GRAND RAPIDS, MI — Tickets for the Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park summer concert series go on sale for members Saturday, and this year’s lineup boasts more than a few performances for more than $100 per ticket.
Last year, just two performances crossed that threshold.
This year, there’s seven.
RELATED: Chaka Khan, Smokey Robinson: Meijer Gardens drops 2025 summer concert lineup
Here’s a look at the 10 most expensive tickets for the 34-date concert series, how to get tickets, why this year’s concerts are more expensive, and what Meijer Gardens has done to resolve technical issues that have frustrated online ticket buyers in recent years:
What are the 10 priciest concerts this year?
- Smokey Robinson| Sept. 4|$135 member presale|$138 member| $140 public
- Chaka Khan| June 4 |$130 member presale|$133 member|$135 public
- Alison Krauss & Union Station featuring Jerry Douglas with Willie Watson| Sept. 5| $120 member presale|$123 member|$125 public
- An Evening with Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit| June 23|$115 member presale|$118member|$120 public
- Train with Edwin McCain| Aug. 3|$110 member presale|$113 member|$115 public
- Maren Morris| Aug. 21|$105 member presale | $108 member | $110 public
- Vance Joy with Evan Honer, Kyle Schuesler| Sept. 11| $105 member presale|$108 member|$110 public
- Diana Krall| June 16|$97member presale|$100 member| $102 public
- Cheap Trick| Aug. 11| $96 member presale| $99 member| $101 public
- Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue + JJ Grey & Mofro| July 13| $93 member presale| $96 member | $98 public
RELATED: ‘Huge demand’: How to score tickets to 2025 Meijer Gardens summer concerts
What’s the full concert lineup?
This year’s concert series kicks off May 30 and features 34 performances from a range of musicians, including Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit, Guster with Grand Rapids Symphony, Cheap Trick, Train with Edwin McCain, and many more.
For a complete list, check out our coverage here.
How do I get tickets?
The pre-sale for Meijer Gardens members starts at 9 a.m. April 19 and runs through 5 p.m. April 25. For non-members, tickets go on sale at 9 a.m. April 26.
Tickets are sold exclusively online at axs.com/MeijerGardens, and once purchased can be accessed through the AXS mobile app.
Members eager to score tickets to a particular show should have their membership number and AXS account information available and updated. Information and precise instructions are available on the Meijer Gardens website.
New this year, in response to a process fraught with challenges in past years, is a randomized ticketing queue opening at 8 a.m. in advance of the 9 a.m. presale on April 19 at axs.com/MeijerGardens.
RELATED: Meijer Gardens named top sculpture park in U.S. for 3rd straight year
Why are there more expensive concerts this year?
John VanderHaagen, a spokesperson for Meijer Gardens, said that’s an industrywide trend.
“Our prices are direct reflection of the fees that the artists are charging,” he said. “So it’s not like Meijer Gardens can set those prices. But we do our best to keep our ticket fees well below industry average.”
Parking, for example, is free at Meijer Gardens, and unlike many arenas or amphitheaters, guests can bring a picnic basket if they want to avoid purchasing food and beverages at the show, VanderHaagen said.
“Unfortunately, live entertainment as a whole is more expensive these days,” he said. “But our average ticket price is far below a major amphitheater or any arena act. So we still consider this a very affordable night.”
Have past ticketing issues been resolved?
For the past two years, Meijer Gardens’ online ticketing system has been fraught with challenges for numerous members who vied for tickets the morning they went on sale.
Last year, Meijer Gardens said its ticketing website was overwhelmed by “an extreme surge in demand of non-members,” and numerous people took to social media to complain. One person called it a “disastrous day” for buying tickets.
VanderHaagen said Meijer Gardens has worked with its ticket provider, AXS, to improve the process.
“We have a very high demand (30,000+ member households) interested in limited capacity (just 1,900 seats), and have made improvements to the process and ticket purchase flow to help provide as many members as possible with access to tickets for our small, intimate amphitheater,” he said.
Improvements include removing the temporary membership number that has historically been provided to new members purchasing the week of the on-sale, and restricting the sharing of member numbers that would allow non-members to access the member presale, VanderHaagen said.
He said other changes include adjusting the purchase flow to allow for one show at a time to be purchased.
In addition, Meijer Gardens has opened a randomized ticketing queue at 8 a.m. in advance of the 9 a.m. presale on Saturday, April 19 at axs.com/MeijerGardens, he said.
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