Beyonce fans desperate to get hold of tickets for the singer’s first solo world tour in seven years could be facing a second day of disappointment, as ticket sellers warned that availability was “extremely limited” just half an hour into the second day of pre-sales.
Tens of thousands of fans began queuing online from 10am on Friday as Live Nation offered tickets for the singer’s five UK dates on Friday, but at around 10.30am Ticketmaster (who are part of Live Nation) added a warning to all five pre-sale shows.
The message read: “Due to overwhelming demand for this show, ticket availability is now extremely limited. If you are unable to find tickets today, we recommend checking back on Tuesday 7 February at 10am.”
The Renaissance tour – from Beyonce’s album of the same name – has seen overwhelming demand from fans, keen to see Queen Bey back in action.
Ticket prices range from £56.25 for a seated ticket, from £106.80 for a standing ticket, and VIP packages ranging from £1960 to an eye-watering £2400 for the VIP A “Pure/Honey on stage risers front row experience”.
Thousands of O2 customers using the O2 Priority app and website to try to access tickets were left disappointed on Thursday when their services crashed, with fans reporting broken links and no tickets available to purchase.
O2 apologised to Beyonce fans for their “difficulties” getting hold of tickets, and blamed “huge demand” for the shows.
A spokesperson said: “We apologise to any customers who are experiencing difficulties trying to get Beyonce tickets through our Priority platform today.
“We’re seeing huge demand and we’re doing everything we can to help ensure all our customers can get through.”
Last year, the O2 app and website experienced similar difficulties, crashing during pre-sale access for comedian Peter Kay’s first tour in 12 years.
Meanwhile, in the US Ticketmaster is currently being investigated after its system was overwhelmed by demand for Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour.
Those who are part of Beyonce’s BeyHive fan group will get another pre-sale opportunity on Monday 6 February from 9am, and on general sale on Tuesday 7 February.
Commenting on the price of the tickets, Beyonce fan Tenille joked on Twitter: “Hey Beyonce girl, please don’t forget you told us to quit our jobs on that album. Not too much on those prices please and thanks miss mamas!”
Meanwhile, some hotel prices in Edinburgh, where Beyonce will perform in Murrayfield on 20 May, have been reported to have doubled in price over the weekend the singer is playing.
As well as the O2 and Edinburgh, Beyonce will perform at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium on 17 May and the Stadium of Light in Sunderland on 23 May.
She will then play two nights at London’s Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on 29 and 30 May.
Some fans have already begun calling for more dates to satisfy demand, asking whether Beyoncé could fit in extra UK dates around her current five slots.
The world tour – which comprises of 43 shows in total – will begin on 10 May in Stockholm before visiting stadiums in the rest of Europe and the UK in spring and summer.
Beyonce’s BeyGOOD initiative, which she created in 2013 to support programmes around the world, will continue its work in various cities throughout the Renaissance tour by setting up events, celebrating small businesses and awarding grants.
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Students will also be supported through scholarships to colleges and universities in 10 cities along the tour.
Beyonce’s last tour was the mammoth Formation World Tour in 2016, which was announced after her guest appearance at the Super Bowl 50 half-time show.
She is also nominated for nine Grammys at this weekend’s event and will make history as the most decorated artist in Grammy history if she wins just four of them.