Taylor Swift and Lionel Messi dominated ticket sales in 2023

The year in live experiences was marked by record-breaking sales for particular music tours and sports events, reflecting a massive public interest in entertainment and experiences. Among these events, a popular singer’s tour set a historic benchmark as the most significant tour on a ticketing platform, dominating sales alongside other female artists who captured 73% of overall sales for the top 10 global touring artists. Notably, this singer, along with two other prominent female artists, garnered sales that tripled those of the top 10 highest-selling artists from the previous year.

In the realm of sports, a renowned soccer player’s move to a Major League Soccer team proved to be a major draw, with ticket sales for the league soaring by 160%. This player’s impact was felt internationally as well, with a noticeable increase in sales from outside the United States. Consequently, the player’s new team saw a significant spike in demand, becoming the most sought-after team for tickets in the league and surpassing the second most popular team’s sales by a substantial margin. Prior to this surge in popularity, the team ranked much lower in demand for tickets.

The impact of this soccer superstar was also evident in the pricing of match tickets, with the match featuring this player’s team against another major city team becoming the priciest in the league’s history, with average ticket prices reaching a high that greatly exceeded the typical price for the opposing team’s tickets. Furthermore, the top games of the soccer season were those played away by this player’s team.

Additionally, major sporting finals also contributed to a spike in sales, with a notable American football championship game surpassing the previous year’s sales significantly. A women’s basketball league final also achieved a historic milestone, becoming the highest-selling final for the league on the ticketing platform. These events collectively highlight a thriving demand for live entertainment and affirm the significant economic contribution of such experiences.