The long-awaited Rush reunion should have been a triumphant celebration for fans. Instead, it’s turned into frustration and anger as thousands claim they were “priced out” and “scammed” by Ticketmaster’s controversial presale system.

Across Reddit, X (formerly Twitter), and fan forums, devoted Rush listeners are sharing stories of disappointment and disbelief after being unable to secure affordable tickets for the band’s newly announced reunion tour.

Fans Say Presale System “Played” Them

As tickets went live, fans across North America flooded Ticketmaster’s website, eager to snag seats for what many consider a once-in-a-lifetime event. But within minutes, standard-priced tickets vanished — replaced by “platinum” listings costing hundreds, sometimes thousands, of dollars.

One frustrated fan shared on Reddit:

“I was only 2,000 people in line for August 3rd at MSG. And the only options left were platinum seats way out of my price range. All the $132–$214 tickets went straight to scalpers.”

Another fan, trying for Toronto, said the cheapest pair they could find was $841.

“I’m so upset about this, bruh,” the fan wrote. “I had resigned myself to never seeing them live — I’m 26, so I never got a chance before now. When they announced this, I was more excited than I’ve ever been for an artist. And now I can’t even get the concert tickets? I hate it here.”

Virtual Queue Adds to the Chaos

Adding insult to injury, Ticketmaster’s “virtual queue” system became a major point of frustration. Many fans waited online for over an hour, only to discover that all affordable tickets were gone.

One user described their experience bluntly:

“There were 20,758 people ahead of me. Twenty minutes later, I’m out. What is the reason for a queue anyway? Buying movie theater tickets doesn’t require a queue. It just feels like gamification — like Ticketmaster creating fake scarcity to justify inflated prices.”

Others said even arriving early didn’t help.

“I was in line at 10 till 12 and they said I was early,” one person explained. “Then once the queue went through, there were no tickets under $700. I’m just so friggin sad about this. I’m not a wealthy person who can drop $800 per ticket. It makes me sick to my stomach that I can’t go.”

Fans Accuse Ticketmaster of “Fake Scarcity” and “Dynamic Pricing Abuse”

Across social media, fans are accusing Ticketmaster of manipulating the presale through “dynamic pricing” — a system that automatically raises prices based on demand — and “platinum” listings that effectively shut out everyday fans.

Many claim bots and resellers scooped up tickets the moment sales opened, leaving genuine fans to compete for overpriced seats.

One comment summed up the mood:

“I finally got in, and the only prices left were over $600 each. I can’t do that. I’ve waited my whole life for this, and now it feels like I never had a chance.”

A Celebration Turned Sour for Lifelong Rush Fans

For Rush, one of rock’s most respected bands, the reunion announcement was supposed to bring fans together in celebration. Instead, the presale debacle has alienated many of the same loyal listeners who have supported the band for decades.

Longtime fans expressed heartbreak over being locked out of what could be the band’s final major tour. Many see it as another example of how modern ticketing systems prioritize profit over people.

“For a band built on integrity and loyalty, this is heartbreaking,” one Reddit user wrote. “Rush always cared about their fans — but Ticketmaster made sure regular people didn’t stand a chance.”

Growing Calls for Reform in Ticketing Practices

This latest controversy adds to growing criticism of Ticketmaster and its pricing model. Similar fan outrage erupted earlier this year following high-demand tours from major artists, sparking renewed calls for ticketing reform and greater transparency in the industry.

Fans and artists alike have questioned why face-value tickets disappear instantly, only to reappear at inflated prices minutes later. Legislators in both the U.S. and Canada have proposed new rules to crack down on dynamic pricing and bot-driven reselling.

For now, however, Rush fans are left feeling defeated — watching resale sites list tickets for astronomical prices while their dreams of seeing the band live fade away.

“A Once-in-a-Lifetime Show We’ll Never See”

In the end, what was meant to be a joyous homecoming for one of rock’s most beloved bands has turned into a public relations nightmare. Fans who have supported Rush for decades now feel betrayed by the very system meant to connect them with the music they love.

“I finally got in, and the only prices left were over $600 each,” said one fan. “I can’t do that. I’ve waited my whole life for this, and now it feels like I never had a chance.”

For many, that sentiment captures the heartbreak of modern live music — where devotion, loyalty, and excitement are no match for algorithms, scalpers, and corporate greed.