Ticket drama at Lollapalooza’s 4-day GA pass: base price sits at $665, but heavy additional charges bump the total to $807.96 — including a $128.01 service fee and a $14.95 delivery fee. A Reddit post titled “So confused” captures the collective frustration from fans over these sky-high fees.
On r/lollapalooza, the conversation unfolds predictably: users slam Ticketmaster’s outsized service fees as “excessive but expected.” Comparisons to reseller platforms like StubHub and Vivid Seats reveal that secondary markets don’t offer much relief—often jacking up prices even more due to demand and panic buying. Several voices suggest that while the full fest experience carries a premium, catching solo shows might deliver better bang for the buck in terms of performance quality.
This situation reflects wider tensions in the live music ticketing world. The U.S. Department of Justice has taken legal action against Ticketmaster’s parent, Live Nation Entertainment, over allegations their dominance suppresses competition and inflates ticket prices. Meanwhile, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has moved to crack down on “unfair and deceptive pricing practices,” targeting hidden fees across industries, including live events.
For deeper perspectives on this ongoing saga:
- How Live Nation calls the tune for the live music industry (FT)
- Government lawsuit seeks to break up Ticketmaster’s monopoly (AP News)
- Why U.S. concert tickets are so expensive (Reuters)
The takeaway for festivalgoers? Prepare for fees that can add hundreds on top of ticket prices at major festivals — a bitter pill but part of the new normal in live music.
Source: r/lollapalooza