Overview and Highlight:
- The Ticketing industry has had its up and downs as covid had a significant impact causing a massive pullback in live events.
- The market has recovered and hit new heights following the slowdown and is continuing to grow at roughly 2.4% annually.
- The revenue was $36.26 billion in 2024.
- The industry is expected to reach $40.57 billion by 2028.
- Sports Events: Leading revenue growth, projected to hit $418.20 USD per user by 2028.
- Music Events: Contributing significantly, with a rise from $219 USD per user in 2023 to $242.10 USD by 2028.
Year by Year Performance – Theater, Concerts, and Sports

Concerts and sports still take the majority of the market when it comes to ticket sales. A lesser percentage goes to cinema showing that there is massive demand in the market for live entertainment.
Key Highlights from Event Tickets Market Analysis in the United States
The U.S. event ticketing industry has been growing steadily, driven by consumer demand for sports, music, and cinema experiences.
Demographics Analysis
Age Groups: The largest age demographic purchasing event tickets is the 35-44 years group, comprising 26.8% of users in 2021. This is closely followed by the 45-54 years group at 27.2%. Meanwhile, younger age groups, such as 18-24 years, make up a smaller segment (11.2%).
Gender Split: Men are the dominant audience, accounting for 56.7% ticket buyers, while women make up the remaining 43.3%.
Income Levels: High-income individuals dominate the market, representing 48% of ticket buyers, with medium-income and low-income groups at 30.9% and 21.1%, respectively.
Key Players in the Market
The event ticketing industry is heavily concentrated, with the following market shares among top players:
- Ticketmaster: Leading with a significant 26% share.
- StubHub: Holding a solid 22%.
- Other notable competitors include AMC (10%), AXS.com (7%), and Eventbrite (5%).
- Smaller players like Live Nation, Cinemark, and SeatGeek collectively account for smaller market shares (4% each).
Market Recovery and Growth Post-COVID
- A notable market dip occurred in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, causing an 85% decrease in revenue.
- A sharp rebound was observed in 2022, with a staggering 258.1% growth rate in the total market compared to 2021.
- Revenue change rates are expected to stabilize, averaging between 2.7% to 4% annually from 2025 onwards.
Conclusion and Implications
The U.S. event ticketing market is thriving, with significant contributions from high-income consumers and a focus on sports and music events. As market leaders like Ticketmaster and StubHub dominate, opportunities remain for smaller players to innovate and capture niche segments. The shift towards digital ticketing, coupled with strong post-pandemic recovery, ensures sustained growth and evolving consumer engagement in the coming years.
For ticket brokers and resellers, this signifies a consistent and steady growth in ticket sales volume, opening up continued opportunities for growth and arbitrage.
– Ticketflipping Team
Resources:
Statista: https://www.statista.com/outlook/dmo/eservices/event-tickets/united-states?