· 7 min read
Live event affordability statistics: attendance, fees and value
In Loopyah's November 2025 survey of 500 US respondents, 58.4% selected fewer or cheaper events when asked how rising costs or the economy affect their attendance. Source: Loopyah attendee survey.
Key live event affordability statistics
39% of US adults planned to spend less on live entertainment in 2025. Source: Bankrate.
67% of US sports fans considered professional sporting events somewhat or very unaffordable in 2026. Source: YouGov Sport.
53% of US consumers had skipped a favorite performer because tickets cost too much. Source: LendingTree.
24.8% of respondents in Loopyah's November 2025 US survey said fees often stop them buying. Source: Loopyah attendee survey.
Event attendance and affordability
How do rising costs affect event attendance?
Attending fewer events was the most common response to economic pressure in Loopyah's November 2025 attendee survey. Pollfish surveyed 500 US respondents on 11 November 2025.
The exact question was: "How do rising costs or the economy affect your event attendance?" Respondents chose one answer:
"I attend fewer events": 37.2%, or 186 people.
"I choose cheaper events": 21.2%, or 106 people.
"No change": 32.4%, or 162 people.
"I prioritise experiences over other spending": 9.2%, or 46 people.
Choosing fewer or cheaper events accounted for 58.4%, or 292 respondents.
| Label | Respondents (%) |
|---|---|
| Attend fewer events | 37.2 |
| No change | 32.4 |
| Choose cheaper events | 21.2 |
| Prioritize experiences | 9.2 |
500 US respondents, November 2025. One answer per respondent; unweighted results.
Source: Loopyah attendee survey.
Are people attending more or fewer events?
In Loopyah's November 2025 survey, 45% of 500 US respondents said their attendance was unchanged from the previous year:
Attending more events: 34.4%.
Attending about the same: 45%.
Attending fewer events: 20.6%.
Source: Loopyah attendee survey.
How many people skip events because of cost?
Deloitte's October 2024 research found that nearly 60% of respondents had missed a live event they wanted to attend because it cost too much. Separately, 61% had attended at least one live event in the preceding six months.
The online survey covered 3,554 US consumers in June and July 2024, weighted to the US Census. Live events included concerts, festivals, sports, comedy and theater.
Source: Deloitte.
In Creative Australia's 2025 National Arts Participation Survey, 55% missed events they wanted to attend because of cost, while 74% attended at least one live arts event or festival in the past year.
The nationally representative study covered 9,065 Australians aged 15 and over. Arts participation included experiences that may be free.
Source: Creative Australia.
Are Americans planning to spend less on live entertainment?
Bankrate's May 2025 discretionary spending study found that 39% of US adults planned to spend less on live entertainment in 2025 than in 2024. That included 26% of all adults planning to spend much less. The category included concerts, sporting events and theater.
YouGov surveyed 2,484 US adults online on 2 to 4 April 2025, using a nonprobability sample, demographic quotas and weighting.
Source: Bankrate.
How many people have skipped a concert because of price?
LendingTree's 2025 Concert Spending Report found that 53% of US consumers had skipped seeing a favorite performer because ticket prices were too high.
QuestionPro surveyed 2,050 US consumers aged 18 to 79 online on 12 to 14 June 2025, using a nonprobability sample with demographic quotas. LendingTree published the results on 28 July. The question did not specify when respondents had skipped a concert.
Source: LendingTree.
Do fans borrow money to attend concerts?
LendingTree's June 2025 survey reported two measures of borrowing for concerts and festivals:
23% of the full sample of 2,050 US consumers had used buy now, pay later for related expenses.
31% of respondents expecting to attend a concert or festival that year anticipated related debt. The report did not disclose this subgroup's size.
Concert and festival expenses could include costs beyond the ticket itself.
Source: LendingTree.
In Bankrate's April 2025 survey of 2,484 US adults, 9% were willing to take on debt for live entertainment.
Source: Bankrate.
Ticket prices and extra costs
Did concert ticket prices rise in 2025?
Average ticket prices fell in Pollstar's 2025 year-end rankings of top touring artists:
Top 100 worldwide: $132.62 in 2025, down 2.4% from $135.92 in 2024.
Separate North American top 100: $134.23 in 2025, down 1.6% from $136.45 in 2024.
All prices are USD. The rankings cover selected major tours, with different artists, venues and seats represented each year.
Source: Pollstar.
What does official inflation data say about event admission?
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics' December 2025 CPI release, published on 13 January 2026, reported these unadjusted price changes over the 12 months ending December 2025:
Movies, theaters and concerts: up 6.7%.
Sporting-event admissions: down 7.3%.
All items: up 2.7%.
