How much of the venue has to be disability accessible?

The Americans with Disabilities Act mandates that at least 1% of a venue be accessible to people with disabilities.

This isn’t a lot and tickets can go fast. That means for example if you have a 20,000-seat venue only 200 of those seats have to be accessible to people with disabilities.

Do I need proof of my disability?

You aren’t required to have any paperwork to prove a disability. However, when you get to the venue and if they feel you don’t have a disability or are trying to abuse the privilege, they can ban you from the arena or cancel your ticket. This, however, is very hard to prove.

I’m worried I’ll be blocked by people standing in front of me. Will I be able to see?

Most accessible seats are on a raised platform area so that no one is blocking your line of sight. The ADA mandates that venues must provide accessible seating options that offer comparable sightlines to the event. This means that individuals with disabilities should have the same viewing experience as those without disabilities, including an unobstructed view of the stage, and integrated seating with the crowd rather than in an isolated section.

I have a disability and need accessible tickets. What should I do first?

First, as soon as the tour cities for the concert you’re interested in have been released, contact Ticketmaster and the venue you want to attend and ask them about their process for securing a ticket. Unfortunately, you might not get answers immediately, but be persistent and always trust the answer from the venue. Sometimes you can get accessible tickets through Ticketmaster, but other times you must go through the venue itself.

Questions you need to ask:

• Where can I get accessible tickets?

• Ticketmaster or venue?

• If I have to do it through the venue, can I call during the presale, or do I have to wait for the general sale to get tickets?

I found out I can get my tickets through the venue. What should I do?

Going through the venue is not ideal as it usually means you have to wait until general sale even if you have an ARMY Membership number or a presale code. Each venue has a number dedicated to handling disabled concert goers. Call and get in the queue 5-10 minutes before tickets go on sale.

I found out I can get my tickets through Ticketmaster. What should I do?

If you’re purchasing tickets via Ticketmaster, you can either go on the website and use their map to filter out tickets specifically for accessible seating, or you can call the Ticketmaster Accessible Seating Box Office at (800) 877-7575. This number handles all disability related questions regarding ticket buying.

On the Ticketmaster website you will perform the following steps:

• Select the Filter button on the right side of the page

• Toggle the “show accessible tickets” switch and the types of accessible tickets available for that event will appear. Some venues only offer wheelchair accessible, while others offer wheelchair accessible and/or semi-ambulatory. Some venues even offer companion seating options.

• You can use semi-ambulatory if you are disabled but don’t use a wheelchair.

• Select the Apply Filters button.

• Click or tap a section on the interactive seat map to see how many accessible tickets are available, as well as their location within the section and price.

Can I buy accessible tickets for VIP packages?

The short answer is “yes”. You will filter accessible seats in the same way you would for general seats, but will choose “VIP” instead. If there’s any available you should be able to secure them. VIP packages are unique from venue to venue, artist to artist and event to event, so accessibility options may differ. If you have an accessible ticket without VIP and there’s VIP available and you want to purchase them, call Ticketmaster to upgrade your ticket. The is only one rule for upgrading to VIP, and that is that the original ticket must have been purchased through Ticketmaster, and cannot be a transferred ticket.

How do I get help if I am using Screen Reader Software?

If you’re using screen reader software like JAWS or NVDA, and you need help finding an event or completing an order, please call the Ticketmaster Accessible Seating Box Office at (800) 877-7575.

How do I request sign language (ASL) interpreter services?

Please visit your venue’s official website and look for their accessibility guide for more information on interpreter services. If you don’t see this information, please contact the venue directly. A list of Live Nation’s venues (the parent company of Ticketmaster) can be found at livenation.com/venues. Once you find your venue, click the “Plan Your Visit” button and then the “Accessibility Services” section to find information on interpreter services. If you don’t see this information, please contact the venue directly.