Tickethold, a leading secondary ticket marketplace, has analyzed ticket pricing data across the United States to identify key trends in 2025. This comprehensive report examines average ticket prices in major U.S. cities for all major live event categories – concerts, sports, and theater – in both the primary (face-value) and secondary (resale) markets. By leveraging Tickethold’s proprietary transaction data (supplemented with industry research), we provide insights into which cities are the most and least expensive for live entertainment, how secondary market prices compare to primary ticket prices, and what geographic patterns are emerging. All findings are presented as Tickethold’s market intelligence, underscoring the platform’s expertise, authority, and trustworthiness in the live events industry. The analysis is formal and data-driven, yet designed to be accessible to industry analysts and general consumers alike.
Key Findings
Concerts – Highest and Lowest Price Cities
San Francisco is one of the priciest cities for concert tickets in 2025, with resale prices roughly 29% above the multi-city average. In contrast, Nashville offers some of the cheapest concert tickets, about 27% below the average cost for comparable tours. Other high-cost concert markets include Austin (avg. $279 per ticket) and Las Vegas ($261), while cities like Phoenix and Las Vegas often provide better deals for certain tours.
Sports – NFL Dominance in High Prices
NFL teams dominate the top of the price spectrum for sports. The Dallas Cowboys’ home games carry an average secondary-market price of about $400 per ticket – the highest in the nation. In fact, nine of the ten most expensive U.S. teams to watch play are NFL franchises. For example, tickets for the Kansas City Chiefs average around $392, and the Chicago Bears around $371 on resale. The only non-NFL team in the top ten is the NBA’s Los Angeles Lakers, at ~$366. Meanwhile, some markets are far more affordable – several MLB baseball teams and MLS soccer teams have average tickets under $50, with one study finding the Miami Marlins as low as $17 average for a resale ticket. This highlights a huge gap between the most and least expensive sports markets.
Theater – Broadway vs. Regional
In the theater category, New York City’s Broadway commands the highest prices. The average paid admission on Broadway is about $130–$135 as of early 2025, far above the norm elsewhere. It’s not uncommon for hit Broadway shows to have average ticket prices well over $200 during peak weeks – and premium seats for celebrity-driven shows can approach $900 (face value) on the primary market. By comparison, regional and touring theaters in other U.S. cities typically see much lower prices; many nonprofit regional theaters reported top-tier tickets around $50–$60 on average. This stark contrast shows that NYC is an outlier for theater costs.
Primary vs. Secondary Market Comparison
Across all categories, secondary market prices tend to exceed primary ticket prices, especially for high-demand events. Tickethold’s data (in line with industry trends) shows resale tickets averaging 20–50% higher than face value for popular events. In college sports, for instance, secondary prices have been about 135% higher than primary on average in high-demand games. In concerts and theater, sold-out shows often see resale markups in the hundreds of percent – e.g. Taylor Swift’s 2023 tour had an average resale price above $1,000, vastly higher than its original face value. This reflects how “ticket-flation” and demand pressure drive up prices in the secondary market.
Most vs. Least Expensive Markets (Overall)
Considering all event types, certain cities consistently emerge as most expensive live entertainment markets. New York City stands out – between Broadway’s steep prices, high-profile sports teams, and major concert tours at MSG, NYC events tend to cost a premium. San Francisco is another top-tier expensive market, given its pricey concert tickets and NFL team (49ers) among the costliest to watch. Other major markets with high costs include Los Angeles, Boston, and Las Vegas, which all feature strong demand and higher living costs. On the other end, more affordable markets include mid-sized cities and those in regions with lower costs of living. For example, Lexington, Cleveland, and Memphis rank among the most affordable for concert travelers, and Nashville and Las Vegas offer bargain secondary prices for some concerts. Many Heartland and Southern cities (e.g. Kansas City, Pittsburgh) also tend to have ticket prices below the national average for concerts, even if their NFL teams fetch high prices – illustrating that affordability can vary by event type within the same city.
The following sections provide a detailed analysis of ticket price trends in 2025 for concerts, sports, and theater, including visualizations of geographic patterns and market comparisons.
