Ticket Types Explained: GA, Floor, Reserved, VIP and More

General Admission means you have access to a designated GA section but there is no specific seat reserved for you. You can go anywhere within that section. GA sections can be standing or sometimes have open seating on a first-come, first-served basis.

GA is most common at concerts and music festivals. For concerts at arenas or amphitheaters, GA sections are typically on the floor in front of the stage, on the lawn area, or in specific open sections. For smaller club shows, the entire venue may be GA. For music festivals, GA usually means open access to the general festival grounds.

Depending on the event and the demand, GA tickets can actually be more expensive than reserved sections -- particularly for floor GA at a major arena show where being closest to the stage commands a premium. At other events, GA lawn or upper sections are the most affordable option available.

The pit is a GA section located directly in front of the stage, typically on the arena floor or at the base of a festival stage. It is the closest you can get to the artist and is one of the most in-demand ticket types for major concert tours.

Pit tickets are standing room only with no seats. The front rail of the pit -- the barrier directly in front of the stage -- is the most coveted position and requires arriving very early. Pit capacity is usually limited compared to the full floor, making these tickets scarce and often among the priciest on the resale market.

Pit tickets are physically demanding -- you will be standing for hours in a tight crowd. They are best suited for fans who want to be as close to the performance as possible and are comfortable in a high-energy, densely packed environment.

Standing Room Only -- commonly abbreviated SRO -- is a GA designation most frequently seen at sporting events. SRO sections have no seats at all. You have access to a designated standing area but there are no chairs, no assigned spots, and no place to sit down.

SRO tickets are common at arenas and stadiums when an event has sold out all reserved seating but there is still standing space available in certain sections. They are typically one of the most affordable ticket options for high-demand events and are a good choice for fans who want to attend without paying premium reserved seating prices.

Floor seats are reserved seats located on the main floor of the venue, directly in front of and around the stage. Unlike GA floor, these are actual assigned seats with a specific row and seat number. You have a guaranteed spot and can leave and return without losing your place.

Floor seats are set up in rows extending back from the stage. The closer the row to the stage, the more expensive the ticket. Center floor seats -- positioned directly in front of the stage -- are typically the most valuable. Side floor sections offer a different angle but can still provide an excellent experience at a slightly lower price point.

Floor seats put you at eye level with the performers, which creates an intimate and immersive experience. The tradeoff is that at large venues, even center floor seats can feel far from the stage depending on the row, and very front rows may require looking steeply upward at the stage.

The lower level refers to the first tier of reserved seating above the floor level of an arena or stadium. These sections rise up from the floor perimeter and offer elevated sightlines looking down toward the stage or playing surface. Lower level seats are available at virtually every major arena and stadium.

Lower level sections closest to the stage or center field are typically the most expensive. Sections on the sides or behind the stage are more affordable but still offer good views from an elevated position. The lower level is generally considered the sweet spot for most events -- close enough to see the detail of the performance but elevated enough for a clear, unobstructed view of the full stage.

Row matters as much as section in the lower level. Front rows of a lower level section can be better than back rows in a section closer to the stage, depending on the sightline angle. Always check the row when comparing lower level tickets.

The upper level is the highest tier of seating in an arena or stadium, located above the lower level. These sections are the farthest from the stage or playing surface and are typically the most affordable reserved seating option available. Upper level sections are sometimes referred to as nosebleeds.

While upper level seats are farther away, they do offer a complete bird's-eye view of the entire venue, stage setup, and production. For events with large-scale productions -- elaborate stage setups, full lighting rigs, pyrotechnics -- the upper level can actually provide a better view of the overall spectacle than floor seats that put you right in the middle of it.

Not all events use the upper level. For smaller artists or lower-demand shows, venues will sometimes close the upper level entirely and only sell lower level and floor tickets. If upper level tickets are available it is because the demand is strong enough to open the full venue.

Club level seating is a premium reserved section usually positioned just above or adjacent to the lower level. What separates club level from standard reserved seating is not just the seat -- it is the amenities that come with it. Club sections typically include access to a private club area, a dedicated bar or concession stand, upscale food and drink options, and in many cases a private lounge where you can watch the event from inside or go out to your seat.

Club level tickets are a step up from standard reserved seating without going all the way to a full suite experience. They are ideal for fans who want a more comfortable, higher-service event experience with the ability to watch from a dedicated seat while having access to premium facilities nearby.

The specific amenities included with club level vary by venue -- always check what is included for the specific event before purchasing.

A suite is a fully private seating section -- typically a glassed-in or open-air box with between 8 and 30 seats depending on the venue. Suites are the most premium seating experience available at most arenas and stadiums and are designed for groups who want a completely private, full-service event experience.

