like high-demand concerts.

Balancing selling quickly vs maximizing payout

There's always a tradeoff between selling quickly and squeezing out every last dollar. A few practical rules:

• If you value certainty, list early at a competitive price and be willing to adjust.
• If you value maximum payout, you can start higher and watch the market, but be ready to cut prices if inventory stays high close to the event.
• For very hot events, waiting can pay off — but so can taking a solid profit earlier and avoiding last-minute risk.

Use a payout calculator to test timing scenarios

A simple way to think about timing is to model a few realistic price points and see how they translate into net payout after fees:

1. Pick two or three prices you might realistically get at different times (early, middle, last-minute).
2. Use the ticket resale payout calculator to see what each scenario would leave you with after seller fees on different marketplaces.
3. Decide which combination of timing and payout feels best for your situation.