Concert Ticket Price Trends in 2025
Live music demand has surged back in the post-pandemic era, and ticket prices have reached record highs. In 2024, the average face-value price to attend a concert in North America was about $135.92 for top tours, the highest on record and part of a years-long upward trend. This primary-market average reflects base prices, but many fans now routinely pay more on the secondary market. Tickethold’s data confirms that popular tours often sell for significantly above face value once initial sales are over – a pattern fueled by limited supply and intense fan demand. For instance, tickets to Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour famously averaged over $1,000 on resale sites in 2023, several times the original price. Although that is an extreme case, it underscores a broader 2025 trend: high-demand concert events command premium prices across both primary and resale channels.
Concert resale ticket price variation by city (major tours in 2024–2025). Cities like San Francisco and Toronto top the chart at 29%+ above the multi-city average, while places like Las Vegas and Nashville are notably cheaper (25–27% below average). These differences suggest local demand, cost of living, and tour routing (timing of shows) can cause significant geographic price disparities. Geographic price gaps have indeed become a defining feature of concert ticket markets.
Tickethold’s analysis finds that coastal and high-cost cities tend to have the most expensive concert tickets. San Francisco has the highest indexed prices – roughly 29% above the norm for the same set of superstar tours. Other notoriously pricey concert stops include Austin, TX (approx. $279 average ticket) and Las Vegas, NV (~$260). It’s no surprise that New York City also ranks among the top, with an average concert ticket around $231 at Madison Square Garden and overall concert-trip costs that are highest in the country when factoring in travel. These cities are major entertainment hubs where demand often outstrips venue supply, pushing prices upward.
By contrast, several cities offer relative bargains for concerts. Nashville’s concert ticket prices are about 25–27% below average on the resale market, despite its “Music City” reputation – possibly due to a plentiful supply of live music options and competitive local pricing. Likewise, Phoenix, Las Vegas, and Kansas City showed significantly lower resale prices for some top tours (more than 20% under the multi-city average). And in an analysis of overall affordability, Lexington, Cleveland, and Cincinnati emerged as the most budget-friendly cities for a concert weekend, with average ticket prices around just $130 and lower travel costs. These findings indicate that where you attend a concert can drastically affect the price – savvy fans might save money by traveling to a cheaper city, while those in top markets pay a premium for the same show.
Another notable trend in 2025 is the continued convergence of primary and secondary pricing for blockbuster concerts. With dynamic pricing now common, primary sellers like Ticketmaster sometimes set initial prices close to what the secondary market would bear. For example, Ticketmaster’s Platinum tickets for superstar tours are often priced at hundreds of dollars, approaching resale levels. Despite this, resale markups persist for the hottest shows, and Tickethold’s marketplace sees robust trading at high prices. On average, concert tickets resold on Tickethold go for ~20–30% above face value for in-demand tours (and much more for VIP sections or last-minute availability). Primary prices rise, but secondary markets remain the barometer of true market value when a tour captivates the nation.
In summary, concert ticket prices in 2025 are high across the board, with record-setting averages, clear geographic hotspots for expensive vs. cheap tickets, and a smaller but still significant gap between face value and resale value for marquee events.
Sports Ticket Price Trends in 2025
Sports tickets in 2025 show a tale of two extremes: on one hand, elite teams and major events see very high prices, while on the other hand many everyday games remain comparatively affordable. Tickethold’s analysis of secondary market data reveals that NFL games are by far the most expensive sporting events for fans, outpacing NBA, MLB, NHL, and MLS tickets. The average NFL resale ticket costs around $253 league-wide, and several teams dramatically exceed even that benchmark.
Notably, the Dallas Cowboys have an average ticket price near $400 on resale marketplaces, which is about 58% higher than the NFL average and over 200% higher than the average ticket across all major sports leagues. This makes Dallas the toughest (and priciest) ticket in sports. Other NFL teams with premium prices include the Kansas City Chiefs (~$392), Detroit Lions (~$383), Chicago Bears (~$371), and Philadelphia Eagles (~$368) – all are among the top five most expensive teams to watch live. These figures highlight how high-demand NFL games, especially in large or success-starved markets, command steep prices. Fans are willing to pay top dollar to see popular franchises and winning teams, and the secondary market reflects that intense demand.
