Proms reports record online sales amid queuing system ‘chaos’

BBC Proms has reported record-breaking online ticket sales over the weekend, with around 125,000 tickets sold and 15 out of 90 concerts now standing room only.

Figures provided by the BBC show that opening day sales on 18 May were 36% higher than last year, with 107,000 tickets sold, around 500 more than the last pre-pandemic season in 2019.

However, despite Royal Albert Hall's assurances on social media that "orders are going through" and encouraging the public to "hang on in there," some music fans have expressed their frustration at long queue times and difficulties securing tickets using the venue's online booking system.

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“This year is an absolute shambles! I expected to wait as in previous years but have randomly been bumped 16,000 places further down the queue. Your wait time is also totally unreliable…Chaos!” posted one X user to RAH.

Another wrote: "Finally! After three hours…I got tickets for my Prom of choice. It’s never been as bad as this before.”

Several posters commented on the difficulty of securing tickets for Prom 69, which features Florence and the Machine, suggesting the overwhelming demand for the concert impacted the queuing system. RAH apologised for any "disappointment caused”, noting that around 1,000 £8 standing tickets are released at 10.30am on the day of each concert.

Despite RAH urging disappointed fans not to purchase resale tickets from sites other than authorised retailer Twickets, within hours, a wide range of seats were listed on third-party platforms such as Viagogo, where tickets for Florence and the Machine range from £600 to £2,600 and the Last Night of the Proms costs around £1,000.

Aside from Florence and the Machine, the BBC said some of the year's most popular concerts include Everybody Dance! The Sound of Disco, Verdi’s Requiem, and CBeebies Proms.

“It’s noteworthy that the 15 best-selling Proms reflect the breadth and variety of what the BBC Proms offers, from international orchestras and star soloists through to family concerts and genre-defying gems," said Sam Jackson, Controller of Radio 3, which broadcasts every concert, and BBC Proms.

David Pickard, Director of BBC Proms, added: “I am delighted that the 2024 Proms, my last as Director, are proving so appealing. With many of our core classical concerts selling fast, it shows that the public's appetite for classical orchestral music is as strong as ever."