CMU School of Drama


Wednesday, April 10, 2024

Average Broadway Ticket Prices Reach All-Time High

www.ticketnews.com: According to the Broadway League, the average ticket price for a Broadway show has hit a new record high. The trade association — that is known for compiling various statistics and publishing extensive reports on a number of topics — revealed last season’s (2022-2023) ticket prices corresponded to more than $128. Increasing steadily since 1980, the $5 increase for a ticket in six years marked the highest since before the pandemic.

4 comments:

Theo K said...

This isn't the first time I've heard about Broadway ticket prices increasing to the point where they're unsustainable. With the price of everything going up producing theater, it's understandable that ticket prices are going up, however I think Broadway ticket prices have hit a point where they may become unsustainable as they did back in 2017. I understand that Broadway is part for profit but personally as a college student who would love to see shows like The Outsiders and Back to the Future it crushes me that I can't do the cost of theater in New York. Another interesting fact that I wanted to point out is the average income of a Broadway viewer is well into the upper middle class threshold with so many people finding their love of theater through Broadway. I really wish that ticket prices were more accessible to the lower classes. Hopefully something will change about the pricing of Broadway shows in the near future.

willavu said...

I think this is a detrimental thing for the theater industry. theater used to be a luxury for people when it started to get established as an industry. it became more mainstream when the everyday person wanted to see a show, and that is what's so great it is accessible for many people, Broadway or not theater can be a magical experience. Broadway tickets are known for being expensive, the work The Craft and the talent all put into the shows is what causes that price to be very high. and while I don't think that a front-row seat should be $1,000 I think people should pay good money to see good theater. on the other hand, theater is a dying industry, and high prices are just going to steer people farther and farther away from the stage and onto the screen. Broadway tickets need to be lowered in price unfortunately, people aren't willing to pay the same amount they once were, or fewer people are willing to pay. everyone should be immersed in theater at some point in their life, it is a different kind of creativity and art form. I remember the craze for the Hamilton tickets when that was “trending.” It was stupid and overpriced however amazing show. I think Broadway needs to continue to create great theater however they need to lower their prices!

Sam Regardie said...

It is really tragic just how expensive Broadway tickets are today. I think much of the appeal of theater should be in its ability to be accessed by many people, but this just isn't the case. I understand that theaters need to make a profit, but at the same time prices these high are just making it so a very large portion of the population is not able to see shows. It would be so nice as a college student to be able to travel up to NYC for a weekend to see a few shows, but that is such a major expense now that it is out of the thought for me and many others. There is so much great theater created on Broadway, but this only means so much if many people will never see it and the shows will close because they didn't sell enough tickets. These issues just get worse every year and I am worried about how they will continue.

Reigh Wilson said...

I have seen this happen in real time, as for the past 10 years I have lived very close to New York City, and have been seeing Broadway shows the entire time. It is absolutely crazy how in the past few years ticket prices have jumped like nobody’s business and it is becoming harder and harder to justify going to see shows. Which is why for so many years I have been applying to the lotteries, but even they have upped their prices. Where I used to be able to get a lottery ticket for 20-30 dollars now it is around 40-60, which I will take over the close to $500 tickets that shows nowadays but it is still ridiculously expensive. If we want theater to stop being this classist elitist thing then we need it to stop being so expensive so that only people who have been saving for years to see one show, or people who have extra money to spend can enjoy it.