When to close the resale market

Closing the resale market means disabling resale for an event — turning off both listing (sellers can no longer post tickets) and purchase (buyers can no longer buy them). Up to that moment the market is live; after it, resale is shut for that event.

You configure the closing time in two places: at the ruleset level, where it applies to every event that inherits those rules, or at the individual event level, when a specific show needs its own timing.

• Resale is active in menta tech for the event.
• You can reach the Control Station (Control Station).
• You know the event and who's coming — the audience profile matters more than you'd think.

There's no single right answer. The best closing time depends on the kind and size of the event, how many people are coming, how early tickets sold, the audience (their age, how comfortable they are with technology, what they expect), and practical things like venue logistics and connectivity. The sections below are starting points — adjust them to your event.

Theaters, small venues, anything that isn't a mass event.

This audience tends to be relaxed about the show — less anxious about having the ticket in hand early, less worried about availability. Closing close to showtime works fine and creates no friction.

Big concerts, stadiums, high-demand shows.

Push it out toward 48 hours when the venue has poor connectivity, you expect a lot of international attendees, or there are specific logistics to manage. Otherwise, it pays to keep resale open as long as you reasonably can — especially with a young, tech-comfortable crowd that isn't anxious about getting their ticket early. In those cases, try a later closing and keep an eye on the metrics.

At festivals and very large, high-demand events — the kind with likely sold-outs and heavy resale — avoid closing too early on autopilot.

• Don't default to a fixed 24h close if the event starts at night.
• Try a 12, 15, or 19-hour close so you capture the night before, keep the market live through peak demand, and maximize transactions without losing operational control.

When entry is free, or there's simply no real reason for fans to resell, the market usually isn't activated at all — and the closing time makes no practical difference. Any setting is fine.

• Closing too early. Move the closing time to cover the windows where activity is highest.
• Using one time for every event. Set the closing by scale and audience, event by event.
• Ignoring the real start time. Line the closing up with when people actually arrive, not a generic default.