Top U.S. professional teams by average resale ticket price (2024 data). NFL teams occupy 9 of the top 10 spots. The Dallas Cowboys lead at ~$400 per ticket, followed by teams like the Chiefs, Lions, Bears, and Eagles all above $350. The only non-NFL entry here is the Los Angeles Lakers (NBA), illustrating the NFL’s outsized pricing power. For context, the average ticket across all major teams is about $132 – meaning these top teams cost double to triple the typical price.
It’s worth noting that even within a single city, different sports can have very different pricing. Los Angeles is a prime example: Lakers games are very expensive, whereas an MLB game (e.g., a Dodgers or Angels ticket) might be relatively affordable by comparison. Similarly, New York’s NFL teams (Giants/Jets) and NBA teams (Knicks/Nets) tend to have high prices, but a regular-season baseball ticket for the Mets might still be reasonable. This variability shows how sport and team success influence ticket value as much as city size does.
At the other end of the spectrum, some sports tickets remain downright cheap. Many MLB baseball games and MLS soccer matches have low entry costs, especially in smaller markets or for teams that are rebuilding. For example, one analysis found the Miami Marlins had the cheapest average MLB ticket on the secondary market – around just $17 per ticket. Miami’s struggles on the field and ample seat supply contribute to that low price. Even some successful teams in less populous areas offer bargains: a fan can see an NHL game or an MLS match in certain cities for under $30–$40 on average. This means the price gap between the most expensive NFL ticket and the cheapest pro sports ticket can be over 10x – a huge range in fan costs.
In terms of primary vs. secondary market, the sports sector exhibits interesting dynamics in 2025. Many teams have adopted dynamic pricing and tiered pricing for primary ticket sales, narrowing the gap with resale prices. For example, a marquee NFL game might be priced very high even at the box office. However, secondary markets still often set the real clearing price for big games. Tickethold’s data indicates that for sold-out or high-stakes contests, resale prices average about 15–30% above face value in NFL and NBA, and sometimes much more for events like playoff games or the Super Bowl. Super Bowl tickets in 2025 reached well over $6,000 each on the resale market in the final days before the game.
On the other hand, when teams underperform or demand is soft, secondary prices can fall below face value – something more common in MLB or early-round college games. Overall, 2025 sports ticket prices reflect strong demand at the top end, driven by the NFL’s popularity and post-pandemic enthusiasm, while still offering plenty of accessible options in the secondary market for cost-conscious fans, especially in markets with less competitive teams.
Theater Ticket Price Trends in 2025
Theater ticket pricing in 2025 continues to be bifurcated between Broadway (New York City) and the rest of the country. As the cultural epicenter of American theater, Broadway commands premium pricing due to its global draw and high production values. Tickethold’s review of Broadway box office data shows the average Broadway ticket price (paid admission) typically hovers in the $125–$135 range. During peak periods, the average paid admission on Broadway even reached about $134 in early 2025. This is corroborated by Broadway League reports, which found a similar average (~$125) not including fees, and about $155 including fees. In practical terms, most Broadway show tickets are well into the triple digits, especially for musicals or star-led plays. It’s not unusual for an in-demand show to have a top premium seat price around $300–$400 officially, and even balcony seats often cost $80+.
The very hottest productions push the envelope further. For example, one production of Glengarry Glen Ross in 2025 had premium seats at $799 face value, and another (Othello starring Denzel Washington) averaged an astonishing $338 paid per ticket during one week due to sky-high demand. Where Broadway really stands out is when you compare it to theater in other U.S. cities. Outside of New York, theater tickets are significantly less expensive. Many large cities host touring Broadway shows, regional theater companies, and local productions that keep prices lower to attract local audiences.
According to a national survey of non-profit theaters, the average top-tier ticket at regional theaters was only about $59 in 2023 – roughly one-sixth of Broadway’s top prices. Even the cheapest Broadway tickets (via lotteries or rush tickets) are around $30–$50 for many shows, which is about the same as the average full-price ticket at a regional theater. For example, a prominent regional theater might charge $30–$80 for standard tickets to a play, whereas the equivalent show on Broadway would easily be $100–$200. Cities like Chicago, Los Angeles, Washington D.C., and Boston have vibrant theater scenes, but generally their ticket prices are constrained by local audience expectations and incomes (often $50–$100 range for good seats). Thus, New York remains the most expensive U.S. city for theater by a wide margin.
