With Memorial Day Weekend just around the corner, the start of summer 2016 is only days away. In anticipation, our team at SeatGeek partnered with travel search engine KAYAK to analyze a wealth of ticket and travel data, in order to uncover the summer’s hottest events. First, we looked at SeatGeek search data to find out which events are in high demand, while KAYAK pinpointed the median airfare and hotel rates for travel to each event. With these stats in mind, we were able to identify the hottest events of the summer and calculate how much it will cost fans to attend.
Before diving into the event details, it’s interesting to note that there are some fan-friendly insights within the data that can be good tips for travelers. For instance, it may pay to procrastinate--prices on the secondary market will often drop in the days leading up to an event. For example, at last year’s MLB All-Star Game the average resale price of a ticket was $716 when purchased 30+ days in advance. That dropped to $422 for fans who bought tickets within the last 3 days before the game (a 41% difference). Data shows that waiting until the very last minute can sometimes provide the best deals for hotel rooms as well.
Additionally, music festivals can be great bang for your buck. While some fans may face a little sticker shock when checking out the price of a ticket to a festival, oftentimes these multi-act, multi-day events are actually a great value for those who take the plunge. Even after you add in hotel costs, you’re seeing performers that would add up to command more than a thousand dollars to experience individually.
Summer also happens to be the perfect time for a road trip. For those feeling priced out when a favorite artist or team comes to town, it may pay to hit the road as ticket prices can vary dramatically between locales. For example, a ticket to Beyonce’s first show at Citi Field in NYC has an average resale price of $254. However, in nearby Pittsburgh, the average resale price is only $93. Need wheels? A recent analysis of KAYAK’s data shows that you should book your car at least 2 weeks in advance (three weeks for larger cities like Chicago and New York).
Lastly, timing can be key. Choosing to fly on off-peak days (relative to your event’s dates) might be a way to save - for example, data shows those looking to save on travel to Summerfest should try to arrive on July 8th and depart on July 10th, which produced the lowest combined trip cost (flight + hotel). Similarly for Hamilton, if you’re looking to get to NYC on the cheap you may want to fly in on a Tuesday and out on a Thursday - which KAYAK data showed produced the lowest airfare for summer travel to NYC.
Here are the five hottest events of this summer:
Copa America Final, East Rutherford, NJ, June 26
The biggest soccer tournament in the Americas will celebrate its 100th year with a first-ever trip to the United States for what may turn out to be the sporting event of the summer. Sixteen teams will play matches in 10 US cities, and the main event is the championship final in New Jersey at MetLife Stadium. Argentina and Brazil are the favorites to win the tournament, according to ESPN’s Soccer Power Index.
Median Resale Ticket Price: $317
Median Airfare: $259
Median Hotel Rate: $235
Summerfest, Milwaukee, WI, June 29-July 10
Known as “The World’s Largest Music Festival,” this 11-day event features more than 800 acts and 1,000 performances across 11 stages. Located in Milwaukee, Henry Maier Festival Park will be the site of nearly 900,000 attendees this summer. Headliners this year include Selena Gomez, Paul McCartney, Tim McGraw, and Blink-182.
Median Resale Ticket Price: $125
Median Airfare: $222
Median Hotel Rate: $186
MLB All-Star Game and Home Run Derby, San Diego, CA, July 10-12
The best players across the American and National Leagues will descend upon Petco Park this summer for the MLB All-Star Game and Home Run Derby. The 87th edition of the Midsummer Classic will be held in San Diego for the first time since 1992.
Median Resale Ticket Price: $750
Median Airfare: $266
Median Hotel Rate: $226
Lollapalooza, Chicago, IL, July 28-31
Lollapalooza Music Festival is celebrating its 25th year by adding a Thursday lineup to the traditional weekend schedule. Radiohead, LCD Soundsystem, and the Red Hot Chili Peppers will headline the performances at Chicago’s Grant Park.
Median Resale Ticket Price: $424
Median Airfare: $272
Median Hotel Rate: $262
Hamilton, New York, NY, All Summer
The musical that seems to have broken nearly every record on Broadway is still the event of the summer as far as theater fans are concerned. With 16 Tony Nominations under its belt, Hamilton has made showtunes--and America’s Founding Fathers--cool again.
Median Resale Ticket Price: $515
Median Airfare: $259
Median Hotel Rate: $258
