Beyoncé’s ‘Cowboy Carter’ tour kicks off to empty seats; netizens find it ‘embarrassing’

Despite her superstar status, Beyoncé’s ticket sales haven’t quite matched the frenzy of her previous tours. Reports indicated that over 3,000 seats were still available at SoFi in the days leading up to the show, and even as the concert began, thousands remained unfilled, according to Ticketmaster listings.

Beyoncé’s “Cowboy Carter” tour starts with an incredible amount of EMPTY seats. The pit is vastly UNSOLD and several seating sections look empty.

According to Ticketmaster website, the show did NOT sell out by the time it officially started with THOUSANDS of unsold tickets left. pic.twitter.com/sbDZC9PLzq

— Pop Stuff (@ThePopStuff) April 29, 2025

Industry insiders suggest that scalpers and resellers are partially responsible. Speaking to DailyMail.com, a source claimed that many of the empty seats were bought in bulk by resellers who misjudged demand, leaving them stuck with unsold inventory.

After Beyoncé announced the tour in February, fans immediately voiced frustration over the steep ticket prices-some running into the thousands. Yet just days before opening night, a fan claimed to find upper-level tickets for as little as $20.

Many other netizens also shared their reactions to the empty seats at Beyoncé’s concert. “Wow been waiting for this day for a long time. Her karma came hard,” wrote a netizen.

Another added, “This is so embarrassing.” Others criticised the show’s perceived lack of freshness, with one user writing, “What else has She got? It’s the same dance moves the same outfits the same lame stunts.”

Still, the tour’s promoter, Live Nation, told Billboard that the Cowboy Carter tour is 94 per cent sold out across all shows, pushing back against the claims of widespread empty seats.

Some observers, however, believe other factors could be affecting public interest. Speculation has grown around Beyoncé and Jay-Z’s past association with Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs, who is awaiting trial on serious criminal charges. Although Jay-Z was briefly named in a now-dismissed lawsuit connected to Diddy, the couple’s link to the embattled mogul has drawn unwanted attention. Insiders close to Beyoncé are reportedly concerned this may be casting a shadow over the tour.

Despite the tour’s rocky start, Beyoncé’s album remains a cultural milestone. Cowboy Carter not only topped the Billboard 200 but also saw its lead single, Texas Hold ‘Em, debut at No. 1 on both the Billboard Hot 100 and the Country charts. At the Grammys, she won Album of the Year for the first time as well as Best Country Album-making her the first Black woman to receive the honour.

Just last year, her Renaissance World Tour brought in a staggering $579 million, placing it among the top 10 highest-grossing tours in history. Whether Cowboy Carter can replicate that success remains to be seen, but the conversation around it is far from over.