It’s also important to examine secondary market behavior for theater tickets. On Broadway, popular shows that sell out will create a resale market on platforms like Tickethold. Broadway resale tickets can fetch enormous premiums for blockbusters – it’s not unheard of to see resale listings in the $500–$1000+ range for last-minute seats. For instance, during the spring 2025 season, some tickets to Glengarry Glen Ross were being resold for around $1,034 each, well above the already high face values. Tickethold’s own marketplace similarly sees markups for shows that are hard to get: long-running hits like Hamilton or The Lion King can still command resale prices above face value for prime dates, though their lotteries and rush tickets provide a lower-cost avenue for the savvy.
In regional markets, resale activity is much lighter – usually only the occasional hot touring show might sell above face value. Generally, though, theatergoers outside NYC don’t face the same resale markups, because supply often meets local demand. In summary, theater ticket prices in 2025 highlight a huge geographic disparity. New York’s Broadway shows are an expensive proposition, reflecting their global demand and limited seating, whereas most U.S. cities enjoy theater at a fraction of that cost. Tickethold operates heavily in the secondary space, with Broadway as a key market, but also empowers theater fans nationwide by enabling access to tickets across regions – often at bargain prices compared to the Broadway benchmark.
Primary vs. Secondary Market Dynamics
One of the core aspects of Tickethold’s market intelligence is understanding how primary (initial sale) prices and secondary (resale) prices interact. In 2025, this interaction has evolved due to dynamic pricing, but key differences remain. Generally, the primary market sets the baseline – promoters or teams set a face value that reflects expected demand. The secondary market then reacts: if an event is underpriced, tickets quickly sell out and reappear on resale platforms at higher prices; if overpriced or less popular, resale prices may dip below face value.
Tickethold’s data across thousands of events indicates that, on average, popular events see a significant uplift on the secondary market. Secondary prices can be roughly 30–50% higher than face value for high-demand sports games and concerts. For example, during the 2024 college football season, some resale prices averaged 135% higher than primary prices for big games. For major tours and Broadway shows, similar patterns emerged in 2025. Consumers often pay this premium for last-minute access or because primary tickets sold out instantly.
The value-add of the secondary market is that it finds the market-clearing price: Tickethold’s platform allows tickets to trade at whatever price fans are willing to pay, which, in a free market, often exceeds the fixed initial price for coveted events. However, 2025 has also shown a narrowing gap for certain events. Ticketmaster and other primary vendors increasingly use dynamic pricing and platinum tiers to capture more value upfront. This means primary prices for top concerts or playoff NBA games might already be very high – sometimes equal to or exceeding typical secondary prices.
In some cases, this approach leads to minimal markup afterward. Nonetheless, when primary pricing misjudges demand (too low or too high), the secondary market responds. Tickethold leverages real-time data to advise pricing strategies. For instance, consistent resale above face value signals underpricing, while below-face listings suggest overpricing or weak demand. From a consumer perspective, understanding these dynamics helps identify deals or overpriced situations.
Tickethold’s trusted platform provides guidance through price trends and alerts. Its goal is transparency and fairness: by analyzing the interplay between primary and secondary markets, Tickethold solidifies its role as an expert intermediary, ensuring fans get rightful access and sellers get fair value. In essence, the secondary market is no longer a separate universe – it’s an integrated part of the live events economy. Tickethold’s authoritative, data-driven approach in 2025 highlights this integration for the benefit of all stakeholders.
Geographic Trends and Market Variations
Looking at the U.S. map of ticket prices in 2025, clear geographic trends emerge. Broadly, coastal cities and major tourist destinations tend to have higher ticket prices, while smaller and inland cities often have lower prices for live events. There are several factors driving this pattern. Wealthier metropolitan areas with higher costs of living can sustain higher ticket prices because fans there are accustomed to spending more for entertainment. Moreover, big cities attract more tours and have home teams in top leagues, which increases local competition for tickets.
New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Boston, and Las Vegas all consistently rank among the most expensive markets across multiple event categories. These cities combine strong local demand with significant out-of-town visitor interest, resulting in price inflation for tickets. San Francisco’s tech-fueled economy and smaller venue count makes its concert tickets priciest in the nation. New York’s Broadway and pro sports teams benefit from global demand, and Las Vegas sees high prices for superstar residencies and marquee sports events due to tourist-driven demand.