These are price changes measured by the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers. The movies, theaters and concerts category includes cinema and theater alongside concerts.
Source: BLS inflation data.
How much do people typically spend on an event ticket?
The most common spending band in Loopyah's November 2025 survey was $50 to $99 per ticket, including fees. It accounted for 30.6% of the 500 US respondents, or 153 people.
The full distribution of reported spending per ticket, including fees, was:
Under $25: 10%, or 50 respondents.
$25 to $49: 21.2%, or 106 respondents.
$50 to $99: 30.6%, or 153 respondents.
$100 to $199: 28.4%, or 142 respondents.
$200 or more: 9.8%, or 49 respondents.
All amounts are USD and include fees across event types. These spending bands cannot produce an exact average ticket price because the highest band is open-ended.
| Label | Respondents (%) |
|---|---|
| Under $25 | 10 |
| $25 to $49 | 21.2 |
| $50 to $99 | 30.6 |
| $100 to $199 | 28.4 |
| $200 or more | 9.8 |
500 US respondents, November 2025. Spending per ticket in USD, including fees; unweighted results.
Source: Loopyah attendee survey.
How much do food, parking and other costs affect sports attendance?
In YouGov Sport's research published on 30 June 2026, 67% of US sports fans considered attending professional sporting events somewhat or very unaffordable. 32% said cost had made them attend fewer games.
Beyond ticket prices, fans reported concern about:
Food and beverages inside the venue: 54%.
Parking: 52%.
Service fees: 47%.
YouGov surveyed more than 1,000 US sports fans on 20 to 23 January 2026 and described the sample as nationally representative of sports fans.
Source: YouGov Sport.
Do service fees stop people buying event tickets?
In Loopyah's November 2025 survey of 500 US respondents, 24.8% said service fees often stop them buying:
Fees often stop me buying: 24.8%, or 124 respondents.
Fees sometimes matter; I compare platforms: 59.8%, or 299 respondents.
Fees are not a major factor: 15.4%, or 77 respondents.
These are reported attitudes, rather than measured checkout-abandonment rates.
| Label | Respondents (%) |
|---|---|
| Often stop me buying | 24.8 |
| Sometimes; compare platforms | 59.8 |
| Not a major factor | 15.4 |
500 US respondents, November 2025. One answer per respondent; unweighted results. Labels shortened.
Source: Loopyah attendee survey.
For covered US live-event tickets, the FTC's fee rule, effective 12 May 2025, requires displayed prices to include known, calculable mandatory fees upfront. Government charges, shipping and optional extras have specified exceptions, with disclosure required before payment. The rule does not ban ticket fees.
Source: FTC fee FAQs.
Price and perceived value
What makes an event feel not worth buying?
High price for unclear value was the most common reason an event felt not worth buying in Loopyah's Worth It Event Index survey. Pollfish surveyed 500 US respondents interested in events on 11 February 2026. Respondents could select multiple answers:
High price for unclear value: 53.2%, or 266 respondents.
Unclear details: 41%, or 205 respondents.
Bad or no reviews: 40.2%, or 201 respondents.
Weak lineup or program: 36.6%, or 183 respondents.
Past negative experiences: 36%.
Sketchy website or socials: 22.4%.
Refund concerns: 15.6%.
Organizational concerns: 9.8%.
Other: 0.2%.
| Label | Respondents (%) |
|---|---|
| High price for unclear value | 53.2 |
| Unclear details | 41 |
| Bad or no reviews | 40.2 |
| Weak lineup or program | 36.6 |
| Past negative experiences | 36 |
| Sketchy website or socials | 22.4 |
| Refund concerns | 15.6 |
| Organizational concerns | 9.8 |
| Other | 0.2 |
500 US respondents interested in events, February 2026. Multiple answers allowed; unweighted results.
Source: Loopyah value survey.
What makes an event feel worth buying?
Clear value for money was selected by 50% of the same 500 respondents. Other responses included a strong lineup or program and positive past reviews:
Clear value for money: 50%, or 250 respondents.
Strong lineup or program: 49.2%, or 246 respondents.
Positive past reviews: 45%, or 225 respondents.
These were among the responses to another multiple-answer question. Percentages can overlap.
Source: Loopyah value survey.
About Loopyah's research
Loopyah's two surveys used separate samples. Results are unweighted and self-reported, and are not presented as nationally representative estimates. Multiple-answer percentages use all 500 respondents as the denominator.
Sources: Loopyah attendee survey and Loopyah value survey.
Related reading: event value perception.
Author: By the Loopyah Content Team
The Loopyah Content Team shares expert insights, practical guides, and industry updates to help event organizers create unforgettable experiences and stay ahead in the event planning world.
