Taylor Swift and Lionel Messi dominate 2023 ticket sales

2023 Belongs to Taylor Swift and Lionel Messi in Ticket Sales Domination

StubHub's "Year of Live Experiences" report revealed popular events on their ticketing website, highlighting Taylor Swift's "Eras Tour" and Lionel Messi's matches among the most sought-after activities.

It isn't a surprise that Swift's "Eras Tour" holds the record for the biggest tour ever on StubHub, with women like Swift, Beyoncé, Pink, Coldplay, U2, and Bruce Springsteen cumulating for 73% of the total global gross sales of the Top 10 touring artists . This female-dominated powerhouse also increased their StubHub sales by triple the amount in 2022, including Swift, Beyoncé, and Pink .

The "Eras Tour" generated a whopping $2.2 billion in ticket sales in North America alone, illustrating the massive global demand for entertainment and experiences that positively impacts the economy . It's not just North America reaping the rewards; Lionel Messi's move to MLS club Inter Miami this summer significantly boosted the league's ticket sales, with StubHub data indicating a 160% increase in ticket sales .

Messi's arrival also drew international fans outside the USA, leading to a 220% surge in international sales . Inter Miami also gained immense popularity, becoming the "beloved team" in Major League Soccer, with 85% higher sales than the second-most beloved team . Before Messi's arrival, Inter Miami ranked as the 13th team with the most ticket requests .

StubHub's data also revealed that the six best-selling MLS games were away matches for Inter Miami, while the game between LAFC and Miami became the most expensive MLS game of all time, with an average ticket price of approximately $800 – a substantial increase over the typical LAFC price of $145 .

The high-demand events that aided StubHub's sales include the 2023 Super Bowl 57 between the Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs, generating 50% more revenue than the previous year's team champion, and the New York Liberty and Las Vegas' WNBA Finals, with the match between the Aces being the most popular WNBA final on StubHub in 2017 .

Enrichment Data:

The reasons behind the increased ticket sales for Taylor Swift's "Eras Tour" and Lionel Messi's MLS games mainly stem from these factors:

Taylor Swift's "Eras Tour"

1. Universal Fan Base: The tour attracted a massive global fan base, causing an influx of attendees from foreign countries, including Canada, leading to significant increases in local spending. Surveys showed that 81% of concert attendees were women, with the average age being 23 .
2. Local Economic Boost: Concerts led to substantial increases in spending at local hotels and restaurants. In Toronto, spending at restaurants near the arena went up by 31%, with hotel spending rising by 45% during the concert dates .
3. Tourist Influx: The event drew tourists from various countries, increasing spending in local markets. For example, in Vancouver, hotel spending rose by 130%, while restaurant spending swelled by 127% from non-Canadian travelers .
4. Economic Impact Analysis: The Mastercard Economics Institute estimated a $1.1 billion economic impact from the tour, including a direct contribution of $600 million, indirect effects of $281 million, and induced impacts of $230 million .

Lionel Messi's MLS Games

1. Global Recognition: Messi's presence in MLS catapulted the league onto a global stage, spiking attendance figures and increasing season ticket sales .
2. Increased Valuation: Inter Miami's valuation skyrocketed by 17% since Messi joined the team, making it one of the most valuable teams in MLS .
3. Global Media Coverage: Messi's games garnered significant media attention, aiding the league's expansion and boosting interest in MLS games .
4. Higher Ticket Prices: Inter Miami's games featuring Messi often held higher ticket prices, with average prices reaching $125 and, in a few instances, peaking between $160 and $370 .
5. Local Economic Impact: The influx of fans from diverse backgrounds increased revenue in local communities, driving demand for nearby hotels and restaurants . javascript javascript