Live music has been captivating audiences for centuries, with the first ticketed concert believed to have occurred in 1672 at the London home of violinist John Banister. This historic event set the precedent for countless artists and bands who have since charged fans to enjoy listening to their live performances.
While the core concept of these musical events has remained unchanged, it wasn't until after World War II that concerts began to transform into the concerts and shows we recognise today. However, one constant through the years has been the exchange of money for the experience of experience live music.
In recent years, particularly following the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been a significant increase in concert ticket prices, with a reported 42% rise according to BBC data.
A Reddit user, reminiscing about the past, shared their ticket stub from the renowned Pop Disaster Tour of 2002, where Blink-182 and Green Day were the headliners.
"I miss these prices!" they lamented, displaying the ticket from over two decades ago for a show at Value City Arena (now known as The Schottenstein Center) in Columbus, Ohio.
The price on the ticket was $37 for a sought-after floor seat, which is estimated to be equivalent to approximately $65.98 (£49.45) in 2025.
Fans have taken to the comments section of a post to debate the stark difference in concert ticket prices from the past compared to the hefty sums they're paying for recent gigs.
"That's $65.98 in 2025 money…." pointed out one individual, leading another fan to respond: "Yeah, but we all know that currently they'd price these tickets starting at $200." (Around £150).
Sharing their own sticker shock, another gig-goer commented: "2023 I paid £280 to see them in London, that's about $370. Ridiculous."
Nostalgically recalling cheaper times, a user reflected: "When Blink reunited the first time, they had tickets for $1.82. Even with all the crap fees and taxes, it came out to roughly ~$20 for me."
Another person wrote: "Dude I was just thinking about this the other day, one of my friends BOUGHT ME a ticket to the Pop Disaster tour, that's how cheap they were."
However, some fans believe there's justification for the high ticket costs, with one commenter providing an alternative view.
They said: "[Blink-182] have been through a LOT as a band and they have a huge following, high prices are expected. You can still get tickets to see other bands at that price but they aren't Blink."
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