Live Nation Faces Backlash Over Backstreet Boys Ticket Relocations
AI-generated image · Bay Street Wire · Based on a photo by George Socka from Toronto, Canada (CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons)
Fans attending the group's 2027 Toronto residency report being moved to inferior seats after Ticketmaster failed to disclose obstructed views during presale.
Fans attending the Backstreet Boys' upcoming Toronto residency are criticizing Live Nation and its subsidiary, Ticketmaster, after discovering their presale tickets were for seats with obstructed views that were not disclosed at the time of purchase.
According to reporting from CBC Toronto, customers noticed that similar seats were listed at discounted prices after the presale period ended. Betsabe Bustillos of Welland, Ont., told CBC Toronto she spent approximately $1,300 on four tickets in the second row of section 130, only to later find they were marked as partially obstructed.
While Live Nation promised to relocate affected fans to better seats, some customers claim the replacements are worse. Bustillos reported that her new seats are located in a row much further back and still have an obstructed view. Another fan, Giulianna Heto, told CBC Toronto she spoke with three different people before finding a Ticketmaster representative willing to assist with her two tickets.
In a statement to CBC Toronto, Live Nation spokesperson Shabnum Durrani apologized for the situation, stating the company is working with fans to review concerns and explore options.
The concerts, organized by Rogers, are scheduled for 12 shows across four consecutive weekends between February and March 2027. Bustillos noted that Ticketmaster has given her until Nov. 22 to decide between a refund or a relocation.