Editor's note: An earlier version of this story listed the start of ticket sales as 1 p.m. Thursday. It is 11 a.m. Thursday.
Ever since Taylor Swift announced last week she would be descending upon the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans next year for a three-night run as part of her extended Eras Tour, area Swifties have been preparing for the Great War that will be securing tickets.
But unfortunately, so have the scammers. Hereโs what to know to make sure no one gets in your way of seeing Blondie in the flesh.
Ticketmaster hasnโt begun selling tickets for any of the additional shows and according to their website, New Orleans tickets won't start going on sale until Thursday, Aug. 10, at 11 a.m.ย
But scalpers are already deceptively selling what theyโre claiming are โticketsโ on sites like , and . In reality, they are not actual tickets a reseller has but rather potential tickets a reseller is hoping to procure and sell. This is called speculative ticketing.
If the resellers canโt get a ticket or choose not to complete the transaction for any reason, they can cancel the order, sometimes leaving fans without a ticket at the last minute.
The prices are also far more than what someone would pay going through Ticketmasterโs initial sale. For instance, scalpers are selling prospective tickets in the nosebleeds for around $1,500, while a comparable seat for a Houston show in April went for about $140.
Scalpers are also selling prospective tickets at the front of the floor for more than $10,000, likely at least ten times what someone would pay for similar seats going straight through Ticketmaster, despite the high fees the platform charges.
The problem is to gain access to the Ticketmaster sale of tickets, one must have already registered as a “verified fan” on . Registration closed Saturday evening, and Ticketmaster will notify fans on Tuesday if they’ve been chosen for the Thursday sale.
Sale for the Friday, Oct. 25, 2024, show starts at 11 a.m., followed by 1 p.m. for the Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024, show and 3 p.m. for the Sunday, Oct. 27, 2024, show.
To further avoid scams, the Better Business Bureau (BBB) recommends going through Ticketmasterโs official website and double-checking URLs before purchasing anything.
If purchasing from Ticketmaster is no longer an option, the BBB suggests using a credit card, which might offer a refund for sham tickets. Never give credit card information over the phone, and be wary if an individual seller asks for a method thatโs a direct transfer of money or a gift card. Before buying, make sure the ticket information matches up with the venue information.
And if you do suspect a scam, report it on the .
Godspeed, Swifties. Hereโs hoping youโre the Lucky One.