Seats & tickets · Ticket resale glossary
Reserved Seating
Also known as: Assigned seating, Seated tickets
Reserved seating means every ticket is for a specific seat, identified by section, row and seat number.
Unlike general admission, every reserved seat is different, so prices vary a lot within the same event by section and view. The seat map is the key tool for comparing them.
Resale value depends on location, the number of seats together (ticket splits) and how they compare with the cheapest seats available — the get-in price for that section.
How reserved seats are priced
Organisers split a seated venue into price levels, usually by section and sometimes by row within a section. Centre sections close to the stage sit at the top, followed by side sections and upper tiers. On the primary market prices step between levels; on resale each seller sets their own price, so the spread inside a section can be wide.
- Section: the main driver of price, set by distance and angle to the stage.
- Row: front rows in a section command a premium, especially in lower tiers.
- View: restricted or side views sell at a discount, even inside a premium section.
- Seats together: pairs and fours are worth more per seat than single seats.
Reserved seating vs general admission on resale
Reserved seats make every ticket a slightly different product, so resale prices don't converge the way they do with general admission. Buyers compare value by section and view, which gives sellers with good seats room to price above the market but makes seats in poor locations hard to move. Liquidity is lower overall, and sales velocity varies a lot from section to section.
Example: same event, very different sections
A 15,000-seat arena show has three price levels: $180, $120 and $75. On resale, a pair in a lower centre section sells at $340 each, while a pair in an upper side section struggles to sell at $80 each, barely above face value. The event's average resale price is $190, which hides the fact that lower centre seats trade at nearly double face value while upper side seats only break even.
Looking at prices per section rather than per event is the only way to see where the margin actually is.
Using the seat map and section data
For reserved events, the seat map is where value is judged. It shows which sections still have primary stock, where prices sit and how far each section is from the stage. section availability shows which parts of the house are close to selling out, which often comes before higher resale prices in those sections.
On Eventory, the Ticketmaster tab's venue map shows availability, capacity, sold percentage and average primary and resale prices for each section, so sections can be compared directly before buying.
Pitfalls with reserved seats
Reserved seats carry risks that GA tickets don't:
- Restricted views: seats behind the stage or behind obstructions look cheap but sell slowly.
- Single seats: an odd seat left over after a sale is hard to sell at full price.
- Late production releases: seats freed close to the event can undercut resale in specific sections.
- Seat numbering: some venues number seats in unusual ways, so check the map before promising seats together.
Catch it with Eventory
Eventory shows live seat maps and lets you set monitors for specific sections, so you only hear about seats you want.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between reserved seating and general admission?
Reserved seating gives each ticket a specific section, row and seat; general admission gives entry to an area with no assigned spot. Reserved seats vary in price by location, while GA tickets for the same area are identical.
Which reserved seats resell best?
Usually seats in lower, central sections close to the stage, sold as pairs or fours together. Seats with restricted views, single seats and upper side sections tend to sell more slowly and closer to face value.
Can I choose my seat when buying reserved tickets?
On most ticketing sites, yes, using the interactive seat map. Some sites instead assign the best available seats in the section you choose, so you can only pick the section and the quantity.
Why do prices differ so much within the same section?
Row, view and the number of seats together all affect value, and on resale each seller sets their own price. Dynamic pricing can also make the face value of the same seat change during the primary sale.