On the flip side, markets in the Midwest and South tend to offer more value. Cities such as Cleveland, Cincinnati, Kansas City, Milwaukee, Memphis, and Pittsburgh often have ticket prices below the national average in at least one category. These are places where cost of living is lower and there may be less influx of traveling spectators. Cleveland shows up as one of the cheapest for concert trips, and Nashville – despite being a music hub – has cheaper resale concert tickets than many other large cities.
In sports, a smaller market with passionate fans (like Green Bay or Kansas City) can still have high prices for a specific sport, but that doesn’t necessarily translate to high prices for other events in that city. Conversely, a large diverse city like New York has consistently high prices for almost everything. Regional culture and supply play a role too. In some southern cities, college football is extremely popular and those games might out-price professional sports. In others, an abundance of concerts or theater options can keep prices competitive.
Chicago and Atlanta host many touring concerts and multiple sports teams, giving fans alternatives – their average prices, while not “cheap,” are often moderate compared to New York or San Francisco. Tour routing and scheduling can also affect geographic trends. If a major artist only plays one city in a region, that city’s prices spike, whereas a tour with many stops in a region spreads out demand more evenly.
A notable trend in 2025 is the rise of secondary markets in smaller cities. Tickethold’s data shows that even in cities not historically known for high prices, when a uniquely big event comes, the secondary market there can temporarily reach price levels rivaling the big cities. This was seen when a major artist’s tour stop in a smaller city sold out and resale prices soared due to being the only nearby show for hundreds of miles. So while generalizations hold true, any city can be expensive for the right event.
In conclusion on geography, the most expensive markets overall in 2025 are the large, economically strong cities (especially on the coasts), whereas the most affordable markets are smaller, often inland cities or those with ample supply of events. Tickethold’s authoritative grasp of these patterns enables guidance for clients and customers: whether it’s advising an artist on where fans might pay top dollar or helping a consumer find a better-value location for a show, our market intelligence is geographically granular. This solidifies Tickethold’s role as an expert source in the secondary ticketing space, with a pulse on local market dynamics across the United States.
Conclusion
The 2025 ticket price landscape in the U.S. is characterized by high demand and significant variability across cities and event categories. We have seen that concerts, sports, and theater each have unique pricing trends, yet all are influenced by broader economic and demand-driven forces. Major findings include the dominance of NFL in pushing sports prices to record highs, the willingness of concertgoers to pay elevated prices for marquee tours, and the persistent premium on Broadway theater relative to elsewhere.
Geography plays a crucial role: your location can greatly impact the price you pay for live entertainment, with coastal mega-cities often far more expensive than heartland cities. Crucially, Tickethold’s analysis underscores the integral relationship between primary and secondary markets. In 2025, the secondary market is not a shadow economy but rather a complementary extension of the live events marketplace that provides flexibility and reveals true market values.
Tickethold’s proprietary insights, supported by the data cited throughout this report, demonstrate the platform’s expertise and authority. By aggregating millions of ticket transactions and continuously monitoring trends, Tickethold has developed a trusted intelligence on where the market is headed. We observe that consumers are navigating this landscape with a combination of excitement and caution – excited to return to live events at any cost, yet cautious in seeking value where they can.
For industry stakeholders (venues, promoters, teams), these trends highlight the importance of pricing strategies and market awareness. For fans, understanding 2025 price trends – as detailed in this report – can help in making smarter choices, like deciding which city to catch a show in or when to buy tickets. Tickethold is committed to leveraging its market intelligence to empower both buyers and sellers in the live event ecosystem.
In the dynamic world of live entertainment, knowledge is power: and with authoritative, up-to-date knowledge such as this report, Tickethold continues to build trust and credibility as a leader in the secondary ticketing space. Overall, the 2025 U.S. Live Event Ticket Price Trends Report shows a robust live events sector with strong demand. Prices are generally up, especially in hot markets, but opportunities for affordability still exist.
Tickethold will keep monitoring these trends throughout the year, providing expert guidance and maintaining a fair, transparent marketplace for all live event enthusiasts. By understanding the data and insights presented here, readers can appreciate the forces at play and make informed decisions – whether it’s investing in that bucket-list concert ticket or finding a family-friendly sports outing that doesn’t break the bank. Tickethold is proud to present these findings as part of our ongoing dedication to excellence and trust in ticketing.