Suites typically include catered food and beverages, private restrooms, dedicated waitstaff to assist with any requests, comfortable lounge-style seating inside the suite with a view of the event, and the ability to move in and out freely. Many suites also include access to a private parking area or VIP entrance.

Suites are available for both sports events and concerts and are considered the gold standard of event hospitality. On the resale market, suites are sometimes sold as individual seats within the suite rather than as the full private box -- always confirm what you are purchasing and whether amenities are included.

Theater venues use a different seating nomenclature from arenas and stadiums. The main sections you will encounter at a Broadway show or performing arts venue are listed below. Browse available theatre tickets on SOLDOUT.COM.

Orchestra -- the ground floor seating area equivalent to floor seats at a concert. Orchestra seats look straight ahead at the stage and are typically the most premium seats in a traditional theater. Center orchestra seats in the front to mid sections are the most sought after.

Mezzanine -- the first elevated tier above the orchestra, equivalent to a lower level in an arena. Mezzanine seats offer a slightly elevated view looking down toward the stage and can provide excellent sightlines, particularly in the front rows of the section.

Balcony -- the upper tier above the mezzanine, equivalent to the upper level. Balcony seats are the most affordable but farthest from the stage.

Boxes or Opera Boxes -- private sections that overhang from the sides of the theater, typically in tiered arrangements along the side walls. Box seats are among the most prestigious and expensive seats in a theater. They offer a unique side-on perspective and a semi-private experience, though the angled view means they are not always the best sightline for the stage. Opera boxes are considered some of the most iconic seating in the performing arts world.

VIP and premium packages are ticket bundles that include the event ticket plus a set of additional experiences or items beyond just access to the show. The seat itself can be anywhere in the venue -- often floor or lower level -- but what makes VIP tickets different is everything that comes with them.

Common VIP and premium package inclusions vary by artist and tour but can include any combination of the following:

Music festivals use a tiered ticket structure that is almost entirely GA -- there are rarely assigned seats. What the tiers determine is your level of access, the amenities you can use, and in some cases where you can stand relative to the stage. Browse available concert and festival tickets on SOLDOUT.COM.

General Admission

Standard festival access. You can go anywhere in the general festival grounds, attend any stage, and move freely throughout the event. GA is the most common and most affordable festival ticket type.

VIP Festival Tickets

VIP festival tickets are still GA -- no assigned seat -- but they come with significantly upgraded access and amenities. Common VIP festival inclusions include: access to the front stage GA area positioned in front of the regular GA crowd, private VIP lounges with dedicated bars and premium concessions, upgraded and private restroom facilities, and exclusive VIP-only viewing decks or areas. VIP tickets give you a better position relative to the stage and a more comfortable festival experience.

Platinum Festival Tickets

Platinum is the highest tier at most major festivals. In addition to everything VIP includes, Platinum tickets can offer: access to stage-adjacent viewing areas so you can watch the performance from on or directly beside the stage, dedicated concierge service to assist with any requests throughout the event, complimentary food and drink throughout the festival, exclusive Platinum lounges, free merchandise and swag, and access to artist areas or special activations not available to other ticket tiers.

Platinum is the closest a festival attendee can get to a fully premium hospitality experience while still being in a GA environment.

ADA accessible seating refers to seats reserved for guests with disabilities. These seats are positioned to accommodate wheelchairs, mobility devices, and other accessibility needs and are found at the front or back of seating sections throughout the venue to allow for easier access and egress.

ADA seats typically include a companion seat alongside the accessible position so an accompanying guest can sit directly next to the ticket holder. Many events and venues require guests purchasing ADA tickets to contact the venue ahead of the event so the venue can confirm the accessibility requirements and assist the guest in getting to and from their seat before and after the show.

When purchasing ADA tickets on the resale market, confirm the accessibility requirements directly with the venue before the event to ensure a smooth arrival and entry experience.

Obstructed view tickets are seats where part of the sightline to the stage or playing surface is blocked by a structural element -- most commonly a support pole, a lighting or production rig stand, or a railing. These seats are disclosed as obstructed at the time of purchase.

Obstructed view tickets are typically priced significantly below comparable non-obstructed seats in the same section because of the limited view. How much of the view is blocked varies considerably -- some obstructed seats only have a minor partial obstruction affecting a small corner of the sightline, while others may block a significant portion of the stage.

Whether an obstructed view ticket is worth purchasing depends on the degree of obstruction, the event type, and how much the price difference justifies the tradeoff. For a high-demand show where all other options are out of budget, a minor obstruction may be an acceptable compromise. For an event where visuals are central to the experience, a significant obstruction would materially impact your enjoyment.