Empty Seats, Canceled Shows: How ‘Blue Dot Fever’ Is Hitting Arizona Concerts

I’ve seen a lot of concerts over the years. I mean, a lot. It’s just something our family enjoys doing, and we’ll make an extra effort to see the artists and performers we really love.

Lately, we’ve noticed more empty seats at our favorite concerts, and we’ve had to change our plans as more shows are canceled due to declining ticket sales. It’s happened so much lately that the concert industry has even coined a name for it: “Blue Dot Fever.”

The term refers to the unsold tickets that show as blue dots on seating maps. According to TheWeek.com, the cost of concert tickets has gone through the roof. As inflation has hit everything else, fans are holding on to their money, preferring to spend it on necessities like food and fuel. This has forced some artists to quietly or suddenly cancel dates, including stops in Arizona.

Get our free mobile app

Which Major Artists Have Canceled Tours Affecting Arizona?

Several big-name acts have pulled the plug on North American tours, which means we’ll miss out in Arizona, too. Here are some of the artists hit with Blue Dot cancellations:

• The Pussycat Dolls canceled nearly all U.S. dates after reviewing ticket demand/
• Meghan Trainor scrapped her tour entirely.
• Zayn Malik canceled his U.S. run.
• Post Malone delayed and cut multiple dates from his stadium tour.

READ: Mariachi Festival In Douglas Celebrates Community And Culture

Are These Cancellations Really About Ticket Sales?

When announcing cancellations, most artists cite personal reasons, things like family, health, or creative delays.

However, people who keep a close eye on the industry, as well as the artists’ fans, have noticed a pattern: tours that show as having a large number of unsold seats often don’t move forward, according to USA Today.

RELATED: Here are 7 Famous People from Arizona!

Even when the artists don’t say it outright, poor ticket sales seem to be a key factor. Artists like Taylor Swift have nothing to fear, but many mid-tier artists struggle to fill large venues, according to an article in The Week.

What Should Fans Expect Next?

We’re all tightening our budgets these days, and for many of us, optional spending on things like entertainment is taking a hit. “Blue Dot Fever” may continue to impact artists; some may consider smaller venues or make fewer stops, especially in smaller cities and metropolitan areas.

The shared experience of live music is one of life’s greatest pleasures, so I think it’s sad that we have fewer choices.