What should’ve been a celebration of Ariana Grande’s return to touring has quickly turned into a case study in everything broken about the modern ticketing system.
Within hours of tickets going live, fans were met with long queues, technical glitches and skyrocketing resale prices.
Grande addressed the issue in an Instagram story, writing “hi my angels, i have been on set all week but i wanted to let you know that what’s been happening with the secondary ticket resellers has been brought to my attention and of course i am incredibly bothered by it.
“i’ve been on the phone every second of my free time fighting for a solution. i hear you and hopefully, we will be able to get more of these tickets into your hands instead of theirs. it’s not right.
“i just wanted you to know that my team and i see it and that i care very much and we will do, and are doing, everything we can. i love you so much and thank you for your patience and understanding.”
If it all sounds familiar, it is. Grande’s tour is the latest in a long line of resale dramas similar to recent debacles around Taylor Swift, Chappell Roan and the Oasis reunion.
Until federal regulations change, fans are left to navigate the highly competitive ticket market all for a chance to see their favorite artist live.
Where to buy Ariana Grande “Eternal Sunshine” tour tickets
Here’s what you need to know if you’re trying to buy (or resell) Ariana Grande tickets in this chaotic landscape:
If you’re still hoping to catch Ariana live, resale sites might be your only bet, but not all platforms are created equal. Here’s how the top resale platforms stack up, including Vivid Seats, SeatGeek and StubHub.
Vivid Seats – Promotes a 100% Buyer Guarantee, promising that customers will receive valid tickets in time for their event or they’ll get a full refund. The platform also offers compensation if a show is canceled without a reschedule.
SeatGeek – Praised for its clean, transparent user interface and upfront pricing. It also backs every ticket with its Buyer Guarantee, which ensures that your tickets will arrive on time, be valid for entry and match what you purchased or they’ll either replace them or refund your purchase. SeatGeek’s system can sometimes flag resale listings that appear suspicious or overpriced, giving fans a bit more confidence when shopping in a high-stakes resale environment.
StubHub – One of the longest-running players in the game, offers what it calls the FanProtect Guarantee. This ensures tickets are real, will arrive in time and that fans will receive comparable replacements or refunds if anything goes wrong. If your event is canceled and not rescheduled, you will receive a credit worth 120% of the amount you paid for the impacted event.
More tips
Avoid third-party sellers on social media (Venmo/PayPal-based scams are rampant).
Double-check ticket details before purchasing, as some tickets are restricted or non-transferable.
Be patient: Prices may drop closer to the event date as resellers panic and try to offload inventory.