Beyoncé fans in the United States are combating astronomical ticket prices by choosing to attend concerts in Europe instead.
Music fans have been using this tactic for a while, arguing that a trip abroad can cost the same or less than seeing a show stateside, especially when they use airline points or other rewards to book flights and hotels. European concert tickets are often much cheaper than tickets for the same tour in American cities.
Dallas-based Beyoncé fan Mercedes Arielle posted on Instagram about her decision to book a flight for the Renaissance tour to see a show in Sweden even though the performer was coming to her city. She told NBC News that VIP tickets to the Stockholm show cost $366, but her friends in Dallas spent $900 on tickets.
The social media user noted that she even got better seats for the money. “Beyoncé is gonna sweat on me,” Arielle said. “That’s how close I am.”
Kentucky-based fan Kylyn Schnelle had the same experience. She told the publication, “When I looked in London, it was 167 pounds [about $200], and the flight was, like, $660. I was like, this is genuinely the same cost.”
She contacted a friend in London and convinced her to attend the show, too. “If you’re going to spend $800, why would you not milk it as much as possible?” she said of making the trip.
“With the flight, it was still cheaper than me buying them in Kentucky,” Schnelle said in a TikTok video.
Lower ticket prices in Europe aren’t just for the Renaissance tour. The Daily Mail reported that admission to Pink’s show in Chicago costs $618, while similar seats at her Warsaw show cost just $126. To see Bruce Springsteen in New Jersey, his home state, costs $537, while seeing him sing in Denmark costs the equivalent of $96.
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Ticketmaster has come under fire recently for several reasons, including its dynamic pricing strategy, which increases prices based on user demand. They’ve also been called out for excessive service fees and other miscellaneous costs, which some frustrated fans noticed can cost more than the ticket prices themselves.
The Cure guitarist Robert Smith said he was “sickened” by the practice, arguing that the band intentionally tried to keep ticket prices low so more fans could attend.
“I am as sickened as you all are by today’s Ticketmaster ‘fees’ debacle,” the 63-year-old musician shared with fans last week. “To be very clear: the artist has no way to limit them,” he continued. “I have been asking how they are justified. If I get anything coherent by way of an answer I will let you all know.”